State/Local Food Stamp Agencies Outreach Toolkit

The State/Local Food Stamp Agencies Outreach Toolkit provides a comprehensive overview of how program offices can work with community and faith-based organizations to increase awareness of Food Stamp Program (FSP) benefits. When reviewing your toolkit, don’t forget to check out our new cultural competency or disaster outreach materials

	How to Milk This Toolkit for All It’s Worth! Your introduction to the toolkit, it includes statistics, facts and figures about the FSP, key messages and talking points. It also lays the groundwork for how State and local FSP offices can work with community and faith-based organizations. Introduction About This Toolkit Overview of the Food Stamp Program Food Stamp Program Fact Sheet Food Stamp Program Frequently Asked Questions Food Stamp Program Talking Points and Messages Food Stamp Program Questions and Suggested Answers Collaborating With the Food Stamp Program
	Hook ‘Em, Then Reel Them In Step-by-step instructions and examples of how to maximize outreach efforts by developing partnerships, including suggestions for different types of partners, activities for potential outreach, and ideas to gain community involvement. Developing and Maintaining Partnerships Potential Partners Activities for Potential Outreach Partnerships Get Involved Partner Letter Template Partnership Agreement Letter Template 10 Ideas for Retailer Food Stamp Program Outreach Food Stamps Make America Stronger Sample Flyer Sample Mailer Inserts
	Cultural Competency: A Dash of Diversity, a Medley of Outreach Ideas Find practical explanations as to the importance of effective food stamp outreach across cultures. This section also includes tips and tools for getting to know those in your community as well as resources for working effectively with minority media to increase awareness of the Food Stamp Program. The Right Thing: The Importance of Effective Food Stamp Outreach Across Cultures Getting To Know Your Community: How To Conduct a Needs Assessment The Right Messengers: Breaking Down Barriers With Community Partners The Right Materials for Diverse Audiences Getting to the Root of It: How To Work With Minority Media Culturally Competence & Customer Service
	Plant the Seeds, Reap the Benefits   An overview of promising practices with real life examples. Provides a system to submit your agency’s lessons learned, what your organization has tried, what worked and what didn’t. Promising Practices
	Disaster Outreach: The Heat Is On – Reaching Out After a Disaster Learn about the Disaster Food Stamp Program (DFSP) and how it differs from the regular Food Stamp Program. Review 10 easy steps to help your organization plan for outreach before a disaster strikes as well as 10 tips for increasing awareness of, and delivering, food stamp benefits in the wake of a disaster What Is the Disaster Food Stamp Program (DFSP) and How Does It Operate? 10 Steps To Plan for DFSP Outreach 10 Ideas for DFSP Outreach Web-Based Resources Sample Press Release
	A Bundle of Resources and Information Learn about free FNS resources including the Community Hunger Champions DVD. Also includes lists of regional FNS contacts, in case you need additional technical assistance. Food Stamp Program Outreach Materials From USDA Food Stamp Program Web Resources Footnotes From Introduction National and Regional Food Stamp Program Outreach and Media Contacts

To download the complete State/Local Food Stamp Agencies Outreach Toolkit please click here

Video: “Community Hunger Champions: Helping People Eat Right When Money’s Tight
This 7-minute film will show you how community-based organizations and food stamp offices can work as a team to increase food stamp participation. You can use this video in many different ways. For example, use it to introduce a project idea to a new partner. Use it as a motivator in staff meetings. Use it to explain your work to potential supporters.

• Watch the Video

Templates
The toolkit contains a number of ready-to-use templates to customize for your outreach activities.
 
Download These Additional Pieces to Complete Your Toolkit:

• Front Cover

• Foreword

• Acknowledgements

• Back Cover

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