SNAP Outreach in New York State An overview of the SNAP Outreach to older New Yorkers and others conducted by the Nutrition Outreach and Education Program.

SNAP Outreach in New York State

An overview of the SNAP Outreach to older New Yorkers and others conducted by the

Nutrition Outreach and Education Program

Welcome and Introductions

Presenter:Diana L. Lezette Training and Instructional Design Coordinator

Agenda:• SNAP Outreach in NYS• The Nutrition Outreach and

Education Program (NOEP) Overview• Program Achievements• Aspects of NOEP Outreach• Connecting and Collaborating with

NOEP

SNAP Outreach in NYSEight SNAP outreach projects statewide administered by the New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance (OTDA) and United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).

SNAP Outreach in NYS• Catholic Charities• Metropolitan Council• Project Hospitality• Seedco• United Way of Buffalo and Erie Counties• United Way of New York City• LIAH• NOEP

Hunger Solutions New York manages:

The Long Island Anti-Hunger Initiative (LIAH)

SNAP Outreach in NYS

LIAH• Covers Nassau and Suffolk Counties• Provides SNAP application assistance • Uses innovative outreach including: • Direct mailings• SNAP enrollment events• Social media• Robocalls• Outreach via text messages

LIAHPartners include:• Health and Welfare Council of Long Island• United Way of Long Island• North Shore-Long Island Jewish Health

System• Food Research and Action Center (FRAC)• AARP Foundation• Island Harvest

The Nutrition Outreach and Education Program

(NOEP)

NOEP• Since 1987 Hunger Solutions

New York has managed NOEP.

• One of the largest SNAP outreach programs in the nation.

56 Counties51 Agencies74 NOEP Coordinators

NOEP Achievements:During the 2014 - 2015 contract year:• 30,000 new households received SNAP

benefits through NOEP assistance.• 56,000 prescreenings occurred.• 179,000 face-to-face contacts were

made with potentially SNAP eligible New Yorkers.

NOEP Achievements:During the 2014-2015 contract yearNOEP assisted more than:• 6,000 disabled individuals• 9,300 non-citizens• 2,100 veterans and military families• 20,000 children

NOEP Achievements:During the 2014-2015 contract yearNOEP:• Assisted more than 13,000 seniors (60 and

over)• Made more than 1,900 referrals to senior

assistance programs• Made more than 2,200 referrals to Social

Security

NOEPHelps connect potentially eligible New Yorkers to SNAP and other federal nutrition programs.

SNAP in New York State

Source: Center on Budget and Policy Priorities: New York Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, Feb. 27, 2015

SNAP in New York State

NYS OTDA monthly caseload statistics, Sept. 2014

565,000NYS Seniors received

SNAP in 2014.

NOEP is always free and confidential

NOEPSNAP Application Assistance

NOEPConducts prescreens to determine if households (including households of one) are potentially eligible for SNAP.

NOEPSNAP Application Assistance• Starts with prescreen• Can, and often, includes

assistance through the whole application process.

SNAP Income Guidelines

SNAP UpdatesExamples:• New Standards in October• Excessive EBT card

replacement letters• Accessing case records –

participant rights

SNAP Updates

Medical DeductionsAfter first $35.00 monthly for 60 or older or Disabled.

Translation Services• Provided directly by some NOEP

Coordinators.• NOEP may help secure services.• NOEP assisted more than 8,500

households with translation services in 2014-2015 contract year.

NOEP Home VisitsProvided by many NOEP Coordinators.Over 2,900 home visits made in the 2014-2015 contract year.

Beyond Application Assistance• New applications are the focus of

NOEP work. • However, NOEP Coordinators

provide some assistance with:• Recertification• Change reporting

Replacement SNAP Benefits• Household misfortune examples:• Power outage – 4 or more hours

(perishable food)• A flood (all food can be effected)• Equipment failure• Failure to pay utility bill• Others

Replacement SNAP Benefits• Time sensitive • to report to DSS/HRA • to submit form

• Form available:• at DSS/HRA• Online at OTDA• http://otda.ny.gov/programs/applications/

• From NOEP

Disaster SNAP Benefits• A special SNAP program authorized

by USDA as a result of a disaster. • NOEP Coordinators given up-to-date

information, training and assistance by Hunger Solutions New York.

Barrier Identification and Resolution

Barriers

Barrier examples that NOEP Coordinators help identify and resolve:

• Wrong income test applied• Benefits not applied to EBT card• Households being required to use

online application• More!!!

Referrals More to come…

Outreach

NOEP Outreach• Initiatives•Campaigns•NOEP-generated•All reviewed

Outreach Examples:• Flyers• Posters• Educational letters• Select promo items

Spaghetti Strainer

Cattaraugus

NOEP Outreach

Special Initiatives

Special Initiatives• May be piloted.• May be certain area.• Not a limited time frame.• Can come from NOEP interest

based on community need and outreach opportunities.

Outreach CampaignsSix Campaigns: • Short term• Specific theme/audience • Statewide• Unified message

NOEP Outreach Campaigns

Campaign Launch

Campaigns:1. Success Starts with School

Breakfast2. Heat and Eat – With SNAP,

You Don’t Have to Choose3. Between Shifts, and Between

Jobs, SNAP is Working for You

Campaigns:4. SNAP, It’s Accessible5. Stay Healthy with SNAP6. School’s Out! Power Up for

Summer Fun!

Heat and Eat. With SNAP, You Don’t have to Choose.

Between Shifts, and Between Jobs, SNAP is Working for You.

SNAP, It’s Accessible.

SNAP: Myths andMisinformation

NOEP: Breaking down myths and misinformation• Taking from others• Minimum Benefit• Paperwork/application difficult• Lose our car/home• More…

SNAP Minimum benefit:• $16.00 for 2015-2016•Most receive more than

minimum• Avg. benefit for a senior living

alone is $113.00*

*Source: USDA, Characteristics of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Households: FY 2013. Dec. 2014

SNAP Minimum benefit:•$16.00 for 2015-2016•Most receive more than

minimum

NOEP Coordinators assist with paperwork including:• copying• assisting clients with acquiring

documentation and verification• helping to fill out applications

130% FPL 200% FPL0

No Resource Test/No Net Income TestHh with no senior/disabled member and no child or dependent care (daycare) expenses

Not SNAP Eligible

Hh with no senior/disabled member, but with child or dependent care expenses

No Resource Test/No Net Income Test

Not SNAP Eligible

No Resource Test/No Net Income Test

Hh with a senior/disabled memberResource Test & Net Income Test

Required

1

2

3

SNAP: Income and Resources

Positive Economic Impacts of SNAP

GROCERS

SNAP FARMERS

FARMERS’MARKETS

FOOD SHIPPING

FOOD PACKAGING

URBAN JOBS

RURALJOBS

FOODPRODUCERS

Stay Healthy with SNAP.• Older, low-income New Yorkers and

caregivers• Runs Mid-April through May

Stay Healthy with SNAP.65% of Seniors experiencing food insecurity are aged 60-69.

Stay Healthy with SNAPBUILDERS

CAREGIVERSBOOMERS

The Broader Impact of Targeted Outreach

BoomerFamily

Caregiver

Paid Caregiver Grandchildren

Builder

SNAP can help!

SNAP can help stretch food budgets and families may be able to put money toward other necessities.

Clothing

Shelter

Medicine

Transport

Other

Kinship Care

Federal Child Nutrition Programs

NOEP also works to increase participation in the School Breakfast Program and the Summer Food Service Program (Summer Meals).

School is Out, Summer Meals are in!

Summer Food CostsNationally 62% of low-income families report spending more on food during the summer, an average increase of $316 more per month.

Nationally 43% of low-income families find it harder to make ends meet during the summer.

Source: Summer Meals Parents Survey, No Kid Hungry, 2013

Summer Food Service Program a.k.a Summer Meals

School Breakfast Campaign

NOEP Referrals, Presentations and

Collaborations

NOEP Outreach Examples:• Agency collaborations and

referral systems • Exhibiting at events• Presentations for community

members

How to get connected to the NOEP program in

your location.

•Connect with your NOEP Coordinator.•Create a referral system.•Let other agencies or

organizations know about benefits of NOEP and SNAP.

www.FoodHelpNY.org

www.mybenefits.ny.gov

Sign up for newsletters from Hunger Solutions New York

www.hungersolutionsny.org

Stay Connected! Visit our website! http://www.HungerSolutionsNY.org

‘Like’ us on Facebook ww.facebook.com/HungerSolutionsNY)

‘Follow’ us on Twitter (www.twitter.com/newyorkhunger)

Get updates and sign up for our newsletters

Questions?

Prepared by a project of Hunger Solutions New York, Funded by NYSOTDA, USDA/FNS, FRAC, The Walmart Foundation and Mazon: A Jewish Response to

Hunger. This institution is an equal opportunity provider.