How to set up an outreach program: Program examples

CAFB Food Stamp Outreach Program - A Case Study: This case study has details about California Association of Food Banks' outreach partners. It was conducted by the California Department of Health Services' California Nutrition Network. The case study includes general strategies, ways to engage the media, tips for measuring the success of your program, the difference between food stamp promotion and food stamp outreach, and examples of outreach materials produced by food banks across California.

Illinois' Pilot "Express Stamps": With the help of pantry staff or volunteers, food stamp applicants complete a simplified application on a laptop computer. The standard agency interview is optional, and the applicant need only to verify their identity. After the pantry staff gives the client an EBT card, the application is transmitted via wireless communication directly to Illinois' computer system. The state's Department of Human Services then sends the client a personal identification number to use with their EBT card; at this time, EBT is activated (see article: Andrew L. Wang, "When Hunger Can't Wait," Chicago Tribune, Nov. 22, 2006. Abstract available at www.chicagotribune.com).

Blue Ridge Area Food Bank Network (BRAFBN): Based in Verona, Virginia, BRAFBN received the “2006 Innovative Model Program of the Year” award from America’s Second Harvest. Each year, the award recognizes programs that provide excellent client service and education or enhance community anti-hunger efforts. Through a three-year grant, BRAFBN’s Food Insecurity Elimination Program was able to create an online application with the state agency. Using the tool to screen clients, caseworkers assisted likely eligible clients for 45 minutes with filling out the entire application and submitting it online. The online application can be seen at www.VAFood.org. Collaboration with the counties and the state is extensive: BRAFBN receives information about food pantry clients from member food pantries (date of birth, name, address, etc) and delivers the information through a secured server to the state agency. No client is forced to give information about their address; however, they must give their name. In exchange for this information, the state agency allows BRAFBN access to its data to obtain the names of clients of the Food Stamp and WIC programs. This way, BRAFBN has information about additional persons to target for outreach. In a similar way, the state agency uses food pantry data to send applications to those pantry-assisted households that are not yet receiving food stamps. For more information, call BRAFBN at 540-248-3663 and ask for the public relations or the food security team.