Food Stamps Guide

Outreach Materials

Newly released outreach materials at bottom of page!

Outreach Materials Free From USDA
The USDA has a new site where you can order or download outreach materials. Go to http://www.fns.usda.gov/snap/outreach/default.htm and select the third item on the list entitled “Food Stamp Materials for Order or Download.” The USDA also offers radio and television PSAs for use by state and local programs. To request a copy of a television PSA, send an email to SNAPoutreach@fns.usda.gov.

California Food Policy Advocates Outreach Materials
California Food Policy Advocates (CFPA) publishes several guides and information sheets that may be helpful for food stamp outreach. They are available for order online:
http://www.cfpa.net/foodstamps/kit/outreach_material_descriptions.htm

Making America Stronger: U.S. Food Stamp Programs
On the 30th anniversary of the 1977 Food Stamp Act, the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities (CBPP) produced Making America Stronger. This short film commemorates the 30th anniversary of the reforms achieved by the Act by telling the story of how food stamps dramatically reduced the extent of severe hunger in our country, how they continue to help Americans in need, and how this essential program can achieve still more. Watch the video online: http://www.myfoodstamps.org/FoodStampVideo.html

Food Stamp Telenovela: La Flor del Sin Nombre
A USDA-supported collaboration between UC Berkeley and the California Institute for Rural Studies, La Flor del Sin Nombre (“The Flower of No Name”) is a Spanish-language hour-long telenovela that promotes improved nutrition and educates about about food stamp access. Watch the telenovela online on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com (search "flor del sin nombre").

The Business Case for Increasing Food Stamp Participation
Why should your local businesses care about Food Stamps? The Business Case for Increasing Food Stamp Participation, published by the USDA, explains that one reason is that it helps the local economy as well as the clients. In your effort to involve a wide variety of people in your outreach efforts, be sure to use economic arguments to convince business leaders. Available at: http://www.fns.usda.gov/fsp/outreach/business-case.htm

Toolkit for Elected Representatives and Community Organizers
The Outreach Toolkit for Elected Representatives and Community Organizers is a comprehensive document on how to recruit your elected officials into giving your outreach campaign some publicity. It can be downloaded from:
http://www.myfoodstamps.org/pdf_files/OutreachOffs.pdf. To see an example of a very successful relationship developed with the First Lady of California to promote the Food Stamp Program, see: http://www.myfoodstamps.org/pdf_files/FirstLadyFlyerEngSpan.pdf.

Successful Food Stamp Innovations
Successful Food Stamp Innovations, compiled by the American Public Human Services Association, offers case studies of innovations in the Food Stamp Program that are simultaneously increasing participation and program integrity. These case studies show what states across the nation are doing to improve efficiency in the Food Stamp Program. Food Stamp Outreach Coordinators can use this in their advocacy for administrative changes on the local level. Download at:
http://www.aphsa.org/Policy/Doc/Successful-Food-Stamp-Innovations.pdf

Food Stamp Office Resource Kit
The newly developed Food Stamp Office Resource Kit has been shipped to most of California’s 58 counties. The Kit includes the “Good Food TV” video in VHS and DVD formats and a kiosk housing a poster, bilingual recipe cards and brochures in English and Spanish.

The Kit brings nutrition education into food stamp offices to provide clients with demonstrations, tips and recipes that will help them purchase and prepare low-cost nutritious meals and snacks for themselves and their families. This information, combined with the increased food purchasing power of food stamps and the myriad of other services and community activities, will promote better health among low-income Californians. You can view the English and Spanish versions of the 20 minute video and the other components of the resource kit by visiting http://www.goodfoodtv.org/.

Resources to educate people about Public Charge: If people are concerned that applying for food stamps will make them a public charge, these tools might work.

Letter from CIS: A letter from the CIS letting people know that applying for and receiving food stamps does not impact a person's current or future residency status. A printable copy of the flyer is available in English or Spanish.

Flyer from National Immigrant Law Center: Here is a flyer from the National Immigrant Law Center has made (specific to California) in English. For copies in other languages, go to http://www.nilc.org/ce/ceindex.htm#pubchrg.

Flyers from California Immigrant Welfare Coalition: There are several flyers from CIWC in English , Cantonese, Vietnamese, Tagalog, Thai or Spanish. For more materials, go to http://www.nilc.org/ce/ceindex.htm#pubchrg.