Washington, DC, March 21, 2016 - Agriculture Under Secretary Kevin Concannon announced today the availability of $5 million in competitive grants to improve efficiency and customer service of agencies that administer the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). These grants will fund initiatives that use technology to achieve procedural changes, such as electronic application filing, document imaging, telephone interviews, and web-based access to case status information. Changes of this nature result in faster processing of SNAP applications, and quicker approval of benefits, for eligible applicants who need them most. Applications for the grants are due April 18.
“USDA supports use of the most up-to-date technology to improve the service we provide to the millions of Americans in need who depend on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program to put food on the table," Concannon said.
USDA is seeking grant applications that focus on modernization projects that improve the quality and efficiency of office operations and processes, and in turn, help clients by providing quicker service and ensuring access to SNAP benefit levels.
“Americans support helping struggling families put food on the table but they want to know that taxpayer dollars are being spent wisely," Concannon said. “These grants will help increase efficiency at the local level."
Priorities for 2016 funding include proposals that:
* Improve customer service
* Examine office processes through Business Process Reengineering (BPR)
* Use data analytics to inform improvements to local office procedures
* Enhance case management practices
* Employ mobile technology
* Develop infrastructure to support partnerships
The entities eligible to apply include state and local agencies that administer SNAP, state or local governments, agencies providing health or welfare services, public health or educational entities, and private non-profit entities, such as community-based or faith-based organizations, food banks, or other emergency feeding organizations.
Some past recipients of this grant include:
* Florida Department of Children and Families, Economic Self-Sufficiency - The department used its grant to purchase scan station software with Optical Character Recognition and reporting capabilities, allowing staff to spend less time on data entry and process applications more quickly. The state also implemented an interactive video component of their online portal to improve access for deaf and hard of hearing applicants using American Sign Language, as well as those with limited capacity to read in English.
* Oklahoma Department of Human Resources - Oklahoma's Department of Human Resources improved the quality and efficiency of their application process and reduced wait times by enhancing technology for staff and clients using mobile devices which can be used in the office as well as on-location at disaster recovery centers.
* Oregon Department of Human Services - The department expanded the Employment and Training (E&T) services in three new geographic locations, with four project partners, to provide services to veterans, military service members, and Native Americans. Project services will include assessments, GED completion, job search training, work experience, E&T resources, job search, work experience, and job retention.
* Steuben County Department of Social Services (NY) - Steuben County Department of Social Services increased access within a rural county by placing additional workstations in offices across the county. These work stations will increase program access, reduce application errors, prevent loss and/or damage of original documents, and improve timeliness.
The three-year grants will be announced no later than Sept. 30, 2016. For more information please see the Request for Application on www.grants.gov.
Today's announcement comes as part of USDA's efforts, during National Nutrition Month, to highlight the results of our efforts to improve access to safe, healthy food for all Americans, and support the health of our next generation.
USDA's Food and Nutrition Service administers 15 nutrition assistance programs. In addition to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, these programs include Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children, the National School Lunch Program, and the Summer Food Service Program which together comprise America's nutrition safety net.
Source: U.S. Department of Agriculture Food and Nutrition Service
