LAUREN CUMMINGS & JESSICA BOLL Family Services: Food Assistance.
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Transcript of LAUREN CUMMINGS & JESSICA BOLL Family Services: Food Assistance.
LAUREN CUMMINGS&
JESSICA BOLL
Family Services:Food Assistance
Family Food Facts
In 2008, nearly 15% of Bellingham residents visited the Food Bank at least once
2009 average WIC monthly benefit per person: $43.12
WA WIC Program total 2009 food cost $100,061,356In 2009, 31,330,000 children participated in the
National School Lunch Program, 52.5% of which were free and 10% were reduced-price lunches
The average monthly benefit from Basic Food received by families in Feb 2009 was $216
Average annual US food expenditure per family unit: $6,133
General Eligibility/Funding
Eligibility really depends on the serviceMeans-testedFor federal programs, the family’s income
and expenses are usually taken into account (Crimando & Riggar, 2005).
Social Services Block Grant (Title XX)- Major federal fund
Emergency Food and Shelter Grants to local social service organizations through FEMA
Food Assistance
We will go through some of the services available to families in Whatcom County that help them with food, then explain how you are eligible for the services, and finally what laws or policies (if any) affect the service
What does the food bank do?
Provides many kinds of food to those in Bellingham who need it
Milk, frozen meat, cheese, non-perishable goods etc.
Educates community on hunger issues To get those who can to donate To help those who need food be aware of services that
are available to them
Food Bank: Eligibility
Any family or individual can receive foodMust be a Bellingham resident35% of Food Bank clients are children, 15%
are seniors/older adults
Food Bank: Policies and Funding
Non-profitFunded by cash donations and food donations4 paid staff, 150 volunteers run the food bankFederal Emergency Management Agency
provides a small amount of funding to some area food banks
Catholic Community Services
Affordable HousingCommunity ClassesPrivate Pay CounselingFamily Preservation Services
Hope House
Hope House
24 hour immediate emergency food supplies When the food bank is closed When you are waiting for paperwork to go through to obtain
public assistance (disability, welfare, etc.)Also provides clothing and other household items and
things not covered by food stamps59 social service agencies provide vouchers that
enable you to shop for free hereOutreaches to homeless and people on the street once
a week, passing out sack lunches and small personal items
Relies on donations- one such donor is HaggenUnited Way provides a small grant
What does TANF do?
Ensures that families have money for bills, food, shelter, and other necessities
Gives clients a monthly cash benefitJob training and assistance
WorkFirst program Training and education for those out of work
TANF: Eligibility
Residents who are responsible for children, or who are pregnant
Family must have $1,000 or less in resourcesApplicants must be able to prove both
citizenship and identityOnce in program, may be required to
participate in programs such as WorkFirst
TANF: Policies and Funding
Those ineligible include felons, and people previously convicted of unlawful gaining of public assistance money
Can be limited to 60 months of benefit in a lifetime for an individual
Funding comes from federal TANF funds and state funds
WIC: What is it?
Provides supplemental food to Women, Infants, and Children
Gives nutritional screening and nutrition counseling to mothers, infants, and children under 5 yrs
Encourages prenatal and pediatric care
WIC, cont.
You receive WIC checks to use only at approved stores to buy healthy foods. The checks tell you which kind of food you can buy with them. List of foods:
Baby food and formula, breakfast cereal, cheese, fresh fruits and vegetables, eggs, juice, milk, canned fish, peanut butter, tofu, whole grains (rice…), tortillas, whole wheat bread
Each client receives separate check of $40-50 each month to buy the type of food they would eat (Mother, Infant, and Child are separate)
WIC: Eligibility
Women- pregnant to breastfeeding, infants up to 1 yr and children up to 5 yrs
Must live in state appliedIncome- 185% or less of poverty levelAutomatically eligible if already in certain other
programs, like Medicaid or TANFNutrition Risk- have a dietary or medical
condition (ex: poor diet or anemia)20% of eligible women and infants not coveredEven illegal immigrants eligible (Mandell &
Schram)
Diversion Cash Assistance
For families with need who do not foresee needing TANF in the coming year
Same income/resource eligibility requirements as TANF
Eligible for 30 day period each yearMaximum benefit is $1,500
What does the Basic Food Program do?
Gives money to families and individuals to help pay for food
Those receiving get EBT cards for stores and farmers markets, and also enrollment in free meal programs for school-age children
Provides better nutrition
Washington Basic Food Program:Eligibility
Residents of Washington stateNo asset limitationsQualify based on income
Ex: 1 person must have a gross monthly income at or below $1,174 monthly, with $903 net income
Washington Basic Food Program:Policies and Funding
Federal policies regulating food programs are from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) from the US department of Agriculture Food and Nutrition Service (FNS)
FNS funds federal food programsThe Washington State Federal fund provides
money and benefits go to some immigrants who do not meet some federal qualifications
Hot Meals
Many places in the community to go to receive meals
See list on PamphletMost of these places are faith-based
organizations that run off of volunteer workLighthouse Mission- 3 meals daily
What do free/reduced-price schoolmeals do?
Provides kids with breakfast and lunch when they might otherwise be hungry
Food helps kids to do better in class, and kids who have food are more likely to attend and stay in school
Helps kids to get nutrition they might not receive otherwise
Free/Reduced-Price School Meals:Eligibility
TANF and Basic Food Program participation often allow students to get free/reduced lunches at school
Parents must fill out an applicationHousehold income must be low
Ex: A 3 person household can have no more than a $33,874 yearly or $2,823 monthly income
Free/Reduced-Price School Meals:Policies and Funding
About half of funding comes from federal government reimbursements
Reduced-price meals help to fundLocal and state governments provide a small
amount of fundingStudents who participate must come from
eligible family situations
To Refresh Your Memory
Went over some family food factsFood BankCCS- Hope HouseTANFWICDiversion Cash AssistanceWA Basic Food ProgramWhere to get hot mealsFree/Reduced Price School Meals
References
Catholic Community Services. (n. d.). Catholic community services/ Catholic housing services of Northwest Washington. Retrieved from www.ccsww.org
Crimando, W., & Riggar, T. F. (2005). Community resources: A guide for human service workers. Long Grove, IL: Waveland Press, Inc.
Basic Food. (April 14, 2009). Basic food. Retrieved from http://foodhelp.wa.gov/index.htm
DSHS. (October 28, 2007). Program summary - TANF. Retrieved from http://www.dshs.wa.gov/manuals/eaz/sections/PS_TANF.shtml
Mandell, B. R., & Schram, B. (2009). Introduction to human services: Policy and practice. Boston, MA: Allyn and Bacon.
References, cont.
Neuberger Z., & Namian ,T. (January 29, 2010). Who benefits from federal subsidies for free and reduced price school meals? Retrieved from http://www.cbpp.org/cms/index.cfm?fa=view&id=3071
United States Department of Agriculture. (2010). Program Data. Food and nutrition service. Retrieved from http://www.fns.usda.gov/pd/Overview.htm
Washington State Department of Health. (2010). Washington State WIC Nutrition Program. Retrieved from http://www.doh.wa.gov/cfh/WIC/default.htm
Whatcom Anti-Hunger Coalition. (2009). Food and meal resources in whatcom county. Retrieved from http://thelighthousemission.org/images/editor/food%20and%20meal%20resource%20guide.pdf
Xin, M., & Ryan, J. (2010). Does a food for education program affect school outcomes? The Bangladesh case. Journal of Population Economics, 23(2), 415-447. doi:10.1007/s00148-009-0240-0.