To: Board of Supervisors
From: DHHS: Social Services
SUBJECT:
title
Agreement with Humboldt State University Sponsored Programs Foundation to Assist with CalFresh Outreach and Support Activities
end
RECOMMENDATION(S):
Recommendation
That the Board of Supervisors approve the agreement with Humboldt State University (HSU) Sponsored Programs Foundation to assist the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) increase utilization of CalFresh benefits by eligible households in an amount not to exceed $102,991.00; authorize the Chair to execute three (3) originals of the agreement (Attachment 1); and direct the Clerk of the Board to route two (2) fully executed originals of the agreement to the DHHS-Contract Unit for forwarding to DHHS-Social Services Administration.
Body
SOURCE OF FUNDING:
Social Services Fund 1160
DISCUSSION:
Food insecurity is a demonstrated concern at HSU. During the fall of 2015, 53% of HSU students who completed food security surveys reported low or very low food security. In the 2017-2018 fiscal year HSU’s Oh SNAP! project has helped over 900 students apply for CalFresh and had over 7,000 student visits to Oh SNAP! Many HSU students run out of money long before the semester is over because of the high cost of food, housing, tuition, and books. This is often months prior to the next financial aid distribution on a campus where federal work study jobs are limited, and in a community where it is difficult to find a job at all, let alone a position that accommodates course schedules.
The efforts of the Department of Social Work, Health Education, Altruistic Personality and Prosocial Behavior Institute, and other campus units, in partnership with DHHS and other agencies to promote food security, have led to Oh SNAP! Campus Food Programs. The primary aim of HSU’s Oh SNAP! project is to increase CalFresh enrollment of eligible HSU students through application outreach assistance, intake, and enrollment support. HSU’s Oh SNAP! Campus Food Program has received national attention as a pioneer in addressing college campus hunger and as a model for other college campuses across the State and the Nation.
In addition to CalFresh application assistance, HSU’s Oh SNAP! project seeks to reduce misconceptions and stigma associated with CalFresh eligibility for college students by promoting healthy eating.
While the HSU Oh SNAP! project’s focus of drop-in CalFresh application assistance will be to enroll eligible individuals through direct assistance, student assistants will also address how nutrition, access to food, and food choices are linked to chronic diseases as well as how eating nutritious food is associated with many positive outcomes. The Oh SNAP! project will increase healthy food and meal distribution at cooking demonstrations, educational workshops, and targeted outreach events for many students who tend to purchase “cheap and prepared foods” because they do not know how to grow, shop, cook, or budget for affordable and healthy foods.
With the execution of this agreement, HSU Sponsored Programs Foundation will assist DHHS in increasing CalFresh utilization by eligible households and thereby promote a safe, healthy, economically vibrant community. Outreach and enrollment raises awareness of the nutrition benefits of the CalFresh program; promotes healthy food choices; reduces hunger in seniors and children; and helps to dispel program myths and misperceptions.
The California Department of Social Services (CDSS) administers all United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) funds. Focusing on the important role SNAP plays in access to nutrition and the relation of nutrition to overall wellness, CDSS renamed and re-branded food stamps as CalFresh in California. Beyond the name and image changes, CDSS also made significant program changes to increase CalFresh use by reducing enrollment and retention barriers. Many low-income individuals and families are not aware of and do not apply for CalFresh benefits, and many others are not aware of the program changes that could make it easier for them to receive and continue CalFresh benefits.
USDA and CDSS continue to encourage counties to work with community partners to help reach and inform community members who might be eligible for CalFresh benefits. Partnering with community based organizations is not only consistent with DHHS’s general approach and strategic plan; it is key to DHHS’s goal of providing integrated, place-based, and holistic services.
DHHS recommends that the Board approves and authorizes the Chair to execute this Agreement and directs the Clerk of the Board to return two (2) executed originals of the Agreement to the DHHS-Contracts Unit for further processing.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
The costs associated with this agreement have been budgeted in the approved fiscal year 2018-19 budget in fund 1160, Budget Unit 511 in the amount of $85,825.83 and the remainder of $17,165.17 will be included in the 2019-2020 fiscal year county budget. There will be no impact to the County General Fund.
Approving this agreement supports the Board’s Strategic Framework by creating opportunities for improved health and safety, and protecting vulnerable populations.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
None.
ALTERNATIVES TO STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS:
The Board can choose not to approve the agreement for CalFresh outreach and support activities with HSU Sponsored Programs Foundation. However DHHS does not recommend this alternative because this funding is important to the goal of increasing CalFresh participation and thereby improving the health and economic stability of children, families and other individuals in Humboldt County.
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Agreement with HSU Sponsored Programs Foundation
PREVIOUS ACTION/REFERRAL:
Board Order No.: H-1; C-15
Meeting of: 08/16/16; 10/17/17