Guide to Food Stamp Outreach Collaborations
Food Research and Action Center:
FRAC's new resource guide, FRAC's Guide to Food Stamp Outreach Collaborations, provides an overview of promising partnerships that are working to increase participation in the Federal Food Stamp Program (FSP).
In FY 2004, only about 60 percent of eligible people received food stamps -- the program missed four in ten qualified low-income people.
However, the participation rate in FY 2004 showed a promising trend as it was the third year of increasing participation in the food stamp program after seven years of decline.
A wide range of groups have a potential interest in increasing food stamp participation and can bring a variety of resources and skills to a food stamp outreach campaign.
Through the support of the UPS Foundation, FRAC's guide offers suggestions on ways to leverage federal matching funds and other supports to maximize the reach of education campaigns.
It describes approaches to engaging different stakeholders on collaborative outreach, from school officials, state legislators and city officials, to food pantry operators, grocers and employers.
Together, stakeholders partnering on food stamp outreach can make important contributions to the health and well-being of families and communities.