USDA Materials in Spanish: La Mesa Completa

From the USDA: 

 

This e-tool in Spanish specifically designed for the Latino Community, describes federal nutrition assistance programs from the lens of a pastor or community leader.  This tool will enable faith-based and community leaders to learn about various ways in which they can partner with USDA to ensure that Latinos have access to nutrition programs.  

The toolkit includes helpful links, best practices, stories, and even videos of personal testimony of how federal programs are helping families get the nutrition they need.

More than one in four Latinos is food insecure, and Latinos access USDA nutrition assistance programs at the lowest rates of any demographic group.  The La Mesa Completa tool kit provides community leaders with an easy to use tool to navigate the different nutrition programs in order to help families put healthy, affordable food on the table.

Access the toolkit online, by clicking here.  

Attend the informational webinar on Wed, May 2nd @ 3pm. Click here to register today!

2 Child Nutrition Conf Call/Webinar Opps

Hello good people,
Here are two national child nutrition-related opportunities I thought that you might be interested in: 

1.) From the Food Research and Action Center (FRAC): Summer Meals Conference Call - Kick-off Week and Outreach

 
Tuesday, May 1
1:00 pm

Summer Meals Kick-off Week is June 11-16. This year we hope to build greater participation in kick-off week activities to emphasize the importance of summer meals for children. Join this call to hear what FRAC, USDA and other partners are planning. Learn how your organization can participate, or share activities that you have planned.  In the second half of the Summer Meals Matter call we will discuss effective outreach practices used to inform parents and the community about the availability of Summer Meals.  Register online for this conference call.

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2.) From the Children, Youth, and Families Education and Research Network (CYFER): Partnering Strategically with Your Local Education Agency (LEA): A Recipe for Success

May 9

12:30 PM - 2:00 PM 

Listen, Learn, and Dialogue with your colleagues about how they have collaborated with their local education agency (LEA). This session will highlight K-12 programming as it is seen in the classroom and out of the classroom. County level experiences will be shared from both an urban, military, tribal and rural perspective. If you are looking to start or expand your focus in K-12 programming this is a great beginning workshop to start. We will share the reality of the task, how we manage the program so it does not manage us!  Register online for this webinar.

 

2012 Summer Food Sponsor Training and Reimbursement Rates

FYI for those who may know summer food sponsors and/or organizations considering becoming involved in summer food this year.  If you have any questions, please contact Rachel at Hunger Solutions New York. 

The New York State Education Department has released the following information about the Summer Food Service Program for 2012:

Training workshop dates for all potential and existing program sponsors

2012 Per-meal reimbursement rates

USDA Warning about Phony SNAP Application Assistance

Urgent Notice from USDA
SCAM Alert:
SCAMMERS OFFER PHONY SNAP APPLICATION ASSISTANCE

There have been reports of individuals placing ads on the internet, sometimes located on the side of legitimate articles, offering assistance for filling out SNAP applications.

The links will take you to another website where you may be asked to provide personal information, including credit card information. Do NOT provide this information. It can be used to allow other individuals to make unauthorized purchases on your credit card, or gain access to your bank accounts.

If you see any ad on the internet offering SNAP application assistance with a corresponding link, don’t click on it. Never provide any personal information, including credit card information on an unsecure Web Site. SNAP employees or service providers will never ask you for credit card information or for anything not on your State Agency application.

If you have already fallen victim to this or a similar scam, contact your credit card company immediately. You may also choose to file a police report. For more information on identity theft, please visit: http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/microsites/idtheft/ .

Changes to HEAP Application Process for New Food Stamp Applicants

HEAP season opens this Wednesday, November 16. Last year there was a change in the HEAP program that affects families and individuals who are newly applying for the Food Stamp Program.

In the past, when someone applied for Food Stamps, a simple one page form was used to certify the household for HEAP benefits as well. This form was often filled out by the FS worker who would then have the household sign the form.

OTDA directed food stamp offices last year that they an no longer use this form to automatically enroll newly applying food stamp households into the HEAP program. The impact of this change is that households who apply for the FSP after August and anytime throughout HEAP season will no longer automatically receive a HEAP benefit. They will need to fill out the regular 5 page HEAP application in order to receive HEAP.

Households who were receiving FS benefits prior to September will receive HEAP automatically through what is known as "the automatic HEAP pull-down". Each fall (September/October) OTDA runs a computer "pull down" of all households who have an open FS case and who live in HEAP eligible housing. This authorizes a regular HEAP benefit for those households without a need for filing an application. Households who are not receiving FS benefits at the time of the "pull down" will no longer receive HEAP automatically by applying for the FSP, but instead will need to fill out the HEAP application.

Things you should do:
Check in with your local LDSS/HRA and find out what their process is for FS applicants who miss the " automatic pull-down" for HEAP. Adjust what you tell your families based on the new process. NOEP coordinators can make referrals. We recommend that you look for an agency in your county to collaborate with that can help your families fill out the HEAP application. Community Organizations across the state act as HEAP certifiers. Your LDSS can assist you in identifying the HEAP certifiers in your county.

Other things to know about the HEAP application process:
The HEAP application is now available on OTDA's website in English and Spanish. To view the application and other materials click here. Once on the page scroll down till you see the HEAP section. Households receiving FS benefits are eligible to mail in their HEAP application. Households eligible for mail in processing may file an electronic HEAP application instead.

The following counties currently accept online filing: Allegany, Broome, Chenango, Clinton, Greene, Herkimer, Jefferson, Livingston, Madison, Montgomery, Warren, Washington, and Westchester.

If you have any questions about this information, or any other food-stamp related question, please contact me at (518) 436-8757, ext. 12, or by e-mailing Dawn.Secor@hungersolutions.org
Posted by Dawn Secor at 12:43 PM

Flooding, Homeless Children, and Free School Meals

Because of the rain from Hurricane Irene and continuous flooding throughout our state, many families with school-aged children have lost their homes, are displaced, are living in temporary shelters, and/or are experiencing changes in their households.

Children from these homes may be counted as homeless under the McKinney-Vento Act and therefore automatically eligible for free school meals.

Find the policy memo on the "Memos" page of the NOEP-only section of the website.
In addition, check out the template outreach material to inform families.

Power Ouatages, Flooding and Replacement Food Stamps

Due to the possible impact of Hurricane Irene, NYC and upstate communities may experience flooding and/or sustained power outages. Food stamp households that have lost food due to flooding or power outages may be eligible for Replacement Food Stamp Benefits.

Links to additional information and resources:

Memo by Hunger Solutions New York

Template Flyer

Template PSA

2008 OTDA GIS concerning Issuing Replacement Food Stamp Benefits and Emergency Food Replacement.

Form LDSS 2291 Request for Replacement of Food Purchased with Food Stamp Benefits (in both English and Spanish).


If you have any questions about this memo, or any other food-stamp related question, please contact me at (518) 436-8757, ext. 112, or by e-mailing Dawn.Secor@HungerSolutionsNY.org

Visit the NOEP Only section of our website!
This memo and others may be found in the
NOEP Only section of the website.
Go to http://www.hungersolutionsny.org/
Scroll down to the lower right hand corner and click NOEP Login
Enter- Login: noep Password: noep1