Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)

Putting Healthy Food Within Reach

State Outreach Toolkit
Foreword

This toolkit is published by the United States Department of 

Agriculture’s (USDA) Food and Nutrition Service’s (FNS) 

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). We encourage 

you to read through this document, reproduce it — in whole or in part 

— and forward it on to others.

All materials in this toolkit are in the public domain and may be 

copied without permission. You can include your organization’s 

logo on all of the campaign materials you adapt and distribute. If 

you change any of the materials, please remove the USDA logo. 

Please refer to http://www.fns.usda.gov/snap/outreach/ for the latest statistics and program updates. The 

toolkit is also available online at this web site and will be updated as needed.

COMMUNITY TOOLKIT

U.S. Department of Agriculture

Food and Nutrition Service

FNS-378

January 2010

STATE TOOLKIT

U.S. Department of Agriculture

Food and Nutrition Service

FNS-379

January 2010

In accordance with Federal law and U.S. Department of Agriculture policy, this institution is 

prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, religion, 

political beliefs, or disability. 

To file a complaint of discrimination, write USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, Room 326 W, 

Whitten Building, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20250-9410, or call 

(202) 720-5964 (voice and TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

DISCLAIMER:

This toolkit contains sample outreach products from communities. These samples were neither written 

nor approved by the USDA Food and Nutrition Service (FNS). FNS does not necessarily endorse the 

views these documents express, or the data they may cite. FNS offers these sample documents to spur 

ideas and creativity.

This toolkit is also 

available online at:

http://www.fns.usda.

gov/snap/outreach/
Table of Contents

1 Introduction. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A 1

2 Partnerships. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B 1

3 Cultural Competency. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . C 1

4 Promising Practices. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . D 1

5 Disaster Outreach. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . E 1

6 Resources. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F 1
HOW TO

Toolkit

FOR ALL IT’S WORTH!

Milk this

FOR ALL IT’S WORTH!

1
INTRODUCTION

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), formally known as 

the Food Stamp Program, is an investment in our future. It offers nutrition benefits to participating clients, supports work, and provides economic benefits 

to communities. However, too many low-income people who are eligible for 

the program do not participate and thus forgo nutrition assistance that could 

stretch their food dollars at the grocery store. Their communities lose out on the 

benefits provided by new SNAP dollars flowing into local economies. 

In fiscal year 2007, only 66 percent1 (All footnotes are research citations. 

You can find them in the “Resource” section at the end of this toolkit.) of those 

eligible for SNAP benefits participated. The most common reason 

eligible people do not participate is because they do not realize they may be 

eligible. Others choose not to apply because of myths or misunderstandings 

about SNAP benefits or because of stigma that continues to persist. Others make a cost-benefit decision that the time involved in applying for benefits 

is not worth the expected return. Some do not want to accept government 

assistance. For specific populations, there may be additional compounding 

factors, such as language barriers for legal immigrants, or time and transportation 

barriers for the working poor. Seniors may not understand the nature of the 

program and choose not to apply for benefits, thinking children or families need 

the help more.

Outreach and education are powerful tools in overcoming barriers to SNAP 

participation. Even a small increase in SNAP participation can have a 

substantial impact. If the national participation rate rose 5 percentage points, 

1.9 million more low-income people would have an additional $1.3 billion in 

benefits per year to use to purchase healthy food and $2.5 billion total in new 

economic activity would be generated nationwide.

Why does increasing participation in SNAP make sense for your community?

SNAP GENERATES ECONOMIC ACTIVITY.

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program brings Federal dollars into communities in the form of 

benefits which are redeemed by SNAP participants at local stores. These benefits ripple throughout the 

economies of the community, State, and Nation. For example:

• Every $5 in new SNAP benefits generates up to $9.20 in community spending.2 

• Every additional dollar’s worth of SNAP benefits generates 

17 to 47 cents of new spending on food.3 

• On average, $1 billion of retail food demand by SNAP recipients generates 

3,300 farm jobs.4

SNAP is the first 

line of defense against 

hunger in our 

community. Making 

sure low-income 

people receive SNAP 

benefits accomplishes 

many things. First and 

most importantly, 

people get fed. Second, 

community and faithbased organizations 

such as ours are relieved 

of having to provide a 

higher level of food 

assistance. Third, the local 

grocers do business with 

customers that they may 

not have otherwise. 

And fourth, we are all 

healthier and happier. 

BILL BOLLING

Executive Director 

Atlanta Community Food Bank 

Atlanta, Georgia

A | 1

Introduction
In fiscal year 2009, the average monthly SNAP benefit per household was 

approximately $275.5 These benefits, funded by Federal dollars, create 

business when they are redeemed at your local food retailers. Eighty-six percent 

of benefits, totaling $25 billion, were redeemed at the nation’s 35,000 supermarkets. The remaining benefits, totaling $3.6 billion, contribute to the viability of 

121,000 other firms which include grocery stores, convenience stores, combination stores, farmer’s markets, and other retail food stores; plus wholesalers and 

meal services.6 

SNAP benefits are positively and significantly related to household food expenditures.7

 Although estimates of the impact vary, studies have shown that 

a $1 increase in the value of SNAP benefits of a typical recipient household 

leads to additional food expenditures of between 17 and 47 cents.8 SNAP 

recipients spend more dollars on food at local retailers in communities than 

eligible nonparticipants. 

SNAP benefits can be used at authorized farmers markets that sell local produce. This provides additional customers for local farmers and provides SNAP 

recipients access to healthy, locally grown fruits and vegetables that might 

otherwise be unavailable to them. 

SNAP SUPPORTS WORK AND HELPS LOW-INCOME PEOPLE MAKE 

THE TRANSITION TO SELF-SUFFICIENCY.

More than 29 percent of SNAP households had earnings in 2008 and 40 percent of all SNAP participants lived in a household with earnings.9 Employees 

whose nutrition needs are met at home may be healthier and thus may take 

fewer sick days for themselves or their children. Employees may stay longer 

with companies that care about them by sharing information about SNAP benefits and its importance as a work support. 

SNAP helps families become financially stable and make the transition 

to self-sufficiency, getting them through the tough times. Half of all new 

participants will leave the program within nine months.10 

SNAP benefits are a work support. SNAP benefits help those 

leaving the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program and 

transitioning to work by supplementing their food budgets so that they can 

stay independent and work toward self-sufficiency.11 Since SNAP benefits 

decrease only by 24 to 36 cents for every additional dollar of earnings, SNAP 

recipients have incentives to work since they will be better off working rather 

than receiving SNAP benefits alone.12 

A successful 

[SNAP] redemption 

program probably means 

that we are successfully 

servicing the needs of our 

community. By being able 

to meet our customers’ 

needs during a particular 

time in their lives, we are 

often able to establish a 

relationship that outlives 

the time a person is 

eligible for SNAP. In that 

case we benefit from that 

customer both now and in 

the future. SNAP redemption is a way to get your 

best customer in the front 

door and to establish a 

long-term relationship with 

that customer. 

GEORGE MATICS

Purchasing Director 

Cardenas Markets, Inc. 

Ontario, California

To reach common 

ground, we need to go to 

higher ground. Together 

with our business and 

government leaders, 

we can build community 

and economic prosperity 

for all. 

DANIELLA LEVINE

Executive Director

Human Service Coalition

Miami, Florida 

A | 2

Introduction
THE SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM HELPS LOW-INCOME FAMILIES 

MAKE HEALTHY FOOD CHOICES AND PUT MORE NUTRITIOUS FOOD ON THE TABLE.

Dietary patterns among low-income people, as well as those of the general 

public, indicate an excessive consumption of calories, unhealthy fats and sugars, 

while fruit, vegetable and whole grain intakes are modest.13 These poor eating 

habits contribute to making overweight and obesity a national health problem. In 

addition to the toll on personal health, this “epidemic” of obesity has economic 

implications as well. Obesity-attributable medical expenditures in the United 

States reached $75 billion in 2003. Taxpayers financed about half of these costs 

through Medicare and Medicaid.14

However, research shows that low-income households participating in SNAP 

have access to more food energy, protein, and a broad array of essential vitamins 

and minerals in their home food supply compared to eligible nonparticipants.15 

Nationwide, if there were a 5 percentage point increase in the SNAP participation rate, an additional 1.9 million low-income people would reap the nutrition 

benefits of the program. SNAP also helps participants manage their food resources more wisely through SNAP-Ed. States may exercise the option to provide 

targeted nutrition education activities or social marketing campaigns designed 

to help persons eligible for SNAP make healthier food choices and pursue active lifestyles. 

Because SNAP benefits are available to most low-income households with 

few resources, regardless of age, disability status, or family structure, SNAP 

households are a diverse group. Nine percent of SNAP recipients are aged 

60 or older.16 For the elderly, a particularly vulnerable and underserved 

population, participation in SNAP and other food assistance programs can help 

improve nutritional status and well-being and increase independence. 

Nearly half of SNAP participants are children.17 Children who are well 

nourished may have better attendance at school and, once there, may be more 

focused on learning. 

COMBINED EFFORTS ARE NEEDED

SNAP is the cornerstone of the Nation’s nutrition safety net, providing assistance to those who qualify. It 

helps relieve pressure on emergency food providers, enabling them to provide more assistance to those 

who do not qualify for SNAP benefits. Because of the nutrition benefits to participants and the economic 

benefits to the Nation and to States and communities, the Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) has made increasing participation in SNAP a priority. Increasing participation in SNAP requires the combined efforts 

of national, State, and local public leaders as well as nonprofit community agencies, employers, and anyone 

else who touches the lives of potentially eligible people.

The additional 

support which SNAP 

benefits provide to needy 

individuals is readily seen 

in our stores that serve 

customers in low-income 

areas. This benefit not 

only helps those who 

require some additional 

assistance in making ends 

meet, but is also an aid 

to the supermarkets 

making a commitment to 

serving economically 

challenged communities. 

Our partnership with 

nonprofit organizations 

in outreaching to 

potential participants 

speaks to Pathmark’s 

commitment to this 

important program. 

RICH SAVNER 

Director of 

Public Affairs and 

Government Relations 

Pathmark Stores, Inc.

Carteret, New Jersey 

The rest of this “Introduction” section provides an explanation of the Toolkit, an overview of SNAP, 

SNAP question-and-answer sheets (Q&As), talking points, information about nutrition 

education providers, and other background materials.

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Introduction
ABOUT THIS TOOLKIT

Why was this toolkit developed?

We all have a common goal: to improve the ability of low-income people to 

access nutritious food by participating in SNAP. The information 

and materials in this toolkit will help you share information about 

SNAP benefits with those who are eligible but not participating. They 

will also help you let potential partners, government officials, and 

the public know how SNAP participation helps the local economy 

and addresses the national health problem of obesity.

What is SNAP outreach?

SNAP outreach is providing information or assistance to someone who 

might be eligible for SNAP. The goals of SNAP outreach are to help 

someone make an informed decision about whether to apply for the program, 

and ultimately to increase participation by eligible individuals and families.

What is in the toolkit?

This toolkit includes information on:

• SNAP

• Maximizing your outreach efforts through developing partnerships

• Resources

Each section features easy-to-follow instructions, helpful hints, and useful materials. We also have included templates (for letters, press releases, etc.) that you 

can customize with local and State specifics and enhance with information 

about your organization.

How do I use the toolkit?

The materials in this toolkit show a number of outreach possibilities, and 

offer your organization the flexibility to pick and choose pieces that work for 

your specific needs. Throughout the toolkit there are tip sheets that you can 

duplicate for yourself and your colleagues. You do not have to conduct every 

one of these activities or invest a lot of time in each one. Do what works best 

for you and your community.

Findings show that, in 

addition to the general 

low-income audience, there 

are distinct groups that are 

significantly underrepresented in accessing SNAP 

benefits. The national outreach campaign is focused 

on reaching:

GENERAL LOW-INCOME:

Eligible, nonparticipating 

individuals and families; 

WORKING POOR: Employed 

individuals and families 

who may not understand 

that even though they work, 

they still might qualify; 

ELDERLY: People 60 years 

old or older who may have 

misunderstandings about 

the process and potential 

benefits; and

LEGAL IMMIGRANTS*:

Immigrants may misunderstand eligibility requirements

related to citizenship. 

* There are other immigrant 

groups that could benefit from 

this educational effort. You 

may want to connect with local 

SNAP eligibility workers in your 

community to identify other 

distinct groups to target. Some 

FNS outreach materials are 

available in 35 languages and 

can be downloaded from the 

FNS web site. Refer to the 

“Resources” section of 

this toolkit.

TARGET POPULATIONS

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Introduction
How do I get started with outreach?

The best way to begin is to ask other organizations in your community if they are currently conducting a 

SNAP outreach project, or if they have a resource guide, task force, or advisory group. Other State offices 

and community-based groups would be a good starting point for such a discussion. They may be able to 

share State and local information and may also have informational materials to add to your effort. By working together, you will be able to further your goals and avoid duplication. 

As you start your project, be sure to keep everyone informed of your activities. Explore ways of working 

together to reduce application barriers — the best outreach efforts will not work if people run into barriers 

at the SNAP office. Extended office hours, child care areas in waiting rooms, and shorter applications are 

some examples of how SNAP offices can increase accessibility. Potential roadblocks such as crowded offices, long waiting lines, or repeated visits to the SNAP office may counter your efforts to educate potential 

applicants about SNAP and prepare them for certification interviews.

Are funds available to help pay for my outreach project?

One potential way to pay for part of your outreach project is to contact your State SNAP agency through 

an optional State outreach plan. Outreach is an allowable administrative cost for the Supplemental Nutrition 

Assistance Program for State SNAP agencies. States can receive 50 percent reimbursement from the Federal Government for necessary, reasonable, and allowable outreach expenditures. Your State agency has the 

option of contracting outreach activities to community and faith-based organizations under a State outreach 

plan. If a State chooses to do this, State contracting rules apply. Local SNAP offices should understand the 

optional State outreach plan, and be able to direct community organizations to an appropriate State contact 

for further information.

Before contacting your State agency, prepare your business case as to why outreach activities should be 

contracted to your organization. Be ready to provide your State agency with the following information, at 

a minimum:

• Background information about your organization 

• Target group(s) for the outreach project

• Need in your community for the project

• Services that you will provide

• Funding you will contribute, if any 

• Donated time

To learn more about SNAP outreach activities that can be contracted by States, review the FNS guidance 

to States. This guidance includes examples of allowable and nonallowable outreach activities and the fiscal 

policies for State plans. Also outlined in the guidance are the provisions under which waivers are granted 

to States to use private, third-party donations as their share of the cost. This information is located at www.

fns.usda.gov/fsp/outreach/stateplan.htm.

A | 5

Introduction
Can I provide nutrition education, too?

Similar to outreach, nutrition education is an allowable administrative cost for SNAP. States can 

receive 50 percent reimbursement from the Federal Government for necessary, reasonable, and allowable 

nutrition education expenditures. States can develop a nutrition education plan and submit it for approval 

to their FNS regional office. Almost all States have optional nutrition education plans in place. For a list of 

organizations participating in State nutrition education plans, go to the Food Stamp Nutrition Connection 

web site at www.nal.usda.gov/foodstamp/Stategates/index.html.

What outreach is happening on a national level and how do we fit in?

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has a nationwide effort to educate 

and inform eligible nonparticipants — with special emphasis on working poor, 

elderly, and immigrants — about SNAP.

The campaign’s primary goal is to increase enrollment in SNAP and to reinforce its role as a nutrition assistance program. The objectives of the education 

effort were developed with advice and input from many local SNAP offices and 

partners. These objectives are to: 

• Expand awareness of SNAP as a nutrition assistance and work support 

program;

• Inform eligible, unenrolled people about where and how they can apply; and

• Ensure that people who are eligible to enroll have reasonable access and can 

participate with dignity and respect. 

This effort, designed to raise awareness of and change beliefs about SNAP, 

includes promotion of a national toll-free information line through a variety of 

English and Spanish paid radio advertisements. These advertisements run on 

stations in major population centers, and in areas with particularly large numbers of eligible but unenrolled populations. Over a five year period 2003–2008, 

markets carrying ads with the SNAP National Hotline number averaged a 273 

percent increase in information packets. (Calls could not be tracked in areas 

where the ads offer a local toll-free number rather than the national one.)

You are an important part of this national effort to inform low-income people across the country about 

how they and their families can eat right, even when money’s tight. The outreach you conduct on a local level is a vital part of the national campaign.

What if I have more questions?

If you have any questions about this toolkit, or about how to conduct outreach to increase local enrollment in SNAP, please e-mail us at fspoutreach@fns.usda.gov or refer to the FNS web site, http://www.

fns.usda.gov/snap/outreach/.

You may also wish to tap the SNAP Outreach Coalition, a Web-based network of national advocacy groups and 

partner organizations, for helpful insight about ways to reach SNAP target audiences. Details about this group 

can be found in the “Resources” section under “General SNAP Outreach Resources,” or by visiting http://www.

fns.usda.gov/snap/outreach/about.htm. 

Whether you work at 

a food bank, at a community or faith-based 

organization, or with 

the State or county 

government, you are an 

important part of this 

national effort to inform 

low-income people 

across the country 

about how they and their 

families can eat right, 

even when money’s 

tight. The outreach 

you conduct on a local 

level is a vital part of the 

national campaign.

&

A | 6

Introduction
NUTRITION ASSISTANCE

SNAP is the cornerstone of the Federal nutrition assistance safety net, 

serving as the first line of defense against hunger. SNAP provides 

much-needed nutrition support to millions of low-income people. 

Nearly half of them are children.

ECONOMIC BENEFITS

Not only does SNAP help individuals and families when money’s tight, 

but your State and local community also benefit. The average SNAP 

benefit per person is about $101 per month (fiscal year 2008 data), 

which is spent in local grocery stores. In fact, every $5 in new Federal 

SNAP benefits generates up to double the amount in local economic 

activity. Also, every additional dollar in SNAP benefits generates 17 to 

47 cents of new spending on food. 

ELECTRONIC ISSUANCE

In June 2004, SNAP completed a transformation from paper coupons 

to an electronic benefits transfer (EBT) card. Participants receive 

a plastic EBT card (similar to a bank debit card) with the dollar 

amount for which they are eligible each month. There is evidence that 

EBT also decreases fraudulent use of SNAP benefits.

UNDERSERVED POPULATION

Millions of low-income people are not accessing the nutrition benefits 

for which they qualify. To be effective, it is important that our national 

and local outreach efforts counter myths about SNAP among those 

who think they are not eligible or have beliefs that discourage them 

from enrolling.

OVERVIEW OF SNAP

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Introduction
MYTH TRUTH

FOUR COMMON SNAP MYTHS HEARD FROM POTENTIAL APPLICANTS

SNAP is a nutrition assistance program designed to help individuals 

and families buy nutritious food when money’s tight.

While some receive $10, the average SNAP benefit per person is 

about $101 per month (fiscal year 2008 data).

Individuals may work and still have income low enough to receive 

SNAP benefits. In fact, nearly 40 percent of SNAP households had 

earnings in 2008.

By receiving SNAP benefits, you are not taking benefits 

away from another person. Everyone who applies and is 

determined to be eligible by the State/local eligibility worker 

will get SNAP benefits.

FOUR COMMON SNAP MYTHS HEARD FROM ELIGIBILITY WORKERS

The number of low-income people participating in SNAP 

is growing; however, the error rate is at an all-time low.

Community groups can prescreen clients using the FNS 

prescreening tool known as “Step 1” (or the State prescreening 

tool, if one exists). Additionally, they can help fill out application 

forms, gather verification information, etc. However, the 

responsibility for the actual certification of households for 

program benefits remains with SNAP staff.

Local SNAP offices can take applications or certify households for 

benefits at remote locations, such as food banks and grocery stores. 

Local offices may offer telephone interviews when appropriate.

Community workers help potential applicants gather appropriate 

verification documents so that clients are better prepared for 

the interview and bring the proper paperwork.

“SNAP is a welfare program.”

“Some people receive only $10 a 

month in SNAP benefits.”

“You cannot get SNAP 

benefits if you have a job.”

“Other people need SNAP 

benefits more than I do.”

“Outreach could mean more 

quality control errors.”

“Community workers cannot 

prescreen for eligibility or help 

gather verification documents.”

“Certification interviews must 

be held at local SNAP offices.”

“Outreach will increase 

my workload.”

A | 8

Introduction
SNAP is the first line of defense against hunger. On average, it helps more than 28 million (fiscal year 2008 data) low-income people buy nutritious food each month and make 

healthy food choices within a limited budget. Eating healthier foods helps low-income people and their families stay well and have the energy they need for today’s active lifestyles.

To apply for SNAP benefits, a person must go through the local SNAP office. If it is not possible to get 

to the office, a person may apply by telephone or make an appointment for another time or place. Any 

knowledgeable adult in the family can initiate an application, or the household may designate an “authorized 

representative” to apply for them. Outreach providers are encouraged to check out the broad-based categorical 

eligibility requirements for further information (http://www.fns.usda.gov/snap/rules/Memo/2010/121809.pdf).

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

Applicants must have INCOMES under certain levels, based on household size. A household is 

defined as people who live together and eat meals together.

Applicants may have RESOURCES, but they must be less than a certain level:

• $2,000 for most households

• $3,000 for a household with an elderly person (age 60 or older) or disabled person

• Most States exempt one or more vehicles from household resources

• A household’s home does not count as a resource

An immigrant is eligible to apply for SNAP benefits if he/she:

• Has been in the United States as a legal resident for five years

• Is a legal immigrant child (not born in the United States)

• Has earned, or can be credited with, 40 quarters of work

• Is a refugee or asylee 

• Has a military connection

• Is a member of certain Indian tribes

NOTE: A child born in the United States or a legal immigrant child is eligible for SNAP, 

even if he/she is in a family where other members of the household are not eligible. 

SNAP FACT SHEET

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Introduction
The amount of SNAP benefit for each household takes into account the household’s income, current living 

expenses, and resources. 

SNAP outreach is critical to reaching those low-income people who are not aware that they may be eligible for, or do not know how to apply for, program benefits. The Food and Nutrition Service has several 

efforts under way to help with local outreach:

TOOLS AVAILABLE

A prescreening eligibility tool, written at the 6th grade level in both English and Spanish, is 

available for anyone with Internet access. The tool helps people learn if they are eligible and how 

much they might receive in monthly benefits. It can be found at www.snap-step1.usda.gov/fns. 

A toll-free information line (1-800-221-5689) is available in Spanish and English.

Free educational posters and flyers in Spanish and English can be ordered at 

http://www.fns.usda.gov/snap/outreach/default.htm.

Five basic documents in 35 languages can be found online at 

www.fns.usda.gov/snap/outreach/translations.htm 

A national SNAP Outreach Coalition brings together national and local organizations interested 

in SNAP outreach and helps to empower these groups to do more and better outreach.

The FSOC listserv was developed to be a communication mechanism for those interested 

in outreach at the local, State, and national levels, and to share ideas among groups. To join, 

send an e-mail to outreach.coalition@fns.usda.gov.

Certified households receive their benefits through a debit card called an Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) 

card. EBT cardholder accounts are credited monthly, and SNAP recipients spend their benefits by using 

the card to buy eligible food in authorized retail food stores. Only food and certain food preparation items 

can be purchased with SNAP benefits. 

A | 10

Introduction
What is the SNAP? 

SNAP is a nutrition assistance program that helps low-income families and individuals purchase nutritious, healthy food. It is the cornerstone of the Nation’s nutrition assistance safety net. 

The U.S. Department of Agriculture oversees SNAP at the Federal level through its Food and 

Nutrition Service (FNS). State agencies administer the program at State and local levels. Their responsibilities 

include determining eligibility and distributing benefits. 

Who is eligible to receive SNAP benefits?

Anyone who meets the eligibility requirements can get SNAP benefits. Household income and other resources have to be under certain limits and are reviewed. The program allows for certain deductions like 

housing costs, child support, medical expenses, or child-care costs. A household may also have up to $2,000 

in assets. Households with a member age 60 or older — or a disabled member — may have up to $3,000 in 

assets. Assets that do not count toward eligibility requirements include: a home, a vehicle to carry a physically disabled member of a household, the fair market value of one vehicle (up to $4,650; higher limits in 

most States), and the resources of Supplemental Security Income (SSI) or Temporary Assistance for Needy 

Families (TANF) recipients. Specific details are outlined in the FNS-313 brochure at www.fns.usda.gov/fsp/

outreach/general.htm.

Where can I go to find out if I’m eligible to receive SNAP benefits? 

If you have access to a computer, you can quickly find out if you might qualify for SNAP 

benefits through the prescreening tool available on the USDA web site, www.snap-step1.usda.gov/fns/. 

Local SNAP offices can provide information about eligibility, and USDA operates a toll-free number 

(1-800-221-5689) for people to call if they want to receive information about SNAP by mail. Most States 

also have a toll-free information/hotline number that can be found at www.fns.usda.gov/fsp/contact_info/

hotlines.htm.

Some community organizations work closely with SNAP offices and can provide information 

on the application process.

All 50 States have made the transition from paper coupons to the Electronic 

Benefit Transfer (EBT) card. The EBT card is like a debit card and can be 

used at USDA-authorized grocery stores across the country. At the cash 

register, the customer or cashier swipes the EBT card through the card reader at the 

point of sale and the customer enters a personal identification number to secure the 

transaction. The system deducts the exact dollar amount of the purchase from the 

customer’s EBT account and deposits it into the retailer’s bank account. Once the SNAP 

EBT transaction is complete, a receipt shows the amount of the SNAP 

purchase and the amount of SNAP benefits remaining in the EBT account.

WHAT IS THE EBT CARD? 

SNAP FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQs)

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Introduction
What are some of SNAP’s benefits?

SNAP benefits provide much-needed help so that low-income people can put good, healthy food on the 

table. SNAP benefits help with the grocery bill. Households can use benefits to purchase breads, cereals, 

fruits and vegetables, meats, fish and poultry, and dairy products. Many States offer free nutrition education materials and programs for SNAP benefit recipients. [Localize here if your State offers materials and/

or classes.] 

SNAP benefits also help the local community. Each $5 in new SNAP benefits generates up to twice that 

amount in economic activity for the community. Plus, SNAP benefits are funded with Federal dollars — so 

when everyone who is eligible for the program receives benefits, State and local economies also benefit.

Why is there a national SNAP outreach effort?

Currently, only about 66 percent of those eligible for SNAP benefits are enrolled. The goal of this national 

SNAP outreach effort is to raise awareness of SNAP eligibility and benefits. The campaign includes promoting a national toll-free information line (1-800-221-5689) (or State toll-free lines where available) 

through a variety of English and Spanish radio advertisements in major population centers and in areas 

with large numbers of eligible but unenrolled people. 

Who is involved in SNAP outreach? 

SNAP outreach is a community-wide effort enlisting the help of State and local SNAP offices, faith-based 

groups, food banks, and others. Together, these groups play an important role in helping low-income 

families learn about and access SNAP. Community groups can help in many ways. For example, they can 

distribute informational materials, conduct prescreening for program eligibility, provide application assistance and forms, and help gather verification documents. 

A core group of national antihunger advocacy groups and other organizations are part of a group called 

the SNAP Outreach Coalition. The coalition members also collaborate to promote the nutrition benefits of 

SNAP through outreach to local antihunger projects.

A | 12

Introduction
SNAP is the first line of defense against hunger. 

ó SNAP benefits provide much-needed 

temporary help with the grocery bill so that 

low-income people can put good, healthy food 

on the table. 

ó Nearly half of those who receive SNAP benefits 

are children.

SNAP is a nutrition program that helps low-income 

families and individuals purchase nutritious, healthy 

food. It is the cornerstone of the Nation’s nutrition 

assistance safety net.

ó Low-income people get financial support to help 

with their grocery bills so they can buy fruits and 

vegetables, whole-grain foods, dairy products, 

and other healthy foods. In addition, many SNAP 

participants are offered free nutrition education 

materials and classes to help them make good 

purchasing choices and stretch their food dollars. 

SNAP has made some fundamental changes in 

recent years that make it easier to:

ó Find out about the program

* Individuals can call 1-800-221-5689 for a free 

information packet to learn more about SNAP 

and how to apply. Information is available in 

English and Spanish. 

* Individuals can go to a web site featuring a 

prescreening tool and, by answering a few 

simple questions, determine if they are eligible 

for SNAP benefits and how much they might 

receive. The web site address is 

www.snap-step1.usda.gov/fns

ó Apply for benefits

* FNS and States are working to simplify 

the application process. 

ó Shop for healthy food

* There are no more paper coupons. Now, 

benefits are delivered with an electronic 

benefit transfer (EBT) card that works like 

a debit card at the grocery store. 

SNAP is a win-win for low-income people, local 

retailers, and local communities.

ó Each $5 in new SNAP benefits generates up to 

twice that amount in economic activity for the 

community. 

ó The average benefit per person is about $101 a 

month (fiscal year 2008 data). 

ó SNAP benefits are funded with Federal dollars. 

When everyone who is eligible for the program 

receives benefits, State and local economies 

also benefit. 

ó Research shows that low-income households 

participating in SNAP have access to more 

food energy, protein, and an array of essential 

vitamins and minerals in their home food supply 

compared to eligible nonparticipants.

ó Since SNAP benefits help defray the costs of 

buying healthy foods, low-income people are 

less likely to have to make hard choices between 

eating right and paying for other essentials. 

USDA and the antihunger community are working 

as partners to ensure that everyone who is eligible 

for SNAP knows about it and is able to access 

benefits.

ó Many low-income people are not aware of their 

eligibility and how to apply, particularly those 

who are working, seniors, or legal immigrants.

ó To ensure that everyone who is eligible knows 

about the benefits of the program, USDA is 

conducting a national media campaign. 

Following are suggested talking points regarding SNAP. You are encouraged to localize this information 

with State or local SNAP data, or promote State-specific resources such as a toll-free SNAP information 

line or prescreening tool. 

SNAP TALKING POINTS AND MESSAGES

A | 13

Introduction
Why are Questions and Answers (Q&As) important? Q&As are anticipated questions and suggested 

answers that program administrators and outreach spokespeople can study to help get ready for media interviews or other public speaking. You might receive these questions from the media, the public, or others. 

Here are some examples of Q&As about SNAP outreach:

Why are you encouraging people to enroll in SNAP? 

SNAP is a nutrition assistance program that helps low-income people put healthy food on the table. SNAP 

supplements the food budgets of low-income people who are having a tough time paying for food for 

themselves or their families. Children have important nutritional needs and they make up about half of 

those currently receiving SNAP benefits. We want everyone who is eligible to have the opportunity to apply for benefits so that they can have access to healthier diets. Our outreach efforts are specially targeted 

to people who are least likely to understand that they may be eligible: elderly persons, immigrants, and 

working poor. 

Why are you encouraging the use of SNAP benefits when application numbers are increasing already? 

Yes, enrollment numbers are increasing. However, there are still many people who need help. Currently, 

in an average month, more than 13 million eligible households are NOT receiving SNAP benefits. This is 

usually because they do not think they qualify, or think there are people in greater need of the benefits. We 

want to reach out to those people, encourage them to get prescreened, and, if appropriate, apply for SNAP 

benefits so they can get help with their grocery bills. SNAP benefits are not only good for low-income 

people; they also help the local economy. 

Are the financial benefits worth the effort to enroll?

SNAP benefits are not intended to be the only means of paying the grocery bill, but they do help 

low-income people purchase healthier food items, such as fruits and vegetables. Monthly benefits vary 

based on income and household size. On average, an eligible person receives around $101 per month 

(fiscal year 2008 data). This additional support will help low-income households purchase nutritious 

foods for a healthy diet. 

Can people purchase whatever they want with their SNAP?

SNAP benefits are intended to supplement households’ grocery budgets and help them purchase healthier 

foods. Households can use SNAP benefits for a wide range of food items. Participants are encouraged to 

use their SNAP benefits wisely to maximize their nutrition impact and economic value. To that end, they 

are encouraged to buy nutrient-dense foods such as whole-grain bread and cereals; fruits and vegetables; 

lowfat meats, fish, and poultry and milk products. Other items that can be purchased with SNAP benefits 

are seeds and plants that produce food. Nonfood items cannot be bought with SNAP benefits. 

SNAP QUESTIONS & SUGGESTED ANSWERS

FOR PROGRAM ADMINISTRATORS AND SPOKESPERSONS

A | 14

Introduction
I have heard that enrolling in SNAP is difficult. What does it involve?

USDA and State and local agencies that administer SNAP are working to improve 

the application process by simplifying forms, offering extended office hours, and, in some instances, 

allowing online applications. Anyone can check to see if they might qualify for benefits through an 

online prescreening process at www.snap-step1.usda/gov/fns/.

Anyone interested in finding out more about how to apply should call 1-800-221-5689 for information. 

[Localize this information if your State or community has a toll-free number.]

How long does it take to start receiving benefits?

If you are in special need because of very low income, you may receive benefits within 7 days, if eligible. 

However, for others, it may take up to 30 days to receive benefits. At the time of application, an eligibility 

worker will give applicants this type of information. 

What measures are taken to prevent SNAP fraud?

USDA is committed to integrity in all of its nutrition assistance programs. USDA has taken several steps 

to make it easier to identify and punish those who misuse SNAP benefits. Retailers who violate program 

rules, recipients who try to obtain their benefits based on false information, or recipients who sell their 

benefits can be removed from the program, fined, and even jailed. Also, with the introduction of the electronic benefit card (EBT), which works much like a debit card at a grocery store, the USDA is better able 

to track and deter fraud. 

Doesn’t the EBT card make it easier for people to abuse the system?

No. The EBT card makes it more difficult for people to commit SNAP fraud. EBT eliminates paper food 

stamps and creates an electronic record for each transaction, making fraud easier to detect. Not only 

does the EBT card cut down on SNAP abuse, but it also reduces the stigma some people associate with 

receiving SNAP benefits. 

Why are you advertising a free benefit for poor people?

SNAP is a nutrition program that helps low-income people have better diets, and better eating can mean better health. There are many people who are eligible for SNAP benefits but are 

not participating in the program. SNAP is a win-win for local retailers and local communities. 

Each $5 in new SNAP benefits generates up to twice that amount in economic activity for the 

community. Average SNAP benefits are about $101 a month per person (fiscal year 2008 data), translating to money spent in local grocery stores. Everyone wins when eligible people take advantage 

of benefits to which they are entitled.

A | 15

Introduction
Many communities have a wealth of information available to help your organization promote the nutrition 

benefits of the SNAP. Focusing on nutrition can help your organization get the attention of individuals 

who might not be inclined to pick up SNAP informational materials. This gives your organization an opportunity to explain SNAP as a nutrition assistance program to potential applicants — as well as employers, community leaders, and others — who might still associate SNAP with welfare programs. Learn more 

about SNAP nutrition education providers in your community and what role each organization can play 

to increase SNAP participation. 

What is the goal of SNAP Nutrition Education? 

The goal of the SNAP is to improve the likelihood that persons eligible for SNAP will make healthy food 

choices within their limited budget and choose active lifestyles, as the Dietary Guidelines for Americans 

and the USDA Food Guidance System (MyPyramid) recommend. 

Why should my organization consider collaborating with SNAP Nutrition Education providers?

Outreach and SNAP Nutrition Education can work together to communicate messages about how SNAP can 

help needy families obtain healthy foods. The possibility of better nutrition can help generate interest in SNAP 

among potentially eligible persons as well as community workers serving that population. SNAP Nutrition 

Education providers have conducted needs assessments to identify which nutrition messages to promote and 

strategies for communicating these messages to SNAP-eligible population. They also have access to nutrition education materials that are consistent with national nutrition initiatives. By working together, 

outreach and nutrition education can communicate accurate, unified, and reinforcing messages that have 

a more powerful reach.

FNS recently developed a series of nutrition education and promotion materials targeting mothers entitled 

Loving Your Family, Feeding their Future: Nutrition Education Through the Food Stamp Program. The 

nutrition education messages are based on the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2005. These nutrition 

education messages address the needs of English and Spanish speaking mothers with limited literacy 

skills. This series of education materials includes an educator’s handbook, four discussion sessions with 

accompanying participant handouts, participant guidebook, and an online educator’s learning module 

with a flash video component. These materials were developed primarily for SNAP nutrition education 

participants, however, they can be used in other nutrition education settings with similar target audiences 

such as the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) program. 

Educators can access Loving Your Family... materials at http://foodstamp.nal.usda.gov.

COLLABORATING WITH SNAP-ED PROVIDERS IN YOUR COMMUNITY

A | 16

Introduction
WHERE CAN I GO TO LEARN MORE ABOUT SNAP NUTRITION EDUCATION? 

States often provide nutrition education to SNAP participants through contracts with the Cooperative Extension System, State Nutrition Networks, public health departments, and other organizations. 

The Food Stamp Nutrition Connection, a project of the USDA Food and Nutrition Service and 

the National Agricultural Library, maintains a list of State SNAP Nutrition Education providers. 

You can access it online at www.nal.usda.gov, request a print copy by phone at 301-504-5719, or 

e-mail FSNC@nal.usda.gov. 

You can also contact your State or local SNAP offices for information on SNAP Nutrition Education activities in your area. 

A | 17

Introduction
1

HOW TO

Toolkit

FOR ALL IT’S WORTH!

Milk this

Hook ‘Em, Hook ‘Em,

THEN REEL THEM IN

2
Developing and Maintaining 

Partnerships 

How can an outreach partnership help me with my work?

Partners can help you by educating potential Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) 

applicants about the benefits of their participation in the SNAP and preparing them for the application 

process. This can make your work to determine the eligibility of applicants more efficient.

Here is what you will find in this section:

3 Ten steps for establishing a partnership;

3 Useful template materials that can be tailored for local needs; and

3 Examples of partnership materials. 



KEYS TO:

Partnership

Development

What if I have questions about outreach and partnerships?

Go to the SNAP Web site at http://www.fns.usda.gov/snap/outreach/. There you can find free materials 

such as posters, brochures, and flyers to order, as well as general information about outreach, outreach 

strategies, and promising practices.

Learn from your colleagues by joining the SNAP Outreach Coalition, a nationwide network of advocacy 

groups, partner organizations, and State offices that work to promote the health and nutrition benefits of 

SNAP. Formed in 2003, this core group of national food banks, community and faith-based groups, service organizations, and States works together to end hunger and improve nutrition.

For more information about the Coalition, please visit the web site at http://www.fns.usda.gov/snap/outreach/about.htm. You will also find a listing of national partners that may have a local chapter with which 

you can collaborate. 

What are the steps for developing and maintaining a partnership?

You can establish a partnership by following 10 simple steps. These steps may also be helpful if you are 

approached by a community organization seeking a partnership with you. 

B | 1

PARTNERSHIPS
STEP 1 | FIND OUT YOUR STATE 

AND LOCAL POLICIES

As a State or local Government agency, there are some important things you 

must do before you approach partners with a proposal to work together: 

• Always let people in your chain of command know of your plans. 

• Be sure you have their approval to move forward with your partnership 

plans before you begin.

Research your State or local policies

In general, keep the following in mind as you think about your potential 

partnerships:

• Your State may have activities that are coordinated at the State level only. 

• Your State may require approval before a local office can conduct certain 

types of activities. 

• There may be paperwork to complete. 

• Your State may already have contracts or grants with groups that could 

potentially be partners. Your activities must not interfere with the contract 

or grant. 

Then make sure you understand the specific State and local policies and 

procedures on:

• Partnerships and the types of activities that partners can do

• Use of volunteers

• Posting of information on the Web sites of other organizations

• Working with media

• Working with businesses or retailers

• Provision of translation services 

• Use of administrative funds to conduct outreach 

• Contracting requirements

10 STEPS TO 

DEVELOPING AND 

MAINTAINING A 

PARTNERSHIP 

1| Find out your State 

and local policies

2| Assess your 

customer service

3| Select a 

target audience

4| Determine which 

partners will most 

effectively reach 

your target audience

5| Research and 

get prepared

6| Contact your 

prospective partner

7| Jointly establish 

your outreach plan 

8| Confirm the 

partnership roles 

and responsibilities 

in writing

9| Stay in touch 

with your partner

10| Evaluate your 

partnership

B | 2

PARTNERSHIPS
Does your State have an optional outreach plan?

Find out if your State has an optional plan for SNAP outreach. Such a plan may already involve grants or 

contracts to local organizations that you might consider as partners. Your potential partner may already 

have SNAP funds to design, develop, and/or print materials or conduct outreach activities.

If your State doesn’t already have a plan, you may want to explore this as a possible funding source for 

your partnership. If the partnership is funded through the optional State outreach plan, your State grant 

or contract rules, such as rules regarding sole source awards, competition, and monitoring, among other 

things, will apply.

STEP 2 | ASSESS YOUR 

CUSTOMER SERVICE

Make sure there are no customer service barriers when potential customers contact your office 

Take a look around your office and imagine how your customers might view it. Assess your service 

procedures to see if any changes might be needed as you implement your new outreach project. Consider 

the following:

• Does your office offer extended hours of operation?

• Is there a child care area in the waiting room?

• How long is your application form? What languages is it in? Is it easily available? Is there a person 

available to help the applicant fill out the form?

• Do you have a 24-hour drop-off box for applications and verification documents to make it easy for 

applicants to return information after normal business hours? The drop-off box also saves time, as an 

applicant does not need to wait to see a receptionist or eligibility worker. 

STEP 3 | SELECT A 

TARGET AUDIENCE

Next, figure out what populations you want to reach through your partnership. National SNAP data shows 

that the most hard-to-reach and underserved populations are seniors (age 60 and older), immigrants, and 

the working poor. But the target audience for your community may be different. For example, your community may have a large number of homeless individuals or unemployed people. You can:

• Talk to others in your office about which groups in your community tend to be underserved. 

• Work with your State office to review State- or community-specific information on 

underserved populations. 

B | 3

PARTNERSHIPS
STEP 4 | DETERMINE WHICH PARTNER GROUPS WILL MOST EFFECTIVELY

REACH YOUR TARGET AUDIENCE

To decide whom to choose as partners, brainstorm and make a list of organizations that your target 

audience trusts and uses. Seek advice from others:

• Ask staff in your office which organizations they work with on a regular 

basis. 

• Take advantage of any advisory groups or county boards that work with 

your local agency to find out more about how best to reach the target group. 

• Ask existing partners for input about other groups that should be involved in 

community outreach. 

• Ask customers during the intake process for the names of groups with whom 

they come into contact and how they learned about the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.

See page B | 10 for a list of potential partners.

Volunteers are enthusiastic and eager to help. If 

your plans call for the use 

of volunteers, be sure you 

discuss these issues with 

your partner as well: 

• How will you train 

volunteers to let them 

know what they can or 

can’t do? For example, 

they can schedule 

appointments and 

fill out application 

forms, but they cannot 

certify households for 

SNAP benefits.

• How will you educate 

volunteers about SNAP? 

• How will you handle 

volunteer turnover?

• How will you thank your 

volunteers?

USING VOLUNTEERS

B | 4

PARTNERSHIPS
Although local businesses 

have a genuine interest in 

helping out the needy in their 

community and will most 

likely have a formal 

community relations staff 

member, they also are driven 

by profit motivation and will 

have to think about their 

bottom line. If you plan to 

approach a local business 

or retailer about partnership, 

you may have to emphasize 

the economic arguments for 

participation expansion more 

than others. (See page B | 17) 

Be sure you can tell retailers how SNAP participation 

helps their business thrive. 

Be sure you can tell 

employers how participation 

in SNAP will help 

their employees. 

See end of this section for a 

list of activities for outreach 

partnerships.

STEP 5 | RESEARCH AND 

GET PREPARED 

Increase your chances of success by being prepared before you contact your prospective partner. 

RESEARCH

Take some time to learn as much as you can about your prospective 

partner. Make sure you understand the role the organization plays in the 

community and whom the organization serves. Following are some ways 

you can do this:

• Ask others in your office what they know about the prospective partner. 

• Ask if anyone in your office has the name of a contact. 

• Study the organization’s web site. 

GET PREPARED

Collect your ideas. Be prepared for questions your partner may ask. 

Be sure you can: 

• Provide a brief overview of your organization. 

• For community partners, promote the health and economic benefits of 

SNAP. (See the “Introduction” section for a SNAP fact sheet.)

• Present the partnership as a “win-win” situation for all parties.

• Explain the role partners can play to assist potentially eligible people in 

accessing SNAP. (See page B | 11 for a list of ideas.)

• Discuss the importance of the project and why a potential partner should 

work with you to help their customers learn about and apply for SNAP

benefits. 

SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS 

FOR BUSINESS PARTNERS

B | 5

PARTNERSHIPS
STEP 6 | CONTACT YOUR 

PROSPECTIVE PARTNER

As you approach potential partners, remember that enthusiasm goes a long way. But if a potential partner 

says “no” to your ideas, do not get discouraged. Your ideas might not fit into their schedule right now. 

There will be other partnership opportunities. Try the next organization on your list. 

CALL

First, call the potential partner to start the ball rolling and gauge his or her interest. Here are some 

tips for making this initial call:

• Practice the talking points in advance. Do 

this regardless of whether you are talking to 

an acquaintance or someone you don’t know. 

• When speaking, use a conversational tone. 

• Be respectful of your contact’s time; ask if it is 

a good time for a conversation.

• Offer to schedule an appointment to conduct 

a meeting in person. 

• Invite him or her to your offices for a tour 

and a brief overview of the SNAP 

application process. 

WRITE

If you can’t reach your contact by phone, send an 

e-mail or letter. The following are some tips on 

composing your e-mail or letter:

• Personalize and localize the information as 

much as possible. Your partner will want to 

know why you selected his or her group and 

what role you will want it to play in the 

project. (See the sample partner letter

on page B | 15 at the end of this section.)

• Keep the letter short and to the point.

• Proofread your letter before sending it out. 

• Promise to follow up. Don’t wait for a call. 

Post a reminder on your calendar and call 

back in a few days.

 MEET

If you have scheduled a meeting with your 

partner, here are some helpful tips for a 

successful meeting: 

• Confirm the meeting date, time, and equipment a day or two before the scheduled meeting.

• Consider sending your partner an agenda and 

some informational materials by e-mail or mail 

that he or she can review before the meeting.

• Tailor your presentation to your audience. 

Take along materials from this toolkit or your 

agency that are appropriate to your audience, 

and leave materials for the partner to review 

after the meeting.

• Provide your partner with information about 

the SNAP application process. If you are talking with a local SNAP office, discuss how your 

organization will submit the application forms. 

Clear procedures are needed to protect the date 

the application was filed.

• Be clear about your role in this project.

• Be clear and direct about how you would like 

your partner to be involved.

• Be clear on funding. If there is no funding 

available, be sure that is understood.

• Bring your partnership ideas to the table. 

• Listen to the ideas your future partner has. 

• Look professional, be on time, and be respectful of your partner’s time.

B | 6

PARTNERSHIPS
STEP 7 | JOINTLY DETERMINE 

YOUR OUTREACH PLAN

Once you and your partner have agreed to work together, take some time to jointly establish a plan for your 

outreach. Discuss your goals and what strategies or activities you will use to reach those goals. 

Examples of outreach goals:

• Educate people about the nutrition benefits of SNAP.

• Increase the number of applicants who fill out and file an application form for SNAP benefits at locations other than SNAP office.

• Increase the number of individuals prescreened for SNAP benefits.

• Increase the number of callers to your toll-free number.

• Develop a local web site that will contain community resources or other information.

• Increase the number of hits to your web site.

• Promote the web site location containing SNAP application form or prescreening tool, 

if applicable.

• Distribute application forms at locations such as food banks.

• Promote the EBT card to possible participants as a confidential way to receive benefits.

• Promote extended hours.

You will also want to discuss the following issues with your new partner:

• How many people do you want to reach?

• What are the roles and responsibilities of each partner?

• How will funding be handled?

• How will you evaluate your work? 

• How will problems be resolved?

STEP 8 | CONFIRM PARTNERSHIP ROLES AND 

RESPONSIBILITIES IN WRITING 

Confirm your partnership arrangements in writing by sending a letter or e-mail to your new partner. If the 

partnership is straightforward, this document can be simple. Just list the details of the partnership. You may 

want to include a summary of the roles and responsibilities of each partner. For an example, go to the end of 

this section. 

B | 7

PARTNERSHIPS
STEP 9 | STAY IN TOUCH WITH 

YOUR PARTNER 

Once your partnership is established and outreach is underway, keep your partner informed and involved.

Here are some suggestions to help maintain your partnership:

• Update your partner on activities. Be sure to call or meet periodically to check in on how things 

are going.

• Send periodic thank you notes to the partner and volunteers. Let them know how many new people 

are getting the benefits of SNAP as a result of their efforts.

• Offer to include your partner in promotional activities like a newsletter or an event. 

3 Present the partnership as a “win-win” situation for all parties.

3 Agree on goals and objectives.

3 Develop clearly defined roles and responsibilities.

3 Practice clear and frequent communications.

3 Show appreciation through recognition.



KEYS TO:

Establishing 

and Maintaining

a Strong 

Partnership

STEP 10 | EVALUATE YOUR 

PARTNERSHIP 

Although partnerships can be time-consuming, they can also be a valuable part of your work. It is important to track the value of these collaborations so that you can find out if you met your goals, and what 

did and didn’t work. You can use either process measures, outcome measures, or both, depending on the 

nature of your partnership.

PARTNERSHIP PROCESS MEASURES

• Has the number of partnerships you have developed increased since you began your alliancebuilding program?

• When you established your partnerships, you began with a clear list of expectations. Are those 

expectations being met?

• Do staff who are working on the partnerships feel they are proceeding well? For example, if a partner is 

filling out application forms, are these forms filled out properly or must State or local staff redo them?

• Do your partners approach you with new and creative ideas for working together?

• Have your partners provided you with new information and expertise?

B | 8

PARTNERSHIPS
PARTNERSHIP OUTCOME MEASURES

• Have you seen an increase in calls to your local number? 

• When clients call or come into your office, ask how they learned about SNAP. If these individuals 

were a part of your project, are they better prepared (for instance, form filled out, verification 

documents in hand) for the certification interview?

• Maintain a referral tracking document. Assign a code (like color, label, number) for your partner(s) 

and place the code on applications that will be distributed by them. When those applications are 

submitted, you will be able to see where the applicant picked up the information and track the 

number of referrals from that particular relationship. 

• Has your ability to reach the target audience improved? Have more people from the target audience 

called or come into your office as a result of a partnership?

• If you host an event, such as prescreening at a grocery store, keep track of the number of people 

in attendance and the number of applicants prescreened for SNAP benefits. 

• If certification interviews are conducted, keep track of how many. 

• If informational materials were distributed, keep track of what materials were used and how many 

were given out.

• Did your partners help generate media coverage that increased the awareness of SNAP benefits? 

SHARE YOUR SUCCESS

Once you have been able to demonstrate success, do not forget to share it! By sharing your partnership 

successes, other organizations will clearly see the value and benefits of joining in the outreach effort. 

You can:

• Mention your current partners when you are at meetings and conferences. 

• Write up your success and submit it on SNAP’s Promising Outreach Practices web page. (See the 

Promising Practices section of the toolkit for more information.)

B | 9

PARTNERSHIPS
POTENTIAL PARTNERS

OTHER STATE, COUNTY OR CITY GOVERNMENT AGENCIES 

(Tip: Do you have the same commissioner or 

director? If so, start with those groups.)

• Local health department

• Employment assistance offices, 

including one-stop career centers

• Schools

• Department of Motor Vehicles

• Property tax offices

• Mayor or city or county officials

• Housing projects

• Corrections departments 

(for prisoners with imminent release)

• Local Social Security office

• Local military bases or installations

• Local or regional IRS offices

FAITH-BASED ORGANIZATIONS

• Churches

• Temples

• Mosques

• Synagogues

COMMUNITY SERVICE GROUPS

• Food banks and pantries

• Community action agencies

• Homeless shelters and soup kitchens

• Family support centers (e.g., day care, 

domestic violence shelters, literacy, utility 

assistance programs)

• Legal Aid 

• Salvation Army

• Goodwill

• Voluntary Income Tax Assistance 

(VITA) locations

BUSINESS AND LABOR

• Employers

• Grocery stores

• Local unions

• Transit providers 

• Utility companies

MEDICAL COMMUNITY

• Doctors

• Hospitals

• Pharmacies 

• Community Health Centers

SENIORS’ GROUPS

• Assisted living facilities 

• Area Agencies on Aging

• AARP chapters

• Meals-on-Wheels program

IMMIGRANT GROUPS

• Local consulates

• Clubes de Oriundos

• Immigrant service organizations (e.g., the Michoacan 

Federation, Lao American Community Service)

MEDIA ORGANIZATIONS

• Radio

• TV 

• Newspapers

• Internet

B | 10

PARTNERSHIPS
ACTIVITIES FOR POTENTIAL OUTREACH PARTNERSHIPS

Community groups/agencies/other organizations can:

c Conduct SNAP eligibility prescreening.

c Provide application assistance. Distribute SNAP application forms and help 

potential clients fill out the forms. Explain to potential applicants what types of 

information and documentation the local SNAP office will need to complete the 

application process. 

c Provide translation services, when appropriate. 

c Include information about the nutrition and health benefits of SNAP in 

newsletters or other local outreach materials. 

c Post posters or flyers in lobbies, waiting areas, employee break areas, health 

clinic checkout areas, nutrition education rooms, etc.

c Post information on their web site and link to Step 1, the FNS eligibility 

prescreening tool.

c Provide SNAP information or giveaways at community events such as 

health or county fairs. 

c Host a “nutrition/health fair” to promote SNAP benefits.

Retailers/grocers can:

c Play PSAs on in-store public address audio or video systems. 

c Include flyers and brochures in mailings and weekly circulars.

c Include SNAP benefit information on store receipts and in grocery bags.

c Print SNAP information on grocery or produce bags. Make it lively—a grocery 

bag image containing the national toll-free number is available from USDA. 

(Graphic is included on CD-ROM in this toolkit.) Advertise SNAP information on 

grocery carts.

c Design, produce, and post promotional materials about SNAP benefits in the 

store — posters, banners, floor graphics, recipe cards, etc. (Logos for graphic 

design are included on the CD-ROM in this toolkit.)

c Provide SNAP information in the checkout display area. 

c Underwrite paid advertising on local media.

c Underwrite printing of outreach materials.

c Host prescreening or certification interviews in the store.

more>

B | 11

PARTNERSHIPS
 Pharmacies can:

c Include SNAP information on the patient information forms stapled to prescription drugs. 

c Include contact information for the local SNAP office in circulars. 

c Play PSAs on in-store public address audio or video systems. 

c Advertise SNAP information on shopping carts. 

c Post SNAP nutrition information on pharmacy Web sites. 

c Sponsor health fairs where prescreening or certification interviews can take place.

Employers can:

c Include SNAP information in new employee packets, newsletters, 

job training programs, etc.

c Put a notice about a local or national toll-free number on check stubs. 

c Make periodic announcements about SNAP over the intercom system.

c Allow eligibility workers to prescreen or conduct SNAP certification interviews on-site.

c Post SNAP information such as posters or flyers on bulletin boards or Web sites.

Transit companies can:

c Provide free advertising space on bus shelters, buses, and subways/light rail.

c Include flyers and brochures in mailings.

Utility companies can:

c Put SNAP benefits information in newsletters.

c Print information on utility bills.

c Enclose insert along with invoice.

c Allow organizations to give out informational materials or prescreen for SNAP 

benefits on site.

ACTIVITIES FOR POTENTIAL OUTREACH PARTNERSHIPS

B | 12

PARTNERSHIPS
PARTNERS WITH A COMMON GOAL

Community and faith-based groups, retailers, and antihunger advocacy groups across the country have a 

common goal to reduce hunger and improve nutrition. 

STRENGTH IN NUMBERS

By coming together in partnership, we can advance our efforts to inform individuals and families in our 

communities about SNAP, ensuring that everyone can eat right, even when money’s tight.

RAISING AWARENESS

There are a number of ways you can help inform members of your community about the nutrition 

benefits of SNAP.

WAYS TO INFORM MEMBERS OF YOUR COMMUNITY

c Provide free SNAP resources including flyers 

for waiting rooms, health fairs, libraries, and 

community centers.

c Insert free SNAP materials in grocery bags, 

informational packets, new employee 

materials, etc.

c Include the SNAP toll-free number, 1-800-

221-5689, or web site www.fns.usda.gov/snap

on promotional pieces such as posters, flyers, 

milk or egg cartons, paper or plastic bags, 

store receipts, and in-store displays. 

c Include information about Step 1, SNAP’s 

online prescreening tool, in promotional 

pieces or make arrangements with employers 

or senior groups to allow individuals to use 

the prescreening tool to learn their possible 

eligibility for SNAP benefits.

c Publish an article about the nutrition benefits 

of SNAP in your employee or group newsletters and magazines. 

c Broadcast SNAP public 

service announcements (PSAs) at your 

store or company or use your contacts to 

get donated time at radio stations. PSAs 

can be downloaded from http://www.fns.usda.

gov/cga/Radio/radio.htm

c Add a link to www.fns.usda.gov/snap from 

your web page.

c Host a special SNAP prescreening event, 

cooking demonstration, or information fair. 

c Volunteer at an activity to raise awareness 

about SNAP (options could include helping at 

a food pantry or food bank, soup kitchen, or 

prescreening event). 

c Subscribe to the SNAP Outreach Coalition 

listserv and learn about other outreach efforts 

taking place across the country. To join, send 

an e-mail to outreach.coalition@fns.usda.gov.

GET INVOLVED!

B | 13

PARTNERSHIPS
[DATE]

[NAME]

[TITLE]

[BUSINESS/ORGANIZATION]

[ADDRESS]

[CITY], [STATE] [ZIP CODE]

Dear Mr./Ms. [NAME]:

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is the first line of defense against 

hunger. On behalf of [ORGANIZATION NAME], I am writing to invite you to lend your 

support to [STATE/CITY/TOWN’S] SNAP outreach effort by [Describe the request — an activity you would like the organization to participate in, such as: hosting a health fair or prescreening event; volunteering; distributing informational flyers; promoting events; etc.]. 

The goal of this outreach effort is to ensure that everyone who is eligible for SNAP knows 

about the program and is able to access benefits. 

[Provide local information on what your organization is doing, who you plan to target in your 

campaign, and the need in your community (number of potentially eligible individuals that are 

not being served for this type of effort.)]

We hope you will join us in supporting our outreach efforts; we would be honored to work 

with you. With your support, we are confident that we can reach more of [CITY/STATE’s] 

individuals and families not yet enrolled in SNAP. By participating, [List benefits to organization such as: reinforces position as community leader; provides opportunity for positive media 

exposure; offers community service opportunities; etc.].

I will contact you in the next few days to further discuss the vital role you can play in helping our community. In the meantime, feel free to contact me at [PHONE NUMBER] should 

you have any questions. I have also enclosed additional information on SNAP benefits for 

your review.

Again, we hope you can join us in supporting this important effort, and look forward to 

speaking with you soon.

Sincerely,

[NAME]

[TITLE]

Enclosures

How can I initiate a 

partnership? If a relationship is not currently 

in place,a good way to 

initiate a partnership is 

by sending a letter to 

a community relations, 

marketing, or communications contact. Your 

letter should outline 

your outreach effort, 

provide background 

information on your 

organization and SNAP, 

and describe the nature 

of your partnership request. Following is 

a template letter that 

you can use.

PARTNER LETTER TEMPLATE

B | 14

PARTNERSHIPS
Highlighted are 

some examples 

of what you 

might include 

in this letter.

PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT LETTER TEMPLATE

Within your community, 

there may be a host 

of potential partners

interested in joining 

your effort to boost 

SNAP enrollment and 

inform people of the 

nutrition benefits of 

the program. Retailers, 

businesses, community-based organizations, 

and government entities 

can all play a vital role 

in SNAP outreach. 

[DATE]

[NAME]

[TITLE]

[BUSINESS/ORGANIZATION]

[ADDRESS]

[CITY], [STATE] [ZIP CODE]

Dear Mr./Ms. [NAME]:

Thank you so much for agreeing to partner with [NAME OF YOUR ORGANIZATION] to help 

us reach those low-income individuals and families in our community who can benefit from the 

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Our partnership is part of a larger national 

effort to ensure that everyone who is eligible for SNAP benefits receives them. 

Below is an outline of the partnership specifics we discussed: 

In-Kind Donations

• Financial contribution for production of materials such as pamphlets, bus/subway 

ads, bus/subway shelter ads, pot holders, recipe cards, etc.

• In-store space to conduct nutrition events, prescreenings, etc.

• Placement of PSA or donated print advertisement space, etc.

• Personnel support to help fill out SNAP application forms, obtain verification 

documents, etc.

Promotional Opportunities

• Appearance of company name in SNAP media materials.

Visibility–Advertising, Media and Event Signage

• Your company’s logo on SNAP signage and in outreach materials.

• Opportunity for a company representative to attend/participate at event(s).

We’re so glad you see the value of partnering on such an important outreach effort. Please feel 

free to call me at [PHONE NUMBER] with any questions. Thank you once again. 

Sincerely,

[NAME]

[TITLE]

B | 15

PARTNERSHIPS
Help your customers learn about the nutrition benefits of the SNAP. SNAP benefits bring Federal 

funds into your community that can increase sales at your store. With SNAP benefits, your lowincome customers can purchase more healthy foods such as fruits and vegetables, whole-grain foods, 

and dairy products. As a retailer, you can:

10 IDEAS FOR RETAILER SNAP OUTREACH

1. DISPLAY SNAP posters, flyers, magnets, and other materials. Go 

to http://www.fns.usda.gov/snap/outreach/default.htm for free 

USDA materials and promotional items.

2. INVITE local groups such as food banks, 

antihunger groups, or other community or faithbased groups to staff an information table to give 

out SNAP information or prescreen customers 

for eligibility.

3. PUT SNAP information, such as national or 

local SNAP toll-free numbers, on grocery bags 

and in weekly circulars and bulletins.

4. PUBLISH SNAP materials in 

languages spoken in your community.

5. PRINT SNAP promotional 

messages on store receipts.

6. BROADCAST SNAP public service announcements in the store.

7. HOST nutritious food tastings or cooking 

demonstrations. Give out recipe cards that contain 

nutrition information and the national or local SNAP 

toll-free number.

8. FORM partnerships with local community and advocacy 

groups. Host a “health fair” to conduct SNAP eligibility prescreenings. Invite local media to the event.

9. PARTNER with EBT processors to educate cashiers about 

the benefits of SNAP.

10. ENCOURAGE EBT processors to add recorded messages to 

help-desk numbers promoting the nutrition benefits of SNAP 

and encouraging SNAP clients to “tell a friend.”

B | 16

PARTNERSHIPS
SNAP: PUTTING HEALTHY FOOD WITHIN REACH

• Stretch food dollars. Those receiving SNAP 

benefits spend more money on food than 

other low-income households. 

• Fight obesity through education.

Nutrition educators teach SNAP 

participants the importance of a quality 

diet, how to prepare healthy foods, and 

how to make healthy choices.

• Put food on the table for their children. 

SNAP benefits are an investment in 

our future. Nearly 50 percent of participants 

are children.

• Keep elderly family members independent. For the elderly, participation can help 

improve nutritional status and well-being 

and increase independence. Nine percent of 

SNAP recipients are age 60 or older.

• Make the transition to self-sufficiency.

SNAP helps participants become 

financially stable and provides needed 

support as they transition to self-sufficiency. 

Half of all new participants will leave the 

program within nine months.

The Program Helps Low-Income Families: 

• Support local food retailers. The average 

monthly SNAP benefit is approximately $222, 

which is spent in local grocery stores.

• Generate economic activity. Every $5 in new 

SNAP benefits generates up to $9.20 in community spending.

• Support farms. On average, $1 billion of 

retail food demand by SNAP recipients generates 3,300 farm jobs.

• Leverage Federal funds. SNAP benefits are 

Federal funds. By increasing the number of 

people in SNAP, communities can bring Federal money into their States and communities.

The Program Helps States and Local Communities:

• Achieve optimal performance. Employees 

whose food needs are met at home may have 

higher productivity and take fewer sick days 

for themselves and their children. 

• Attain self-sufficiency. SNAP benefits supplement the food budgets of low-income workers 

so they can stay independent and work toward 

self-sufficiency.

The Program Helps Businesses and Workers:



B | 17

PARTNERSHIPS
SAMPLE MAILER INSERTS: PROJECT BREAD 

ENGLISH AND SPANISH

B | 18

PARTNERSHIPS
3

CULTURAL COMPETENCY:

A DASH 

OF DIVERSITY, A MEDLEY OF OUTREACH IDEAS 
Cultural Competency

A Dash of Diversity, a Medley of 

Outreach Ideas

Section I. The Right Thing: The Importance of Effective SNAP Outreach Across Cultures

What Is Cultural Competence? 

Cultural competence refers to how well people understand and interact with individuals from diverse 

backgrounds. Diversity means not only people of different nationalities, ethnic groups, and religious 

backgrounds, but also includes gender and age, people with disabilities, as well as the extent to which 

immigrants have integrated into mainstream American culture. 

While there are many definitions of cultural competence, we have chosen to use the following as the 

foundation for this section of the Outreach Toolkit: 

What Does This Section Hope To Accomplish?

This section of the toolkit provides suggestions and practical tips, planning tools, and real-life examples 

of how to make the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) outreach more culturally competent. It is not, however, intended to provide specific strategies and tactics for reaching individuals of 

distinct races, ethnicities, cultures, or other demographic groups. 

Why Should Outreach Workers Care About Being Culturally Competent?

By using language and materials that are tailored for specific target groups, outreach workers improve 

communication with clients for better customer service. Ultimately, their jobs are easier, more 

productive, and more fulfilling. Culturally competent communication allows outreach workers to:

• Spend more time providing services and less time trying to clarify confusing or misunderstood 

information.

• Decrease the level of stress and anxiety for themselves and clients.

• Reduce the likelihood of errors on applications and other important paperwork.

• Increase the level of trust with clients and improve overall satisfaction with SNAP.

Cultural Competence 

is the capacity of an individual or an organization and its personnel to communicate 

effectively and to convey information in a manner that is easily understood by and 

tailored for diverse audiences.

C | 1

 Cultural Competency
Why Is Cultural Competence Important for SNAP Outreach?

The need to reach diverse audiences is greater now than ever before. The U.S. population is changing, and 

communities today are more racially, ethnically, culturally, and economically different. By the year 

2030, the Census Bureau reports that 40 percent of the U.S. population will describe themselves as 

members of racial and ethnic groups other than non-Hispanic and White. 

A recent report on participation rates by various demographic characteristics shows that more than half 

of all individuals receiving SNAP are non-White:

• More than 33 percent or one-third of participants are Black or African-American.

• Nineteen percent are Hispanic.

• Another 4 percent belong to other races or ethnic groups. 

Still, not everyone who is eligible for SNAP takes part in the program. Participation among target populations continues to be low. This is especially true among Hispanics and the elderly: 

• About 51 percent of the eligible Hispanic population participate in SNAP. 

• Only 30 percent of the elderly who are eligible for SNAP actually participate.

What Are the Implications of Not Being Culturally Competent?

Given the current and projected demographic changes in the United States, outreach providers must take 

the Nation’s increasingly diverse and complex backgrounds into account when conducting SNAP 

outreach in order to be effective in reaching as many eligible people as possible.

Outreach workers who are not culturally competent are less effective or successful when conducting 

outreach due to potential miscommunications and misunderstandings. A small amount of time invested 

up front in learning to communicate effectively with diverse groups, especially those groups that the 

office serves frequently, will pay off with more efficient time management, better customer relations, 

and improved participation in SNAP.

SNAP is a nutrition assistance program that enables families to supplement their food budget so that 

they can buy more healthful food, such as vegetables and fruits. A healthy diet and physical exercise are 

important. An increasing number of studies and reports, such as the U.S. Department of Health and Human 

Services’ Healthy People 2010 (www.healthypeople.gov), cite poor nutrition as a leading contributor to 

diseases that disproportionately affect minorities and low-income populations. Consider these other facts:

• Obesity among low-income Americans is linked to having limited or uncertain access to nutritious 

and safe foods.

• People living in rural areas are more likely to be older, poorer, and less healthy than people living 

in urban areas.

• Obesity continues to be higher for African-American and Mexican-American women than for 

non-Hispanic and White women.

• The prevalence of high blood pressure in African-Americans is among the highest in the world.

C | 2

Cultural Competency
Myths About SNAP

Myth: “I work every day. SNAP 

benefits are for people who are 

unemployed or who can’t work.” 

Fact: Many SNAP users are 

employed full-time yet need extra 

help to afford more nutritious foods.

Myth: “I can’t buy the types of food 

my family eats with SNAP benefits.”

Fact: Most grocery store chains and 

even some small specialty or “corner” 

stores and farmers markets accept 

SNAP benefits. What’s most important is that there are very few foods 

that you cannot purchase with SNAP 

benefits; examples of items that may 

not be purchased are alcohol, pet food, 

and hot, prepared foods. 

Myth: “I refuse to be on welfare. 

Only welfare recipients receive 

SNAP benefits.”

Fact: SNAP is a nutrition assistance 

program, which is not the same as 

welfare. Participants do not have to receive welfare to be eligible for SNAP.

Section II. Getting To Know Your 

Community: How To Conduct a Needs 

Assessment 

What Is a Needs Assessment?

A needs assessment is the process of gathering and examining information to get a clearer and more 

accurate picture of an issue, challenge, or environment. In this case, the needs assessment will help you 

better understand the diverse community in which you want to conduct SNAP outreach. This information is gathered through a series of carefully crafted questions that will likely be asked of individuals 

inside and outside of your organization so that you can get a number of different opinions. The 

results can be presented as a formal report or an informal document—the key is to summarize the 

findings accurately. 

 

Reaching Diverse Audiences: 

You Know You Are Being Effective When...

•	 Your staff reflects your client population, or target

client population, in racial and cultural makeup

and language.

•	 Your staff is aware of and demonstrates the behaviors, attitudes, and skills that enable them to work well

across cultures.

•	 You work with organizations that are directly involved

with the diverse communities you need to reach.

•	 You have relationships with ethnic or minority media in

your community.

•	 Your outreach includes varied approaches to sharing information with individuals with disabilities.

•	 You use translation and interpretive services to meet

the language needs of your clients.

•	 Print materials are easy to read and meet the sixth

grade literacy level. Print materials include picture and

symbol format, as needed.

•	 Materials are available in different formats, such as video and audiotape and enlarged print.

C | 3

 Cultural Competency
Why Is a Needs Assessment an Important Part of SNAP Community Outreach?

A needs assessment will help you better understand the challenges facing underserved communities 

and the barriers that potential clients face in applying for SNAP. It allows for a more indepth and unbiased look at the problem from a wide range of people. This information can provide new insights and 

answer questions you may have, such as:

• What do we know about the local needs for SNAP outreach?

• Are we reaching out to the neediest groups?

• Which organizations in our community are conducting SNAP outreach, what services do they provide, 

and how are these services funded?

• Do various groups understand who is eligible for SNAP? 

• Which media are most credible among our target populations? 

• How do we establish and maintain trust?

• How can we strengthen the effectiveness of current community outreach activities? 

• Do our materials appeal to multicultural audiences? 

• Are our materials in the appropriate languages? At the sixth grade reading level?

• Are we maximizing relationships with influential people and organizations to reach diverse communities? 

Having the facts in hand enables you to set specific goals, develop tailored plans of action, and determine the best use of limited resources. Once you know and understand your audience, it is easier to 

develop strategies to reach them. 

Reasons To Conduct a Needs Assessment

•	 To learn how other organizations, such as community-based groups or your local SNAP

office, might support your outreach efforts.

•	 To get tried-and-true suggestions that worked with other programs.

•	 To get insight into what your target audience really thinks and believes about SNAP.

•	 To help set goals and measure success.

•	 To understand basic statistical and other information about the needs in your community

and the gaps between services and needs in order to identify appropriate strategies to

address them.

C | 4

Cultural Competency
How Do I Get Started?

STEP 1 | CONFIRM/IDENTIFY THE COMMUNITY FOR WHICH YOU 

WANT TO CONDUCT THE NEEDS ASSESSMENT. 

Through your day-to-day activities, you may have a clear understanding 

of the population in your community. 

If you are new to your position and are not sure which groups to reach, 

there are many sources that can help you create profiles of key populations 

in your area to identify which group(s) you want to conduct the needs 

assessment on, starting with your State SNAP agency and your city’s web site. 

How To Identify the Community You Want To Reach 

Start with your State SNAP agency. They may have population profiles of 

your community. You can find your State SNAP agency at 

http://www.fns.usda.gov/snap/outreach/map.htm. 

Other sources include: 

• The Census Bureau (http://www.census.gov)

• The U.S. Department of Labor (http://www.dol.gov) 

When using demographic information or statistics, be mindful that numbers 

change. Check yearly or frequently for updates.

• Visit your city’s web site. Here, you’ll likely find demographic information 

on the racial and ethnic groups in your community and average household 

incomes. If it’s not readily available on the web site, make a few quick 

phone calls to city agencies requesting the data you want. 

• Contact your city’s Office on Aging. The Office on Aging should be able 

to help identify the number of low-income seniors in your community, 

along with ZIP Code data on where they might reside. 

• Contact the local department of education to request schools in your community where large numbers of students receive free or reduced-price lunches. In many cases, they can 

also provide a profile of the students—their racial/ethnic backgrounds and languages that are spoken. 

• Contact the local health department and department of social services. Because both of these 

agencies have specific programs for low-income residents, they can also provide information 

Ms. G. speaks very little 

English. She knows she 

could qualify for social 

services, such as SNAP and 

WIC, but finds it very difficult 

to communicate over the 

telephone, and is frustrated when she shows up 

in person because she usually must wait until the only 

bilingual person in the office 

is free to assist her. Thus, 

Ms. G. has to ask a friend or 

one of her older children to 

make the call 

or go with her to the office.

A fixed appointment with a 

bilingual person is one way 

to help someone like Ms. G. 

This way she would avoid 

long waits, which are often 

difficult when coordinating 

schedules with others. The 

office could also arrange 

to have its bilingual staff 

person call Ms. G at home 

at a scheduled time. This 

is an opportunity to review 

the application and identify 

documents Ms. G would 

need to provide. 

Could This Happen at 

Your Organization?

Real life Stories of Culturally

Incompetent Interactions.

C | 5

 Cultural Competency
on underserved groups in your community—where they reside and programs are already in 

place to serve them. 

• Contact your local United Way, whose mission is to help identify community needs and provide funding to support these efforts. The United Way may be willing to share research and other data that it 

has collected from and about local groups. 

• Contact professors or research institutes in local colleges and universities that may be collecting data 

or conducting research with your target population.

After compiling this information, a careful review should help you confirm the community/communities 

you want to assess and reach out to.

STEP 2 | REVIEW WHAT

YOU ALREADY KNOW.

After choosing the population you want to reach, you may find that you already know something 

about how to reach them with information about SNAP. In fact, you may be aware of many possible 

solutions. But it’s important to go through the process. Ask yourself: 

• What other organizations have similar goals and might be willing to work with us to address this need? 

Don’t forget to include your local SNAP office.

• What resources (staff, in-language support, materials) do we have but may not be fully using?

• Has any research been conducted that highlights effective ways of reaching the target population 

within the community? Can we rely on other work to give us insight and answers? 

STEP 3 | DRAFT THE QUESTIONS 

YOU WANT TO ASK.

Asking the right questions is the key to getting the information for your 

needs assessment. Accurate information helps you develop the most effective and culturally competent outreach plan. This is an important step, 

so take your time to think broadly about the type of information you need. 

You may want to invite other groups to join you, including members of the 

communities you wish to target and representatives from culturally specific 

organizations, to help draft or to review your list of questions. Ask if someone has already done a needs assessment—you may want to build upon their 

model. While your questions may be tailored to meet local needs, the following list of questions can act as a guide. 

You may wish to have 

more than one person 

in your organization 

complete the questions to get different 

opinions and a range 

of responses.

C | 6

Cultural Competency
Questions To Get the Ball Rolling on a Needs Assessment

1. Which group(s) are you most interested in reaching and why?

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

2. How many SNAP offices are in your area? Where are they located, and does the location 

 pose a potential barrier (e.g., is it accessible by public transportation)?

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

3. Are there any linguistic or cultural barriers that prevent individuals from participating in SNAP?

 What community resources are available to help minimize these barriers?

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

4. What is happening with your outreach efforts vs. what you would like to happen?

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

5. What groups are already successfully reaching the population you want to access?

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

6. Which of their initiatives have been particularly effective and why? 

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

C | 7

 Cultural Competency
7. Where does the majority of the target population live? Are they clustered in one area or 

spread out?

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

8. What local organizations and individuals have the greatest influence with the population?

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

9. Do the grocers/farmers markets they patronize accept SNAP benefits? Are they served by 

public transportation?

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

10. Is public transportation easily accessible in their community? Do public transportation routes 

reach the local SNAP office and grocery stores? If no, how do people access SNAP offices and 

grocery stores?

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

11. Are there existing community events and activities that attract the people you’re interested in 

reaching? Is there a Diabetes Support Group meeting nearby? Is there an annual Cinco de Mayo 

celebration coming up? What events or activities are popular with your target group?

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

12. What media outlets does this group prefer? 

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

13. Is the “word on the street” about SNAP positive or negative? What are the positives 

and negatives?

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

C | 8

Cultural Competency
14. What types of partnerships would help achieve the outreach 

objectives?

________________________________________________

________________________________________________

________________________________________________

15. Would these partners be able and willing to provide volunteer outreach workers? If yes, what services will the volunteers provide; what type of training will they need; and how 

often will be they available?

________________________________________________

________________________________________________

________________________________________________

16. What outreach activities might motivate your audiences to 

seek more information? 

________________________________________________

________________________________________________

________________________________________________

17. How can media and community channels be used most 

effectively? 

________________________________________________

________________________________________________

________________________________________________

18. Are there any other barriers that prevent potentially eligible 

individuals of this community from enrolling in SNAP? 

What are the barriers? What can your organization do to 

help eliminate the barriers?

________________________________________________

________________________________________________

________________________________________________

STEP 4 | IDENTIFY WHOM YOU ARE 

GOING TO TALK TO.

Once you’ve created a profile of the group(s) you intend to target and 

gathered the necessary background information, it’s time to speak 

directly to individuals in the “field.” It’s these “primary sources” 

that will help you fine-tune your outreach strategies, avoid potential pitfalls and, hopefully, provide ongoing support. While there 

are a wide range of people who can participate in the needs 

Mr. M. is an independent, 23-year-old 

young man with a hearing impairment 

who uses sign language. He also 

participates in SNAP. He is able to communicate effectively in most day-today situations, but one of his parents 

or an interpreter usually goes with him 

on appointments to the doctor, or the 

Medicaid or SNAP office, because 

staff cannot communicate with him. 

Recently, he had an appointment at the 

SNAP office, but work emergencies 

prohibited either parent from accompanying him. To make matters worse, 

it was too late to get an interpreter. 

Mr. M arrived at the office during an 

extremely busy time—several clients 

were already waiting for 

assistance. Realizing that an interpreter 

was not available and believing that 

helping Mr. M would be a lengthy 

process, the staff immediately brushed 

him off and asked him to come back 

later when an interpreter was available. 

Unfortunately, no one took the time 

to ask if Mr. M was comfortable 

communicating in writing, which he 

was. Sometimes people assume that 

individuals with physical disabilities 

are also developmentally delayed or 

have limited literacy skills. In addition, if an outreach worker had taken 

the time to ask if there was someone 

they could call to help interpret, Mr. T 

would not have had to make another 

trip. The night before, he had roleplayed with his parents on how best 

to respond to any communication 

problems. Therefore, a quick telephone 

call to either parent would have 

enabled Mr. T to get the information 

he needed. 

Could This Happen at 

Your Organization?

Real life Stories of Culturally

Incompetent Interactions.

C | 9

 Cultural Competency
assessment, you will want to identify those who will provide the most useful information. Once you’ve 

identified the people you want to talk to, revisit the questions to make sure they are appropriate for each 

group. You may need to reword some questions or eliminate one or two for a specific group.

Examples of influential people:

• Religious leaders

• Representatives of faith-based and community-based organizations 

• Business leaders 

• Doctors, nurses, and nutrition educators 

• State or County SNAP workers

• City, County, State, or Federal workers 

• Elected officials at the State and community level

• Schools, teachers, and coaches

• Leaders of age- or race-based or culturally specific organizations that advocate for those groups

• Current SNAP participants

• Opinion/trusted leaders in the identified communities such as promotoras

• People in the community you want to reach, including potentially eligible nonparticipants

STEP 5 | DECIDE HOW YOU WILL 

COLLECT INFORMATION.

Some common and effective methods for gathering information include:

• One-on-one interviews with influential community members. These are useful if you are working 

with a small budget and are already knowledgeable in the area. 

• Written questionnaires conducted with influential community members and members of the community at large. While it might be a little more time- consuming to collect and tabulate the data, there are 

online tools, such as www.surveymonkey.com, that make drafting a well-crafted research instrument 

easy for the beginner and experienced researcher alike. Graduate students in survey research courses 

may be willing to help you design, collect, and/or analyze information. Establish relationships with 

professors in local colleges and universities who could help you with this project.

C | 10

Cultural Competency
Additional Techniques for a More Comprehensive Needs Assessment

Your organization’s resources will likely dictate the complexity of your needs assessment. With additional 

staffing and budget, focus groups and/or literature reviews can help fill in remaining information gaps. If 

you have the budget but not the time, market research firms can help you; www.greenbook.org provides an 

extensive listing of market research firms.

• Focus Groups. These are sessions held with small groups of the target audience. A facilitator, who 

speaks the same language as the participants, will ask specific questions and the responses will be recorded for later 

analysis. However, getting individuals to participate in a focus group can take time and may require some 

sort of incentive for participation, such as meals, transportation costs, or childcare expenses. Your partners can play an important role in helping you stay within your budget by locating facilitators and focus 

group participants. Focus groups with current participants and eligible nonparticipants can help you get a 

sense of what community members know and feel about SNAP, as well as resources, barriers, and possible solutions. With current SNAP participants, you can explore their motivations for enrolling and where 

they received information about the program. In contrast, potential participants may be able to share what 

they’ve heard about SNAP benefits, any concerns they have, and outreach methods that might be effective. 

• Literature Review. Review existing research about the population of interest and their behaviors, habits, or preferences as they relate to nutrition and/or nutrition programs. The reference desk at your 

public library may conduct a search for you—free or for very little cost. Of course, many of the 

documents you’re looking for may be found online. Another idea is to seek volunteers at your local 

university. Often graduate students are looking for research projects to enhance their coursework or 

gain real-world experience. Another good starting point is the bibliography at the end of this section.

Regardless of the methods you use, the most important part is to listen and respect the insights of people 

who have access to and understand the populations you want to reach. In the end, your needs assessment will not only ring with a richness that only a diverse, multifaceted group can provide, but will also 

provide a blueprint for enhancing culturally competent SNAP outreach.

• Local SNAP office or State SNAP agency

• Local or college library

• Local Census Bureau or Census Bureau web site (www.census.gov)

• City/County/State health department web sites and community clinics

Free or Low-Cost Sources of Information 

C | 11

 Cultural Competency
• Local United Way or other community funding sources

• Professors in local colleges and universities who conduct research with your target population

• Race-, ethnic-, and/or culturally specific business associations

• Race-, ethnic-, culture-, disability-, and hunger-related advocacy groups

 The Food and Nutrition Service’s Office of Research, Nutrition, and Analysis 

 (http://www.fns.usda.gov/fns/research.htm)

• Share information and resources that could support one another’s efforts.

• Recognize and respect cultural differences in expressing opinions and in the decisionmaking process.

• Be flexible. Meeting times and locations may need to support childcare arrangements and/or attendance 

by family members or children.

• Rotate meetings to visit groups located in ethnic and rural communities.

• Be sensitive to the fact that the level of formality associated with meetings, meeting times, conference 

calls, or other group endeavors may reflect differences in racial, ethnic, or cultural habits, customs, 

and traditions. 

• If hosting meetings, be prepared to provide interpretation and translation services for participants with 

limited English proficiency or who need accommodations due to disability.

• If chairing a committee, consider including a SNAP participant representing each of the diverse communities you want to reach.

Tips for Maintaining Relationships With Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Partners

C | 12

Cultural Competency
Section III. The Right Messengers: Breaking Down Barriers With 

Community Partners

How Can Community Partners Help Us Reach Diverse Audiences?

One of the key elements of reaching out to diverse audiences about 

the benefits of SNAP is working with your community partners. Outreach 

providers who reach diverse groups must extend their reach beyond the 

walls of their own organizations to other programs with similar missions 

and services. Community partners can offer substantive and long-lasting 

benefits to your organization and to the health of the community. They can: 

• Provide cultural perspectives.

• Bring credibility to your efforts.

• Bring expertise in working with the groups you want to target. For instance, they may have 

knowledge of health and nutrition beliefs and practices, and preferred sources of information 

and distribution channels. 

• Offer help with providing translation and interpretive services or allowing your organization to 

conduct SNAP prescreening at their offices.

• Bring community resources to support your efforts; for example, access to media, community 

opinion leaders, or financial and/or in-kind support for costly services such as translation and 

interpretive assistance.

• Discuss new ways of doing business. 

• Assist in efforts to select focus group participants or “pretest” materials (see Section IV, The Right 

Materials for Diverse Audiences). 

Lastly, some community partners can become ambassadors for your organization within the target 

communities. Those partners who will be most effective at conveying your program messages will 

be ones who are already trusted messengers within those communities. 

 Thinking of Forming 

 a Community 

 Coalition?

 Where To Look 

for Members

C | 13

 Cultural Competency
How Do I Identify Community Partners?

STEP 1 | ASSESS THE GAPS IN 

YOUR PROGRAM.

Are you in regular contact with anyone who works with or has ties to 

the communities you need to reach? If not, then you’ll want to look 

specifically for partners who are linked to those communities. 

STEP 2 | ASK YOUR COLLEAGUES. 

Some names of community partners may surface through the needs 

assessment process. In addition, coworkers, SNAP workers, advisory 

groups, board members, or other professional colleagues, particularly 

ones who work with the communities you want to target or are focused on access to health and nutrition information, are good sources 

for information about possible partners.

STEP 3 | DON’T FORGET YOUR CLIENTS. 

Your SNAP clients can be the best source for identifying good community partners. Informally poll several clients about whom they 

trust for information about issues that matter in the community and, 

more specifically, about issues such as health and nutrition. 

STEP 4 | BROADEN YOUR THINKING. 

You’ll want to make sure that you are not limiting your potential 

partnership pool to those organizations or individuals you know or 

with whom your organization has had a previous relationship. Other 

reliable sources to check for suitable partners include: 

• Internet, including news search engines to see what organizations 

are quoted in the media

• Nonprofit or charity directories (available at your local library)

• Community and faith-based organizations

• United Way

Ms. B. takes great pride in her 

appearance and frequently receives 

compliments on her choice of clothing 

and jewelry. On this day, Ms. B walks 

into the SNAP Office to apply for benefits. She sits down with a caseworker 

who immediately compliments Ms. B 

on her outfit. The caseworker goes on 

to remark how she can’t 

believe someone so well-dressed 

would need SNAP benefits. Although 

Ms. B finished her appointment, she 

left feeling insulted. She could not 

believe that anyone, especially a 

caseworker, would stereotype the way 

SNAP recipients dress. The next day, 

Ms. B. called the county grievance 

office to lodge a complaint.

There’s an old adage that’s well known 

but not practiced nearly enough: 

“Don’t judge a book by its cover.” 

Always avoid making assumptions 

or snap judgments about people 

based on outward appearance, or 

even a few moments of conversation. 

The USDA prohibits discrimination 

in all its programs, including SNAP 

outreach activities on the basis of 

race, color, national origin, age, 

or disability. In this scenario, the 

caseworker should have refrained 

from making remarks related to Ms. 

B’s outfit or outward appearance. In 

Ms. B’s case, this was not only a wrong 

assumption, but one based on stereotypes about race and income. Instead, 

the case worker should have followed 

the federally mandated guidelines 

for outreach as outlined by the USDA’s 

Food and Nutrition Service.

Could This Happen at 

Your Organization?

Real life Stories of Culturally

Incompetent Interactions.

C | 14

Cultural Competency
• Schools

• Local age-, cultural-, or ethnic-specific businesses or professional organizations, such as local Office 

on Aging; local Office of Asian and Pacific Islanders; or local in-language newspapers (most staff 

speak English)

More on identifying valuable community partners can be found in the Partnership section of the SNAP Outreach Toolkit:

http://www.fns.usda.gov/SNAP/outreach/pdfs/toolkit/2010/Community/

SNAP_community_Chapter02.pdf

http://www.fns.usda.gov/SNAP/outreach/pdfs/toolkit/2010/State/SNAP_state_

Chapter02.pdf

How Do I Reach Out to Community Partners?

• Send a letter to potential partners to introduce yourself and your program. For a sample partner letter, 

see page B-14. Acknowledge their work in the community, and identify the specific audience you need 

to reach. State your desire to discuss how you might work together. Make sure to include what you 

want them to respond to or your planned follow-up to the correspondence.

 “Please call me if you are interested in discussing how we might work together...” or,

 “I will call you next week to discuss how we might work together....”

• Telephone potential partners and schedule a convenient time to discuss your suggestions and requests.

• If the potential partner is referred by a colleague, ask him or her to facilitate an introduction.

What Is the Difference Between a Partnership and a Coalition, and What Can One Do That 

the Other Cannot? 

There is strength in numbers. Sometimes that strength lies with just two or three people and other times 

it comes with 10 or 12. A partnership – typically defined as two or three individuals or organizations 

coming together to work toward a common goal – is ideal for many organizations. Partnerships are 

more likely than coalitions to include members who are of like mind and mission. They tend to be much 

easier to manage. Finally, they reach decisions more quickly and are more likely to stay on point and focused toward reaching a single goal. On the other hand, because of the limited number of individuals, a 

partnership may not offer a broad representation of ideas. Depending on the project, the workload could 

be quite heavy.

Because coalitions are more structured and tend to meet more regularly, there’s a greater opportunity to 

share ideas, lessons, and resources. Because coalitions often function as work groups, you are also more 

likely to get in on the ground floor when planning culturally specific activities and events. 

Community-based 

organizations can ask 

partners, such as local 

or State SNAP 

agencies, to help 

develop, copy, or print 

materials. 

C | 15

 Cultural Competency
Challenges in Working With Coalition Partners

Anytime you are working with a large group, there are bound to be challenges. While the benefits of coalitions certainly outweigh the negatives, you 

should be aware of the following: 

• Larger, better-funded organizations tend to have more experience conducting meetings and outreach and may talk more than those with less 

experience. Make an effort to engage everyone equally and focus on your 

topic and goals to maintain control of your meetings.

• People may have had previous bad experiences with other members of the 

coalition. Encourage participants to focus on the business issues being 

discussed rather than personal issues. 

• Group decision making may require a longer approval process. Propose 

and agree on an approach for achieving consensus.

• You may have to compromise on some issues. Determine which issues or 

positions you are willing to compromise on before negotiations. 

• Additional workload, meetings, and outside activities can be timeconsuming. Consider the members’ time and interests when organizing 

events.

Among diverse 

populations, surveys 

consistently reveal that 

word of mouth, phone 

calls, or face-to-face 

communication are the 

most desired forms of 

communication. 

C | 16

Cultural Competency
In general, organizations that make ideal partners are ones that have been in the community for a while, 

providing services or offering programs to similar populations. Selecting appropriate partners is important as it improves the likelihood that there will be shared vision, as well as desire and appreciation for 

ensuring cultural and linguistic competence and success. 

What Groups or Individuals Should I Consider for Potential Partners? 

The needs assessment process should provide guidance here, as well as the Partnership section of the 

SNAP Outreach Toolkit. Consider:

• Local SNAP office or State SNAP agency

• Schools or colleges

• Fraternities and sororities

• Disease-specific organizations or age-specific organizations at senior centers

Materials Are Culturally Competent When They...

•	 Show respect for the cultural values, beliefs, and practices of the intended audiences both

in content and graphics.

•	 Contain straightforward messages and are free from idioms, clichés, and colloquialisms

that the intended audience may not be familiar with or understand.

•	 Convey the intended concept in a manner that is meaningful to the target audience. Some

words or ideas are more difficult than others to get across, especially in translation. For

instance, in other languages the concept of SNAP benefits must be conveyed, rather than

translating the actual words. Use your community partners or a translation service, if

needed, to make sure that the message you are trying to convey is on target.

•	 Do not lay blame or use guilt or negative stereotypes to get the point across.

•	 Are readily available in the preferred language or medium of the target audience.

•	 If appropriate, use pictures and symbols to simplify messages for low-literate audiences.

•	 Use large and/or bold type for seniors or people who are visually impaired.

•	 Depict the family and community as primary systems of support and intervention. To

achieve greater efficiency, use pictures of persons and families that reflect the community you are trying to reach. If you are depicting activities, illustrate an activity that your

target group is familiar with and enjoys.

Ways To Ensure Outreach Materials Are Appropriate

C | 17

 Cultural Competency
• Faith communities. Many religious institutions have specific programs designed to meet community 

needs, such as health-related ministries, soup kitchens, or senior services. 

• Community-based organizations, such as the local job training center, adult education and/or English 

as a Second Language program, health clinic or recreation center

• Local or national ethnic/minority media outlets including in-language cable television and radio 

• Ethnic business associations, such as the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and the Black Chamber of 

Commerce

Promising Practices/Examples of Partnerships

Partnerships can be extremely effective, even among groups that don’t agree on some issues; our common 

points are far more numerous and powerful than our differences.

Larry Goolsby, American Public Human Services Association

We have quite a few helpful volunteers from local credit unions. Their customer service skills are great, 

and they’re used to helping people complete applications. 

Teresa Kunze, FNS Outreach Grantee

Catholic Charities of Wichita, Kansas

Faith-based groups sometimes get church volunteers to go door-to-door talking to those they imagine 

could use a service or program.

Jean Beil, Catholic Charities USA

•	 Use statistics about SNAP that are relevant to your target audience.

•	 Be prepared with SNAP information and other supporting materials. Minority media often

work with much smaller staffs and may ask you to provide photographs and background

materials.

•	 Check with each media outlet on whether or not they need information in English or translated. Some will translate for you, but not always.

•	 Identify and offer culturally appropriate spokespersons, including community leaders

and trusted people such as religious leaders. Don’t forget about the director of your local

SNAP office.

•	 Include tips and educational information about how to use the program.

 Tips for Success When Working With Minority Media

C | 18

Cultural Competency
We partner with the traditional organizations, like senior centers. But we also work with grocery stores 

and apartment complex managers. We make it a priority to free up our outreach workers so they can 

attend community meetings, whenever they happen.

Ana Paguaga, FNS Outreach Grantee

Greater Waterbury Interfaith Ministries, Waterbury, CT 

Give partnerships a chance to work; invest time to develop trust.

Nicole Christensen, FNS Outreach Grantee

Food Change, New York City

Fostering of partnerships is difficult, however, vitally important. Partnerships are beneficial for agencies, especially to underserved populations and community organizations that work with these populations. As for Vietnamese Social Services, it has a positive effect and brings growth to our Somali, 

Vietnamese, and Burmese immigrants and refugees.

Thao Dao, FNS Outreach Grantee

Vietnamese Social Services

The best tool is the power of the relationship.

Jose Humphreys 

Esperanza USA

Section IV. The Right Materials for Diverse Audiences

How Are Materials Important in SNAP Outreach? 

Once you have identified your target audience and have community partners on board to help you, one 

of the next steps is to make sure you have the materials to conduct outreach. Your materials must tell the 

story–that there is a program that can help individuals and their families with their unique nutrition needs.

What Culturally Competent Materials Already Exist?

A wealth of translated SNAP information–from forms and brochures, to flyers and fact sheets–is 

available on the SNAP web site. To view translations and to print out the materials, visit 

http://www.fns.usda.gov/snap/outreach/translations.htm. Also, be sure to check out your local SNAP 

office to see what materials are available.

C | 19

 Cultural Competency
How Do I Go About Creating My Own Culturally Competent Materials?

Materials should be tailored to reflect the demographics and cultural backgrounds of the intended audience. 

This should be evident in how they look, what they say, and the manner in which actions and people are 

depicted. As a rule of thumb, keep information simple and be sure to provide a description of the program, 

how to get it, where to ask for help, and where to use the benefits. 

Is There a Way To Test Materials To Make Sure They Are Culturally 

Competent Before I Use Resources for Reproduction and Distribution? 

Yes. That’s where your community partners can help! Call on their expertise and ask them to review draft 

materials and point out areas that could be problematic given the intended audience. Also, partners can 

assist by helping to assemble small groups of the intended audience to test materials for unbiased feedback. 

This may seem a bit time-consuming on the front end, but it can go a long way in mitigating costs associated 

with “fixing” inappropriate materials later on. Keep in mind that some feedback about the materials may have 

more to do with preferences than possible barriers. For example, while paper quality or brochure colors are important considerations, your goal in testing for cultural competence is to identify wording, graphics, or other content 

that could be a barrier to someone understanding or taking part in your program. 

How Can I Find Good, Reliable Translation Services on a Shoe-String Budget?

If you are trying to reach a certain segment of the population because of their predominance in the community 

and need for service, chances are other organizations and programs are, too. Local universities and colleges, 

community partners, and other neighborhood programs and services are all good resources for obtaining 

low-cost translation and interpretive services.

What Is the Best Way To Ensure That My Materials Reach the Intended Audience? 

The importance of the mode of delivery cannot be overstated when communicating health messages 

to certain audiences. Through your needs assessment, you identified trusted messengers or sources of 

information about food and nutrition. In your community, these sources could be peers, elders, spiritual 

leaders, business leaders, or medical professionals. They can help distribute materials or steer you 

toward appropriate distribution points. Grassroots outreach through faith-based organizations may 

also play a critical role in reaching intended audiences, particularly in African-American, Asian, and 

Hispanic communities, where churches and related organizations often play a central role. 

Knowing the preferred language will help you decide whether or not to transcreate or adapt your materials 

or to provide information in alternative formats, such as large print, Braille, or video. 

C | 20

Cultural Competency
What Are Some Other Ways of Reaching My Target Audience?

Don’t rely solely on written materials to get the word out! Printed 

materials are the least preferred mode of communication–and that 

goes for most Americans today. Among diverse populations, surveys 

consistently reveal that word of mouth, phone calls, or face-to-face 

and peer-to-peer communications are the most desired forms of 

communication. Consider asking volunteers from partnering organizations to help spread the word. Public service announcements 

(PSAs) are another way to get free publicity for your program. Most 

stations will run a select number of PSAs at no cost; however, there is 

stiff competition for airtime. There is no guarantee that your ad will 

be chosen and, if it is, that it will air during a time when your target 

audience(s) is listening or watching. Generally, paid advertisements 

are run during the most desirable time slots. 

• By participating in community events, such as health fairs, 

supermarket openings, or anniversary promotions, your 

chances of reaching large numbers of people are pretty good. 

But you’ll still need to check beforehand to make sure that the 

event reaches the population you want to connect with, and 

that it is usually well-attended and conducive to disseminating SNAP information. A block party or festival with loud 

music might be popular with the intended audience and wellattended, but at the end of the day, you’ll probably find most 

of your materials on the ground or in the trash. Look to your 

community partners, clients, and even event organizers for 

help to identify the most worthwhile events. 

• Another way to personally touch clients and individuals who 

are potentially eligible for SNAP benefits is by using the promotora model. Promotora, the Spanish word for “promoter,” 

is a model for outreach that uses a lay worker who lives in 

the targeted community to educate residents. Their expertise? 

The knowledge they have of the community rather than their 

formal education, and the established level of trust they have 

with residents–something an “outsider” would have difficulty 

gaining--coupled with some basic training in a specific health 

issue or SNAP outreach. The promotora model can use both 

male and female outreach workers, depending on the target 

population, and can be successful in reaching all minority 

communities, particularly immigrants. 

For the past 2 years at the Henson Community 

Health Fair, Maria has talked with Mr. 

Williams, who stops by her table with his 

son to talk about SNAP and whether or not 

she thinks he might be eligible. Each year, 

Maria invites Mr. Williams to have a seat at 

her table, where she gives him an application and asks him to read and complete it to 

get the process started. But Mr. Williams 

says he’s in a hurry--his son has football 

practice--and that he doesn’t have time 

to do it right here, but that he’ll fill it out at 

home and mail it back to the office in the 

next few days. Maria never hears back 

from Mr. Williams, that is, until the next 

year’s health fair where he hangs around 

her table asking for the same information.

Reluctance in filling out paperwork or 

signing documents can be a sign that an 

individual may have difficulties with reading, 

writing, or comprehension. This can be 

hard to spot because often they will go to 

great lengths to avoid the embarrassment 

of asking for assistance. For instance, Mr. 

Williams was trying to find out as much 

information as he could without having to 

read anything, and he had a good excuse for 

not filling out the application onsite, where 

his problem might have become apparent. 

Some people even carry around newspapers and magazines to throw off anyone 

who might be suspicious.

To help the individual, and most importantly 

avoid causing embarrassment, outreach 

workers can acknowledge that the process 

can get overwhelming and offer to go over a 

brochure with the person—point by point—

or read through the application—question 

by question—and write the answers, if necessary. This presents a win-win situation—

it meets the goals of both the outreach 

worker and the individual, in an efficient, 

professional, and respectful manner.

Could This Happen at 

Your Organization?

Real life Stories of Culturally

Incompetent Interactions.

C | 21

 Cultural Competency
Section V. Getting to the Root of It: How To Work With Minority Media 

What Are Minority Media?

Today there is an abundance of media outlets that specifically target one or more ethnic populations, 

races of people, or age groups. Local demographics typically will drive the need for and preponderance 

of minority media in a given geographic area. In the case of media that target African-Americans and 

Hispanics, there are well-established outlets in most big cities and urban areas across the country. Asian 

media are emerging in those same areas, as well. Building relationships with media that specifically 

target your audience can be important to communicating the benefits of SNAP.

Why Is it Important To Use Minority Media? 

Minority media are another trusted messenger for reaching diverse audiences about SNAP. Minority 

media highlight news and events of particular importance to their audience. In addition, in-language 

media provide an invaluable service for those who do not speak English. Further, minority media 

personalities tend to be well-respected and credible sources on issues that affect their community. 

Minority media are also more likely to use public service advertising and news that target their audience. 

Topics concerning health and education are of primary importance for the audience as well as the media.

I Know Radio and Television Are Popular Media, but What About Newspapers and Magazines?

Print outlets, like newspapers and magazines, are still a very popular medium for older people across 

all racial and ethnic groups. For some cultures, newspapers are also a link to the community and to the 

country of origin and serve as a resource guide. Print also allows for further explanation of topics that 

cannot be fully covered on radio or television. 

How Should Facts and Figures Be Presented to Minority and Targeted Media?

It’s okay to use statistics, but do not rely on facts and figures alone to tell your story. Prove your story’s 

relevance to your target audience. Make sure your statistics and data focus on the target audience, as 

well. Keep in mind that sources and spokespeople should be credible with groups you are trying to 

reach. If possible, bring statements from community leaders as testimonials for your story and consider 

including real-life examples of how the program can be used.

Beyond Sending Out Materials Regularly to Media, How Else Can I Build Relationships 

With Minority Media in My Area? 

You may find that editors and staff at many minority media outlets are actively involved in the community and sit on numerous committees and local boards. In short, they make great advocates for your 

organization beyond today’s story.

How Can I Find the Minority Media in My Area?

To ensure that your media contact list is up-to-date on minority or targeted media in your area, go to your 

local library or check online for media directories, such as Cision, or do a general Internet search. It’s also 

worthwhile to go into the communities you want to reach and check out what free papers are available–

ethnic supermarkets and restaurants are a good place to pick up a few−or visit a local newsstand for a 

broad range of local media. Chambers of Commerce may also have information about local media.

C | 22

Cultural Competency
Steps for Working With Minority Media

STEP 1 | IDENTIFY MEDIA 

OUTLETS

Outlets should be those with readers or listeners who represent your target audience.

STEP 2 | UNDERSTAND WHAT IS 

NEWSWORTHY

Stories that are newsworthy to minority media will have a sense of immediacy and offer fresh, new 

information that will impact their audience’s lives. 

STEP 3 | DEVELOP STORY 

ANGLES

One story can be presented from different perspectives, which will make it more appealing to the 

media and their audiences. 

STEP 4 | PITCH YOUR STORY 

TO REPORTERS

Decide how best to present your story–in a press release or letter. For examples of both, look at the 

Outreach Toolkit at: 

http://www.fns.usda.gov/SNAP/outreach/pdfs/toolkit/2010/Community/SNAP_community_Chapter02.pdf

STEP 5 | FOLLOW UP!

This is an important step to getting your story covered in mainstream or minority media given the 

amount of information most media outlets receive and the ever decreasing number of reporters available 

to cover stories. 

Kernels of Wisdom: 

I participate on a weekly talk show for the Haitian community. It’s a 20-minute question- and-answer, call-in 

show that has a cultural theme each week. My job is to tie that theme into a nutrition-focused topic.

SNAP Outreach Grantee

We cover everything that affects and benefits the Hispanic community. We are always interested in 

initiatives that benefit the Hispanic community. Personally, I prefer receiving information via e-mail. 

And we always appreciate good quality photos.

Mary Aviles, Hispanic editor, EFE News Service (national news agency)

C | 23

 Cultural Competency
Recently, we’ve been covering stories about how Hispanics are the minority group that’s been able to 

overcome poverty the fastest, according to studies. I think there needs to be more education on the program. There are families that qualify for SNAP benefits, and yet don’t take advantage of it. Others don’t 

take advantage of their right because they’re scared they’d draw criticism and that they’d be labeled as 

lazy and as irresponsibly having too may kids.

Jose Carrera, El Dia (Houston)

Our biggest pet peeve is old news. We also don’t like it when we are given little time before an event. 

We value information that affects the Hispanic community: education, crime, etc. Sometimes we get 

information that is unrelated to Chicago or to Hispanics.

Arely Padilla, reporter, La Raza (Chicago)

Almost all our reporters are native Chinese speakers, and some may not speak English well or at all. 

Therefore, we prefer translated, in-language fact sheets and releases.

Emerson Chu, Southern Chinese Daily News (Houston)

If organizations have big presence in our communities, then we are more likely to cover news about that 

organization. By participating in our events and supporting our communities, they will appear credible, 

trustworthy, and recognizable in our particular ethnic community. Consequently, our community will be 

more interested in their news. 

Yunju Choi, News Korea (Dallas)

A story doesn’t have to apply exclusively to Asian communities to be relevant to our publications. It can be a 

story that affects populations regardless of ethnicity, but if it is somehow relevant to our ethnic communities, our readers may well be interested.

Abelardo Mogica, Philippine Mabuhay News (National City)

While we cover news that is relevant to the Asian community, we prefer to get news that is specifically 

relevant to our target nationality group. As a Japanese publication, our ideal news relates to the Japanese population specifically.

Jacob Marolies, Yomiuri Shimbun, (New York City)

C | 24

Cultural Competency
Section VI. Culturally Competent + Customer Service: Two Peas in a Pod 

The focus of this toolkit is on outreach, but really that is only the first step in ensuring that more diverse 

audiences participate in SNAP. Outreach efforts can be undone in a matter of seconds with a negative 

encounter at the first point of contact with SNAP. If individuals or families are met with insensitivity, 

lack of courtesy and respect, bias, or even discrimination, we may lose a potential participant.

After a negative encounter, clients may experience:

• Feelings of being unwelcome, unwanted, and not valued

• Fear of further contact with the office or agency

• Fear that complaining about negative experiences with staff will compromise service or benefits

• Anger, frustration, and insult. Thus, they may refuse to initiate further contact. 

• Confusion about completing paperwork, following instructions or next steps because clients did not 

understand acronyms used by an eligibility worker.

After a negative encounter, organizations may experience:

• Loss in time and resources due to missed appointments or errors on paperwork

• Loss of clients due to negative first impressions or word-of-mouth

• Frustrated staff due to lack of training and knowledge of appropriate ways to handle certain situations

• Possible filing of a grievance or report of discrimination based on a bad experience with a first 

point of contact

Steps for Being Culturally Sensitive in the Application Process

• Support and obtain professional development and training for frontline and eligibility staff on diversity 

and cultural and linguistic competence. Share articles and other materials that will help in this effort.

• Emphasize customer service and courtesy. Accurate information should be provided in a respectful 

and timely manner.

• Ensure that everyone is aware of outside resources that may exist, and how and when it is 

appropriate to access those resources. 

• Develop written guidelines for handling situations that are procedural in nature, such as accessing 

TTY or language-line services and interpreters.

C | 25

 Cultural Competency
• Train and retrain frontline workers on your agency’s policies and procedures regarding communication issues, such as serving individuals who speak little or no English.

• Identify bilingual staff or those who have an affinity with other cultures in your agency who can make 

a connection with individuals whose primary language is not English.

• Train and retrain frontline workers on how to serve individuals who have special communication challenges, such as a limited literacy level.

• Do not assume that supervisors are knowledgeable about the behaviors, attitudes, and skill sets 

necessary to work effectively with diverse populations. They may also need training.

• Consider cross-training with an organization that can teach you about a specific culture. In return, 

you can teach them about the SNAP application process so they can relay this information to their 

constituents.

Quick Tips for Communicating With Clients and Families

At the heart of cultural competence is learning to communicate effectively with individuals and their 

families. Here are a few tried and true suggestions:

• When working with people different from yourself, it’s important to put your own personal biases 

aside. Keep an open mind and don’t jump to conclusions. Because a person speaks with an accent does not mean they are not a native-born citizen. Take time to learn about the person you are 

speaking with, which demonstrates respect and an understanding of cultural competency.

• Establish rapport. In many cultures, it is important to establish some type of relationship before 

discussing business. Taking a few extra moments to ask questions and learn more about an individual 

and his/her family often makes an enormous difference in the long run.

• While developing rapport, refrain from discussing topics, such as personal relationships, or behaviors 

that may be misinterpreted. As a practice, avoid making jokes or displaying questionable posters 

or artwork in your office or workspace. 

• If you don’t know what their native language is, use the “I Speak” document available at 

http://www.fns.usda.gov/snap/outreach/translations.htm, which lists, in 34 different languages, the 

words “I Speak.” Give this document to your clients so they can point out for you which language 

they speak when they spot it.

• Respect personal space. When you first meet with potential clients, ask them to sit where they feel 

the most comfortable. This will allow people to choose the personal distance that makes them most 

comfortable. Similarly, refrain from casually tapping or touching someone, which in some cultures 

can be perceived as being too familiar. 

C | 26

Cultural Competency
• Identify the decisionmaker. Find out who the influential parties are and how they make decisions. 

It may be important to ask, “Do you want to discuss SNAP with other members of your family?”

• Send a message through children but do not use children as interpreters. For many parents who 

don’t speak English well, their children often serve as conduits for information. They can take home 

what they received in school--for instance, information on summer programs or SNAP. However, 

some caution must be taken if a parent brings a child to a meeting to serve as an interpreter. Children 

may be able to informally convey casual conversation points. However, eligibility for a government 

program is different. Children may not understand the meaning of technical words such as income and resources. Also, parents may not feel comfortable discussing certain information such as 

household income in front of their children. 

• Ask questions and listen to the answers. Asking questions shows that you really are interested in what 

a person has to say and his or her perspectives. But pay attention. Do not interrupt your client or try 

to put words in his or her mouth.

• Check for understanding. In some cultures, people are reluctant to ask questions of authority figures. Explain that asking for clarification is acceptable−then ask follow up questions to determine 

whether they correctly understood you. Ask open-ended questions to ensure the information has been 

adequately understood. 

• Learn greetings and titles of respect in other languages that you commonly encounter.

• Write numbers down. People easily confuse numbers spoken in a new language.

Eight Common Mistakes To Avoid 

1. Disrupting home and work schedules when conducting education and outreach activities.

2. Dismissing cultural preferences, customs, and traditions when discussing health and nutrition.

3. Assuming others perceive things the same way you do. 

4. Getting “right down to business.” In many cultures, socializing is an important first step before 

 discussing business or personal matters.

5. Conducting interviews or discussing personal information in an open setting. Receiving assistance 

 from outside agencies is an embarrassment in some cultures, and may be better discussed behind 

 closed doors.

6. Misreading silence for confusion or lack of knowledge. Allow for a short period of silence or 

 reflection. Rather than asking if the person understood what was discussed, ask open-ended questions 

 as you probe for understanding. 

C | 27

 Cultural Competency
7. Ignoring the importance of such factors as age, gender, or position in family when asking 

 for decisions.

8. Making assumptions based on stereotypes. Examples:

• Ms. L. has a Hispanic surname and speaks with an accent. She arrives for a community-sponsored 

workshop on how to apply for SNAP benefits. When she approaches the sign-in table and gives her 

name to the staff person, she is promptly asked to step to the side and wait a moment. The staff person 

speaks slowly and in a loud voice. Ms. L immediately knows that the staff person assumes she cannot 

speak English, and has gone to get someone who is bilingual to help out. Although she is pleased that 

they are making the effort to provide translators for individuals who require this level of language assistance, she wishes they had asked about her specific needs.

• Ms. T is African-American. She stops by the SNAP booth at a citywide festival and asks where in her 

community she can find out more about applying for SNAP benefits. She notices that instead of asking 

where she lives, the outreach worker assumes she lives in a predominately African-American section 

of town and immediately refers her to a location in that area. This infuriates Ms. T because she does 

not live in that area and must point that out before receiving the correct information. 

C | 28

Cultural Competency
reap the 

 benefits

PLANT THE SEEDS

4
Promising Practices

What is a promising practice?

“Promising practices” are everywhere. New ideas or refinements of existing 

ideas are continuously being implemented by State and local programs to 

educate and help individuals access their programs. Promising practices may 

involve big or little changes to existing projects to improve service delivery. 

They may or may not have evidence of positive results from evaluations; 

in fact, they might just have a general intuitive appeal rather than a proven 

effect. Promising practices sometimes prompt completely different ideas. 

Sometimes, promising practices are those “A-ha!” moments — something 

that makes sense but you did not think significant right away. Unfortunately, 

practical knowledge in one community that could lead to significant improvements in another often goes unshared. 

Who is compiling our promising practices?

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is compiling promising practices to assist States, local agencies, community and faith-based 

organizations, and others to share their best ideas. 

Why is SNAP sharing the practices?

SNAP’s collection of promising practices is an effort to find and share outreach or customer service models that can help increase participation in 

SNAP. Through this collection of promising practices, timely information on 

program and policy innovations is disseminated so that all stakeholders may 

benefit from the experiences of their peers across the country. The sharing of 

ideas can stimulate program changes, spark creative exchanges, and serve as a 

launching pad for the next generation of program innovations. It can inspire a 

dynamic examination of ways to improve service delivery systems for people 

eligible for, applying for, and participating in SNAP.

Whom can I contact for more information?

The project’s name and a contact person are listed by each promising practice. 

SNAP has developed an informal process of collecting promising practices. 

We encourage you to get in touch with the listed contact people for more details. The web site is updated continually so check back often.

Go to: www.fns.usda.gov/

snap/outreach and click 

on “Promising Practices.”

? ARE YOU LOOKING FOR A NEW IDEA?

On the web site, you 

will find information 

that you can use in your 

own project. You can 

learn about promising 

practices from around 

the country as well as 

from other programs. 

? WHO CAN USE THE WEB SITE?

The web site is for 

State and local SNAP 

agencies as well 

as Federal/State program 

staff, volunteers, 

community members, 

policymakers, funders, 

researchers, or anyone 

else who wants 

to develop a project or 

improve the quality of 

their existing programs. 

PROMISING 

PRACTICES 

ARE ONLINE

D | 1

Promising

Practices
How can I share my promising practice?

Submit your practice to us through the SNAP web site. Tell us about something new you did or how you 

put an innovative twist on an existing idea. Go ahead and brag about the response you received — from 

your co-workers, managers, or your customers. This is an opportunity to shine while you give others ideas 

to improve or develop their projects. Worried that your idea may not be new? Not to worry; something that 

is “old hat” to some may be a complete revelation to others. 

SOME EXAMPLES OF PROMISING PRACTICES

MEDIA OUTREACH

Vermont – Partnering with Vermont Campaign to End Childhood Hunger and Vermont Grocer’s Association, the 

State SNAP agency held a press conference at a supermarket to announce changes in SNAP that make it easier to 

apply.

DEVELOPING PARTNERSHIPS

California – In partnership with the local food bank, Alameda County Social Services facilitated periodic SNAP 

outreach trainings for organizations interested in helping their own clients apply for SNAP benefits. Participants 

received a training manual complete with tools and resources to help them get started in their own SNAP outreach 

efforts.

California – Alameda County Food Bank provided on-site “SNAP Enrollment Clinics” for clients of other communitybased organizations. Bilingual staff from the food bank prescreened clients for potential eligibility and assisted 

them in completing the application.

Connecticut – The State agency sent mailings to soup kitchens, food pantries, and shelters to ask them to make 

SNAP applications and information available to their customers.

New York – The Korean Grocers Association in New York City published SNAP information in Korean.

Pennsylvania – Pathmark grocery stores in underserved areas of Philadelphia hosted eligibility prescreening 

events.

Virginia – Americorps volunteers in rural counties of the State went door to door to provide information on SNAP. 

They talked to people about SNAP benefits while grocery shopping, hosted outreach gatherings, prescreened for 

potential eligibility, and helped complete application forms. 

USING PSAS

California – The Food Bank of Santa Cruz and San Benito Counties aired television ads to market the nutrition and 

health benefits of SNAP.

California – The Food Bank of Santa Cruz and San Benito Counties developed a 5-minute video in English and Spanish that answers 12 commonly asked questions about SNAP benefits. The video was distributed to health and social 

service agencies on California’s central coast.

D | 2

Promising

Practices
5

DISASTER OUTREACH:

THE HEAT IS ON

– REACHING OUT AFTER A DISASTER 
What are disaster SNAP benefits and how does the 

program work? 

After a natural or man-made disaster occurs and a 

Presidential declaration of disaster with a provision 

for individual assistance has been made, State agencies can request approval from the Food and Nutrition 

Service (FNS) to activate disaster SNAP benefits and 

provide temporary food assistance to households. FNS 

approves operation of disaster SNAP benefits once grocery stores are operational and telecommunications and 

electricity have been restored. Disaster SNAP benefits 

are delivered on Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) 

cards, similar to regular SNAP benefits, and require 

telephones and electricity for redemption. Generally, 

States request and FNS approves operation of disaster 

SNAP benefits a week or more after a disaster has occurred. 

Disaster SNAP benefits help people buy food when 

they are experiencing economic hardships as a result 

of the disaster (loss of jobs, loss of food because of 

power outages, damages to home and personal possessions, etc.). Although every State agency maintains a 

general disaster SNAP plan for use in time of disaster, 

State agencies do tailor disaster benefit policies and 

procedures to fit the community’s specific needs following each disaster, so every disaster SNAP program 

is unique.

How do disaster SNAP benefits differ from SNAP? 

Disaster SNAP benefits are different from SNAP in 

some important ways: 

• Families who are not normally eligible for SNAP 

may be eligible for disaster SNAP benefits. During the 

eligibility process, a household’s short-term, disasterrelated expenses are considered. 

• Students, strikers, noncitizens and people subject 

to work requirements are not barred from disaster 

SNAP benefits as they are from SNAP. 

• Rules surrounding verification, income and resources are relaxed.

• Recipients receive the maximum SNAP benefit for 

their household size. 

• The period to apply for disaster SNAP benefits is 

short, generally one week. 

• State agencies may operate mass application sites 

at fairgrounds, stadiums or other easily accessible 

locations that can serve large populations. For very 

small disasters, State agencies may provide disaster 

SNAP benefits out of social services offices. All applications for disaster SNAP benefits are distributed 

to prospective clients and collected at these sites.

How are ongoing SNAP participants aided in the 

disaster SNAP benefits program? 

Aid to SNAP participants will depend upon the disaster. Your State agency may decide to issue replacement benefits for lost or damaged food. Additionally, 

a supplement or additional benefits may be provided to 

ensure participants receive the maximum level of benefits for their household size. Sometimes these benefits 

are paid automatically – in other cases, participants 

need to complete an affidavit attesting to disaster losses 

to qualify.

Why should my agency conduct outreach during 

disasters? 

Since each disaster SNAP plan and operation is unique 

and many participants are first-time applicants, your 

agency must be prepared to clearly communicate what 

benefits are available, who is eligible, how to apply, 

and how to use SNAP benefits. Because disaster SNAP 

benefits generally operate for a one-week period, providing timely and detailed information is essential. 

In addition, SNAP participants may need to know how 

to verify food loss for replacement benefits, how to 

obtain supplemental benefits, or whether or not benefits 

will be automatically replaced.

SNAP OUTREACH 

DURING DISASTERS

E | 1

disaster OUTREACH
Because the days following a disaster are often chaotic, 

news about disaster SNAP benefits might be overshadowed by other disaster-related issues, or misinformation might be circulated. Ongoing outreach is essential 

to correcting misperceptions and providing factual 

information to disaster victims about the nutrition benefits to which they may be entitled.

Why should my agency partner with community and 

faith-based organizations during disasters? 

Some disaster victims will turn to trusted organizations 

in the community for information and help. Affected 

people may already be interacting with these organizations for other needs, such as clothing, shelter, or medical care. These organizations are in a position to help 

your agency provide accurate information about disaster 

SNAP benefits to potentially eligible individuals. 

Additionally, community and faith-based organizations might have personnel in parts of the affected areas 

where your staff are not present. They may also have 

other resources that are useful during disasters, such 

as media contacts, Web sites, toll-free numbers and 

translators.

How can my agency involve these community organizations in our disaster preparedness discussions? 

Convene a “get-ready” meeting before a disaster occurs. Invite grocers, community organizations, and 

faith-based groups. At this meeting, consider conducting a needs assessment. A needs assessment will 

identify existing outreach services and resources in 

your community. It will also provide your agency with 

a better understanding of the number and nature of 

diverse groups in your community. In addition, it will 

help you identify geographic areas most prone to disasters, or communities, locations, and neighbor¬hoods 

that may need unique assistance in the aftermath of 

a disaster, such as language assistance. Information 

identified in the needs assessment will not only help 

you effectively prepare to coordinate outreach efforts 

during a disaster, but will also reinforce cooperation for 

ongoing outreach.

Can my State agency include a disaster SNAP contingency plan in its State outreach plan? 

Yes. A State outreach plan may include contingency 

plans for SNAP outreach during a disaster. Preparation is critical to adequate disaster response. It enables a State to quickly implement activities that have 

been carefully planned.

When disaster SNAP benefits are operationalized, 

what outreach activities can be reimbursed by FNS?

To be eligible for reimbursement, partners must secure 

approval from the State agency in advance of implementing any disaster SNAP outreach activities. Allowable outreach activities during a disaster may include: 

• Distributing information about disaster SNAP benefits to disaster victims; 

• Funding a toll-free number; 

• Distributing information to media outlets; 

• Translating disaster SNAP outreach materials into 

other languages; 

• Prescreening activities that do not involve accessing 

the State eligibility system or existing client case files; 

• Distributing and helping prospective participants fill 

out disaster SNAP benefit application forms at disaster sites; and/or 

• Greeting prospective participants at disaster SNAP 

benefit application entrances and directing them to 

appropriate areas.

How can I learn more about disaster SNAP benefits? 

For complete information on conducting SNAP outreach during times of disaster, please see the Disaster 

SNAP Guidance on the FNS Web site: http://www.fns.

usda.gov/disasters/disaster.htm

E | 2

disaster OUTREACH
STEP 1 | DEVELOP

A PLAN

Convene or participate in a “get-ready” meeting with community and 

faith-based partners. 

• Explain how disaster SNAP benefits can provide food assistance to those 

adversely affected by disasters, whether man-made or due to natural 

causes.

• Explain how disaster victims already enrolled in the regular SNAP may 

be assisted with replacement benefits.

• Discuss strengths and needs of each partner in terms of disaster response.

• Discuss what community partner staff can and cannot do during a disaster.

• Plan and document how you will work together to prepare for potential 

future disasters. Be very specific about the best ways to get the word out, 

how that can be done in an emergency, and who will do it. 

• Develop a contact list of participating members with multiple ways of 

reaching each party in the event of a disaster. Identify who will be responsible for periodically updating this information and on what schedule. 

• Discuss what resources

STEP 2 | DEVELOP OR UPDATE A NEEDS ASSESSMENT

• If your community has not conducted a needs assessment, take steps to 

complete one. Consider if volunteers or staff will complete the needs assessment.

• If your community has previously conducted a needs assessment, reevaluate the findings and update corresponding next steps.

• Identify existing outreach services and resources in your community.

• Identify partners with special expertise, such as ethnic media contacts or 

translators.

• Identify vulnerable populations in your community, such as those in certain geographic areas or those with particular language needs, who may 

be most affected by potential disasters or who will need extra support accessing help following the disaster.

10 STEPS TO PLAN 

FOR DISASTER SNAP 

OUTREACH

1| Develop

 a plan

2| Develop or update 

a needs assessment

3| Add language to 

State Outreach plan

4| Describe outreach 

activities in the State

 Disaster SNAP plan

5| Plan for 

media activities

6| Maintain good 

relationships with 

 partners

7| Implement activities 

in your outreach 

plan

8| Develop new

partnerships

9| Connect those receiving

 disaster SNAP benefits 

with SNAP

10| Thank staff and 

partners and share

lessons learned

BEFORE A DISASTER STRIKES

E | 3

disaster OUTREACH
STEP 3 | ADD LANGUAGE TO THE 

STATE OUTREACH PLAN

• Develop a State outreach plan and add a contingency plan for outreach activities to respond to a disaster.

• If you already have a State Outreach Plan, add a contingency section for SNAP outreach during disasters. 

• Include a list of allowable activities and identify which agency will handle each activity. Advanced planning improves your disaster response. Knowing you have the tools and resources in place will reduce 

stress and improve your ability to respond to a disaster, when or if it occurs. 

• Include drafts or template materials that your State might use as part of your media response. 

• Maintain a hard copy of the contingency plan in a secure offsite location. If there is a disaster, you might 

not have access to a computer or your office. 

STEP 4 | DESCRIBE OUTREACH ACTIVITIES IN THE STATE DISASTER SNAP PLAN

• Describe your disaster outreach activities in your State Disaster SNAP Plan. If your State does not 

have an outreach plan, provide sufficient details on outreach activities and contacts. If your State 

agency has an outreach plan, make references to that plan.

• Develop templates of outreach materials, such as flyers, posters, and a Web page, so that they can be 

finalized quickly when needed. Consider the alternatives for printing and distributing in an emergency 

situation.

• Maintain a hard copy of the plan in a secure offsite location. If there is a disaster, you might not have 

access to a computer or your office. 

• Identify a community liaison whose sole responsibility during a disaster is to coordinate and share 

information between the State agency and community partners. 

STEP 5 | PLAN FOR MEDIA ACTIVITIESDURING A DISASTER

• Develop and articulate State policy on who initiates or handles media inquiries in your State Disaster 

SNAP Plan and State Outreach Plan. 

• Identify State spokesperson(s) in the plans. There may be more than one contact.

• Develop a list of media outlets (television, radio, or print) for disaster SNAP outreach. These outlets 

can inform your audience of details about disaster SNAP benefits when it is implemented.

• Include phone numbers, fax numbers and addresses so that you have multiple ways to reach the media.

E | 4

disaster OUTREACH
STEP 6 | MAINTAIN GOOD RELATIONSHIPS

WITH PARTNERS

• Keep in touch with your community and faith-based partners. Check with them periodically to 

con¬firm their roles and responsibilities and to update your contact lists. 

• If your State contracts outreach activities to organizations, contractual oversight will require more 

frequent contacts. 

• Consider holding a practice drill, role-playing game or table-top exercise to practice what you will do 

in the event of a real disaster.

WHEN A DISASTER STRIKES

STEP 7 | IMPLEMENT ACTIVITIES IN YOUR OUTREACH PLAN

• Make contact with outreach partners and implement your contingency plan. 

• Provide accurate and consistent messages to your partners via the community liaison, especially as 

you make changes to the application process, application sites, or other aspects of the program that 

affect applicant eligibility and access. 

• Remind State employees in disaster areas of media procedures. This is important because you may 

have employees from other States with different media policies

STEP 8 | DEVELOP NEW PARTNERSHIPS ORCONDUCT ADDITIONAL OUTREACH ACTIVITIES

• Initiate partnerships with new organizations to meet unanticipated needs. 

• Expand outreach activities, if needed. Don’t feel limited. You may conduct necessary activities even 

though they are not referenced in your State Outreach Plan.

E | 5

disaster OUTREACH
STEP 9 | CONNECT DISASTER SNAP VICTIMS TO 

THE REGULAR SNAP

• Disaster SNAP benefits recipients who wish to apply for the regular SNAP will need to follow the 

normal SNAP application process. Some households may have questions about SNAP requirements or 

may need assistance in filling out application forms or securing verification documents. Others may 

need other types of assistance such as clothing or household goods. Your partners can play an important role to help you provide the services your client might need during this stressful time.

• Let the media and other opinion leaders know how disaster SNAP benefits and regular SNAP responded to the needs of families and the broader community.

STEP 10 | THANK STAFF AND PARTNERS FOR THEIR EFFORTSAND SHARE LESSONS LEARNED

• Recognize employees and partners for a job well done. 

• Make changes to your outreach and disaster plans based on what worked and what didn’t work. 

• Visit the FNS Web site and prepare promising practices for disaster outreach: 

http://www.fns.usda.gov/snap/outreach/promising/Default.htm

WHEN THE DISASTER IS OVER

E | 6

disaster OUTREACH
1 | Inform the media. Use the media to 

spread messages about the availability 

of disaster SNAP benefits. Be sure the 

identified spokesperson has the timely 

and correct information and an updated 

media list. Be sure to follow your State’s 

procedures.

2 | Coordinate with other responders. 

Identify the liaison to other first (disaster) 

responders in the community. Be sure 

that they have the correct information 

about disaster SNAP benefits and can 

share it with disaster victims they serve.

3 | Engage grocery store partners. Provide 

information to grocers to post, distribute 

in grocery bags or announce in stores.

4 | Enlist faith- and community-based 

partners. Enlist the help of your partners 

to distribute information (who can apply, when, where) about disaster SNAP 

benefits or to perform other duties as 

described in your State Disaster or State 

Outreach Plan(s).

5 | Use community volunteers. Engage 

volunteers to perform activities such as 

answering the State/local toll-free number, distributing informational materials 

at grocery stores and monitoring SNAP 

lines to make sure potential applicants 

are in the correct line at disaster sites.

6 | Enlist community translators. Work with 

community translators to translate news 

releases for ethnic media and informational materials and to serve as interpreters 

during SNAP interviews.

7 | Provide a toll-free number. Set up cellular 

phones to use as disaster SNAP benefit 

informational numbers if land lines are not 

working.

8 | Use the remote telephone feature. Use the 

remote message feature of your telephone 

system, if available, to announce disaster 

SNAP benefit information. If this is not 

available, contact FNS to ask about using 

the national toll-free number remote messaging feature and/or contact your State 

SNAP EBT provider to ask if a message 

can be added to the customer service 

phone line.

9 | Post disaster SNAP information on your 

Web site. Provide basic information, such 

as who may qualify, where and when to 

apply, and types of verification documents, 

if needed.

10 | Develop new outreach partnerships. 

Develop new outreach partnerships to provide disaster SNAP benefit information to 

disaster victims, based on what is occurring 

in your community.

10 IDEAS FOR DISASTER SNAP OUTREACH

E | 7

disaster OUTREACH
WEB-BASED RESOURCES

FNS Disaster 

Assistance 

Home Page

http://www.fns.usda.gov/disasters/disaster.htm

SNAP Disaster 

Handbook http://www.fns.usda.gov/disasters/disaster.htm

Outreach State 

Plan Guidance http://www.fns.usda.gov/snap/outreach/default.htm

Partnership 

Section in State 

Toolkit

http://www.fns.usda.gov/SNAP/outreach/pdfs/toolkit/2010/State/SNAP_state_

Chapter02.pdf

FNS press 

releases http://www.fns.usda.gov/cga/PressReleases/PressReleases.htm

FRAC Disaster 

Handbook http://www.frac.org/pdf/dfsp05.pdf

Louisiana Press 

Releases

http://www.dss.state.la.us/index.cfm?md=newsroom&tmp=category&nid=20&

pnid=0&pid=0&catid=2

E | 8

disaster OUTREACH
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT:

[Date]

[Name of Appropriate Contact]

[Area Code and Phone Number]

[Cell Phone]

Disaster Victims Now Eligible for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program

[City, State] – Many victims of [disaster] Many victims of [disaster] are now eligible for disaster SNAP 

benefits. 

[Quote about significance of nutrition assistance following a disaster,] said [State official.]

The United States Department of Agriculture’s Food and Nutrition Service has approved disaster SNAP 

benefits to allow victims of [disaster] in [eligible geographic area] to receive nutrition assistance. Eligible households will receive an electronic benefits transfer (EBT) card to use to purchase food at retail 

locations. Eligibility criteria for disaster SNAP benefits are different than for the regular Supplemental 

Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Residents who have experienced [describe unique disaster elements that may make residents eligible for the disaster SNAP benefits] may be eligible. Other eligibility 

factors include [list eligibility criteria.]

Applications for disaster SNAP benefits will be accepted until [date]. Residents of [eligible geographic 

locations] can apply for disaster SNAP benefits at the following locations and times: 

Location: [address]

Hours of Operation: [hours] 

Those seeking to apply for disaster benefits from SNAP are encouraged to bring verification of identity 

and residency, if possible, with them when they apply. If the applicant’s documents have been lost in the 

disaster, disaster SNAP staff can provide guidance on how applicants can prove their identity. [List other documents that should be available at application or other information about needed verifications.]

More information about disaster SNAP benefits is available on [Web site address and toll-free number].

###

SAMPLE PRESS RELEASES

E | 9

disaster OUTREACH
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT:

[Date]

[Name of Appropriate Contact]

[Area Code and Phone Number]

[Cell Phone]

Deadline To Apply for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Benefits Is [add when]

[City, State] – Victims of [disaster] are reminded that they have until [deadline] to apply for disaster 

nutrition assistance from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). SNAP’s disaster 

benefits enable those who have experienced loss, such as [list criteria], as a result of the [disaster] to 

receive SNAP benefits on an electronic benefits transfer (EBT) card to purchase food at retail stores.

[Quote about the importance of applying before time runs out.] said [State official]. [Quote about how 

many benefits have been issued to date.]

Residents of [geographic location] may be eligible for disaster nutrition assistance from the Food and 

Nutrition Service. Provisions of disaster SNAP benefits are different from the regular SNAP, so those 

affected by [disaster] in the designated locations are encouraged to apply to find out if they may be eligible for benefits under this program.

Applications will be accepted at the following locations until [deadline.]

Location: [address]

Hours of Operation: [hours]

Those seeking to apply for disaster SNAP benefits are encouraged to bring verification of identity and 

residency, if possible, with them when they apply. If the applicant’s documents have been lost in the 

disaster, disaster SNAP staff can provide guidance on how applicants can prove their identity. [List other 

documents that should be available at application or other information about needed verifications.]

More information about the disaster SNAP benefits is available on [Web site address and toll-free number.]

###

E | 10

disaster OUTREACH
Getting 

to the Core

OF MEDIA RELATIONS 

 AND OUTREACH

 Bundle of

resources

A

AND INFORMATION

6
F | 1

RESOURCES

Informational SNAP Resources Translated 

into 35 Languages 

Five basic SNAP documents have been translated into 

35 languages and are easily downloadable for simple 

copying and distribution. An “I Speak” document is 

also available which allows a person to indicate to 

a caseworker or advocate what language he or she 

speaks so that accommodations can be made. 

The following documents are available:

• Questions and Answers About Getting and Using 

SNAP, SNAP313 – A brochure that provides 

useful information about SNAP.

• “Public Charge”– A notice to reassure immigrants 

that receiving SNAP benefits will not make them 

public charges, so that it will not affect their 

immigration status.

• “Immigrant Eligibility Questions and Answers”– 

A series of facts of interest to immigrants about 

eligibility for SNAP benefits, based on changes in 

the 2002 Farm Bill.

• “Documents Needed to Apply for SNAP” – A list 

(in English and the target language) 

of documents that may be needed to prove 

eligibility for SNAP benefits.

• “Fact Sheet on Eligibility”– Ten facts about 

SNAP for elderly (60 and older) and 

disabled persons.

View and download at 

www.fns.usda.gov/snap/outreach/translations.htm

“10 Steps to Help You Fill Your Grocery 

Bag Through the SNAP Program”

This low-literacy flyer outlines 10 steps to follow to 

apply for SNAP benefits. Also available in Spanish.

View and download PDF version: http://foodstamp.ntis.gov/.

SNAP Application Envelope

Help potential recipients compile all of the necessary 

materials to apply for benefits with this handy envelope featuring a checklist of verification documents. 

Also available in Spanish. 

Order copies online at http://foodstamp.ntis.gov/.

Document number SNAP-02 (comes with SNAP-01, 

“10 Steps to Help You Fill Your Grocery Bag Through 

the Food Stamp Program.”) 

SNAP Photo Library

Groups are encouraged to download photographs for 

use in communicating SNAP nutrition education and 

outreach messages. FNS requests that these pictures 

be used only for promotion, informational, and educational purposes of a nonprofit nature. 

Download at www.grande.nal.usda.gov/

foodstamp_album.php.

Order print-quality files by contacting FNS directly.

Supplemental Nutrition 

Assistance Program (SNAP) 

OUTREACH MATERIALS and resources
F | 2

RESOURCES

“Community Hunger Champions—

Helping People Eat Right When Money’s 

Tight” Video

This eight-minute video introduces influencers at the 

regional, State and local level to the SNAP Media Campaign, familiarizes viewers with campaign messages, 

and showcases the important role eligibility workers 

play in ensuring eligible individuals obtain SNAP benefits. This video is a companion piece to the toolkit and 

will help eligibility workers and community partners 

understand how they can work together and utilize the 

outreach materials developed by FNS. 

Download video

SNAP Logo Guidelines

The SNAP logo may be applied to program materials 

used for identification, public notification and awareness, nutrition education, and outreach. The SNAP logo 

may be used by those administering SNAP, including 

the 53 State SNAP agencies and their counterparts at 

the local and county levels, for purposes consistent with 

SNAP statutes, regulations,and policies. Other organizations, such as non-profit organizations and authorized 

SNAP retailers engaged in SNAP outreach or nutrition 

education, may use the SNAP logo for noncommercial 

educational and outreach purposes when such uses are 

a public service and contribute to public information 

and education concerning SNAP. FNS has developed 

guidelines for using the SNAP logo.

Download logo guidelines at

http://www.fns.usda.gov/snap/roll-out/logo.pdf

GENERAL INFORMATION

Main SNAP Web page

www.fns.usda.gov/snap/

A starting point for general information about SNAP.

History of the SNAP Program

http://www.fns.usda.gov/snap/rules/Legislation/about.

htm

Provides a brief history of SNAP from 1939 to the 

present.

Legislation, Rules, Waivers, and Certification Policy

http://www.fns.usda.gov/snap/government/legislation_

rules_cert.htm

Includes a waiver database showing which States have 

received waivers of sections of SNAP rules for specific 

purposes or to accommodate local conditions.

USDA Center for Faith-Based and Community Initiatives

www.usda.gov/fbci

Background information about USDA’s initiatives for 

faith-based and community organizations.

RESEARCH STUDIES

The Office of Research and Analysis (ORA) regularly 

releases research studies that might prove useful in 

your outreach efforts. Please visit ORA at http://www.

fns.usda.gov/ora to find the latest research and studies 

issued by the Food and Nutrition Service.
F | 3

RESOURCES

SNAP COMMUNICATION TOOLS

Main SNAP Outreach Web page

www.fns.usda.gov/snap/outreach/default.htm

A starting point for information about SNAP 

outreach including information about developing and 

submitting an optional State SNAP outreach plan 

for FNS approval; the SNAP outreach coalition; and 

promising outreach practices.

SNAP Radio PSAs

http://www.fns.usda.gov/cga/Radio/radio.htm

A compilation of USDA’s SNAP radio public service 

announcements.

SNAP TV PSAs

http://www.fns.usda.gov/snap/outreach/psas.htm

Two 30-second video public service announcements 

(PSAs) in English and Spanish. They are suitable for 

both TV and in-store broadcast and can also be used in 

meetings and presentations.

Radio Novelas

http://www.fns.usda.gov/fsp/outreach/radio/default.htm 

A compilation of 10 Spanish public service 

announcements in the form of radio novelas or 

miniseries.

SNAP Newsletter Article

http://www.fns.usda.gov/snap/roll-out/newsletter-article.pdf

A pre-written newsletter article to use in informing your 

clients of the new SNAP name.

SNAP Newsletter Paragraph

http://www.fns.usda.gov/snap/roll-out/newsletterparagraph.pdf

A pre-written newsletter paragraph to use in informing 

your clients of the new SNAP name.

OTHER SNAP OUTREACH RESOURCES

SNAP State Policy Guidance

http://www.fns.usda.gov/snap/government/

certification_policy.htm

FNS provides guidance on implementing program 

policy to State SNAP agencies through memos to its 

seven regional offices http://www.fns.usda.gov/cga/

Contacts/FieldOffices/. The regional offices distribute 

the guidance to the State agencies with which they 

work.

SNAP Outreach Coalition Information

http://www.fns.usda.gov/snap/outreach/default.htm

A core group of national antihunger advocacy groups, 

and other groups interested in promoting the health 

and nutrition benefits of SNAP. These organizations 

work to end hunger and improve nutrition at the 

national level through both advocacy and outreach to 

local antihunger projects.

USDA Grant Information

www.fns.usda.gov/snap/outreach/grants.htm 

Information about past and future research grants 

given by USDA to nonprofit organizations and others 

to improve access to SNAP by low-income persons 

and families.

Hunger Champions Information and Applications

http://www.fns.usda.gov/snap/outreach/default.htm

Established to honor local offices that provide 

exemplary service in assisting eligible clients to 

obtain 

SNAP benefits.

Broad-based Categorical Eligibility

http://www.fns.usda.gov/snap/rules/

Memo/2010/121809.pdf 

GENERAL SNAP OUTREACH RESOURCES
F | 4

RESOURCES

PRESCREENING AND APPLICATION ASSISTANCE

FNS Prescreening Tool (Step 1)

http://www.snap-step1.usda.gov/fns/

This simple, low-literacy online prescreening tool enables 

users to input their information privately and, based on 

their information, tells them if they might be eligible for 

SNAP benefits and how much they might receive.

Links to Downloadable SNAP Applications and 

Local Office Locators

www.fns.usda.gov/snap/

Features a United States map. Click on a State to 

find links to that State’s downloadable SNAP 

application, links to local office locators, and list of 

outreach providers.

Combined Application Project (CAP) 

www.fns.usda.gov

As part of FNS’ priority to improve access to SNAP, 

the agency is working in collaboration with regional 

offices, States and the Social Security Administration 

(SSA) to increase access to the nutrition benefits offered 

by SNAP for elderly and disabled populations receiving 

Supplemental Security Income (SSI). The Combined 

Application Project (CAP) demonstrations make it 

much easier for the elderly and disabled SSI recipients 

to receive SNAP benefits by reengineering the SNAP 

application process and eliminating the need for this 

population to visit the local SNAP office. 

RESEARCH, DATA, AND STATISTICS

SNAP Participation Data

www.fns.usda.gov/oane/MENU/Published/SNAP/

participation.htm

Features data and studies about participation in SNAP 

and the characteristics of households receiving SNAP 

benefits. Also includes evaluation reports for past FNS 

outreach grant programs from 1993-1994 (see “Food 

Stamp Client Enrollment Assistance Demonstration 

Projects: Final Evaluation Report, July 1999”) and 

2001 (see “Research Grants to Improve SNAP Access 

Through Partnerships and Technology: 2001 Program 

Evaluation Summary – September 2004”). 

Economic Impact of SNAP Benefits

www.fns.usda.gov/fsp/researchers/ers_reports.htm

www.ers.usda.gov/publications/fanrr26/fanrr26-6/

www.ers.usda.gov/Briefing/GeneralEconomy/

linkages.htm 

Links to studies about the economic benefits of food 

stamps. The research was conducted by USDA’s 

Economic Research Service (ERS), which is USDA’s 

main source of economic information. 

Impact of Food Assistance on Nutrition and Health

www.ers.usda.gov/publications/fanrr19%2D3/

A comprehensive review that compiles and 

synthesizes published research about the impact of 

domestic food assistance programs on participants’ 

nutrition and health outcomes. There are several 

volumes to the report.

United States Census Bureau

www.census.gov

Vast amounts of data on income and poverty levels, 

including data by county and State.

NUTRITION EDUCATION

SNAP Nutrition Connection 

www.nal.usda.gov/foodstamp/

Features resources related to SNAP nutrition education 

including lists of State and local SNAP nutrition 

education cooperators (“State Gates”).

Eat Smart. Play Hard. TM

http://teamnutrition.usda.gov/Resources/

eatsmartmaterials.html

FNS campaign to motivate children to be active 

and eat healthy. Features fun activities for kids and 

information for caregivers. Free materials available.

Nutrition Education Resources

http://snap.nal.usda.gov/

Links to national SNAP nutrition education resources 

including guidance for developing an optional State 

nutrition education plan and submitting it for FNS 

approval.

SNAP WEB RESOURCES
F | 5

RESOURCES

Success And Challenges In Delivering Nutrition 

Education To Low Income Older Adults 

http://www.fns.usda.gov/ora/menu/NNEC/Files/

Presentations/DeliveringNutEdOlderAdults.pdf

A PowerPoint presentation advising outreach providers 

on how to effectively educate low literacy older adults 

about good nutrition.

INFORMATION FOR RETAILERS

General SNAP Information for Food Retailers

www.fns.usda.gov/snap/retailers/default.htm

Main source of information about SNAP for food 

retailers including information about how to become 

an authorized retailer, frequently asked questions, 

and tips for food retailers about outreach.

ORGANIZATIONS SERVING OLDER ADULTS

Please note that this is a sampling of organizations 

serving older Americans and not a complete list.

The Administration on Aging (AoA)

www.aoa.gov

An agency in the U.S. Department of Health and 

Human Services, is one of the nation’s largest providers 

of home- and community-based care for older persons 

and their caregivers. This network, serving about 7 

million older persons and their caregivers, consists of 56 

State Units on Aging; 655 Area Agencies on Aging; 233 

Tribal and Native organizations; two organizations that 

serve Native Hawaiians; 29,000 service providers; and 

thousands of volunteers. These organizations provide 

assistance and services to older individuals and their 

families in urban, suburban, and rural areas throughout 

the United States. 

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) 

http://www.cms.hhs.gov

The CMS is a federal agency within the U.S. 

Department of Health and Human Services. CMS runs 

the Medicare and Medicaid programs - two national 

health care programs that benefit about 75 million 

Americans.

Social Security Administration 

http://www.ssa.gov

The Social Security Administration (SSA) provides 

retirement and disability benefits to eligible 

Americans. Retirement benefits start at age 62 and 

are based on your average earnings during a lifetime 

of work under the Social Security system. SSA is 

responsible for two major programs that provide 

benefits based on disability: Social Security Disability 

Insurance (SSDI), which is based on prior work under 

Social Security, and Supplemental Security Income 

(SSI). Under SSI, payments are made on the basis 

of financial need. SSI disability benefits are payable 

to adults or children who are disabled or blind, 

have limited income and resources, meet the living 

arrangement requirements, and are otherwise eligible. 

SSDI benefits are payable to blind or disabled workers, 

widow(er)s, or adults disabled since childhood, who 

are otherwise eligible. 

Leadership Council of Aging Organizations 

www.lcao.org

A large coalition of the nation’s non-profit 

organizations serving older Americans. There is a 56 

member association which is diverse and dedicated 

to preserving and strengthening the well-being of 

America’s older population. This national organization 

advocates on behalf of seniors and their families in the 

ongoing national debate on aging policy. 

National Association of Area Agencies on Aging (N4A) 

www.n4a.org

N4A is the umbrella organization for the 655 area 

agencies on aging (AAAs) and more than 230 Title VI 

Native American aging programs in the U.S. Through 

its presence in Washington, D.C., N4A advocates 

on behalf of the local aging agencies to ensure that 

needed resources and support services are available to 

older Americans. 

AARP

www.aarp.org

Founded in 1958, AARP is a nonprofit, nonpartisan 

membership organization that helps people 50 and 

over improve the quality of their lives. 

SNAP WEB RESOURCES
F | 6

RESOURCES

National Association of Nutrition and Aging Services 

Programs (NANASP) 

www.nanasp.org

NANASP is a professional membership organization 

with members drawn primarily from persons working 

in or interested in the field of aging, community-based 

services, and nutrition and the elderly. Founded in the 

1970s, NANASP is one of the leadership organizations 

in that it helps shape national policy, trains service 

providers, and advocates on behalf of older adults. 

National Council on Aging

www.ncoa.org

A non-profit service and advocacy organization. 

Brings together non-profit organizations, businesses 

and government to develop creative solutions that 

improve the lives of all older adults.

BenefitsCheckUp

www.benefitscheckup.org

Developed and maintained by The National Council 

on Aging (NCOA), BenefitsCheckUp is the nation’s 

most comprehensive Web-based service to screen for 

benefits programs for seniors with limited income and 

resources. BenefitsCheckUp helps older adults find 

and enroll in federal, state, local and private programs 

that help pay for prescription drugs, utility bills, meals, 

health care and other needs.

Elder Care Locator

www.eldercare.gov

The Eldercare Locator is a public service of the U.S. 

Administration on Aging. The Eldercare Locator is the 

first step to finding resources for older adults in any 

U.S. community. Just one phone call or Web site visit 

instantly connects individuals to eldercare resources in 

their communities. 

Community Transportation Association (CTA)

www.ctaa.org

Transportation planning and coordination supported 

with sufficient investment in transit alternatives can 

help communities more effectively and efficiently 

meet the needs of their seniors and ensure their 

essential place in community life. 

Senior Corps, Corporation for National and Community 

Service (CNCS) 

www.seniorcorps.gov

Senior Corps is a program of the Corporation for 

National and Community Service, an independent 

federal agency created to connect Americans of all ages 

and backgrounds with opportunities to give back to 

their communities and their nation. Senior Corps offers 

a network of programs that tap the rich experience, 

skills and talents of older citizens to meet community 

challenges. Among these programs is the Senior 

Companion Program which brings together volunteers 

age 55 and over with adults in their community who 

have difficulty with the simple tasks of day-to-day 

living. Companions help out on a personal level by 

assisting with shopping and light chores, interacting 

with doctors, or just making a friendly visit.

ADDITIONAL ORGANIZATIONS

Meals on Wheels Association of America (MOWAA) 

www.mowaa.org

MOWAA represents those who provide congregate 

and home-delivered meals services to people in need. 

Most members are executive directors, Registered or 

Licensed Dietitians, volunteer coordinators, or nutrition 

directors at Meals On Wheels and congregate programs. 

Membership in MOWAA is diverse. 

Families USA

www.familiesusa.org

A national nonprofit, non-partisan organization 

dedicated to the achievement of high-quality, 

affordable health care for all Americans. 

SNAP WEB RESOURCES
F | 7

RESOURCES

1

 U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service, Office of Research and Analysis (ORA). 

Trends in Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Participation Rates. 2002 to 2007. By Joshua 

Leftin and Kari Wolkwitz. Washington, DC, June 

2009. Available at http://www.fns.usda.gov/oane/

MENU/Published/SNAP/FILES/Participation/

Trends2000-2007.pdf.

2 Hanson, Kenneth, and Elise Golan (2002). Effects 

of Changes in Food Stamp Expenditures Across the 

U.S. Economy. Washington, DC: U.S. Department 

of Agriculture, Economic Research Service. Available at http://www.ers.usda.gov/publications/fanrr26/

fanrr26-6/fanrr26-6.pdf. Note: The economic effect of 

increasing food stamp benefits was measured for the 

whole U.S. economy and may vary by location.

3 Food and Nutrition Assistance Programs and the 

General Economy: Links to the General Economy and 

Agriculture (2002). Washington, DC: U.S. Department 

of Agriculture, Economic Research Service. 

Note: Even though recipients spend all food stamps on 

food, the food stamps allow them to shift some of their 

previous cash expenditures on food to alternative uses.

4 Ibid.

5 Wolkwitz, Kari and Trippe, Carole (2009). Characteristics of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program 

Households: Fiscal Year 2008. Prepared by Mathematica Policy Research, Inc., for the USDA Food and 

Nutrition Service. Available at: www.fns.usda.gov/

ora. 

6 STARS Quarterly Management Activity Report, 

10/23/04.

7 Fraker, Thomas M., Sharon K. Long, and Charles E. 

Post (1990). Analyses of the 1985 Continuing Survey 

of Food Intakes by Individuals--Volume I, Estimating 

Usual Dietary Intake, Assessing Dietary Adequacy, 

and Estimating Program Effects: Applications of 

Three Advanced Methodologies Using FNS’s FourDay Analysis File. Alexandria, VA: U.S. Department 

of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service. 

Also: Levedahl, JW. The Effect of Food Stamps on 

Household Food Expenditures. Technical Bulletin No. 

1794. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Agriculture: Economic Research Service.

8 Fox, Mary Kay, William Hamilton, (editors) and Biing-Hwan Lin (2004). Effects of Food Assistance and 

Nutrition Programs on Nutrition and Health, Volume 3, 

Literature Review. Washington, DC: U.S. Department 

of Agriculture: Economic Research Service, USDA, 

2004. Available at http://www.ers.usda.gov/publications/fanrr19-3.

9

U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service, Office of Research and Analysis (ORA). 

Characteristics of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance 

Program Households: Fiscal Year 2008, Summary. 

October 2009. Available at: http://www.fns.usda.gov/

oane/MENU/Published/SNAP/FILES/Participation/20

08CharacteristicsSummary.pdf

10 Gleason, Phillip, Peter Schochet, and Robert Moffit 

(1998). The Dynamics of Food Stamp Program Participation in the Early 1990s. Alexandria, VA: U. S. Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service. 

Available at http://www.ers.usda.gov/publications/

efan03012/efan03012ref.pdf.

FOOTNOTES FROM INTRODUCTION
F | 8

RESOURCES

11 Rosenbaum, Dorothy and David Super (2005). The 

Food Stamp Program: Working Smarter for Working Families. Washington, DC: Center on Budget and 

Policy Priorities. Available at http://www.cbpp.org/3-

15-05fa.htm.

12 Ibid.

13 Gleason P, Rangarajan A, Olson C. Dietary Intake 

and Dietary Attitudes Among Food Stamp Participants 

and Other Low-Income Individuals. Report prepared 

for the Food and Nutrition Service, USDA, September 2000. Available at http://www.fns.usda.gov/oane/

MENU/Published/NutritionEducation/Files/FSPDiet.

pdf.

14 Obesity Costs States Billions in Medical Expenses. 

Press Release. U.S. Department of Health and Human 

Services, January 21, 2004. http://www.cdc.gov/media/

pressrel/r040121.htm

15 Devaney, Barbara, Pamela Haines, and Robert Moffitt (1989). Assessing the Dietary Effects of the Food 

Stamp Program -Volumes I and II. Alexandria, VA: 

U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition 

Service. 

Also: Allen, Joyce E., and Kenneth E. Gadson (1983). 

Nutrient Consumption Patterns of Low-Income Households. Technical Bulletin No. 1685. Washington, DC: 

U. S. Department of Agriculture, Economic Research 

Service. 

Also: Fox, Mary Kay, William Hamilton, (editors) and 

Biing-Hwan Lin (2004). Effects of Food Assistance 

and Nutrition Programs on Nutrition and Health, Volume 3, Literature Review. Washington, DC: U. S. Department of Agriculture, Economic Research Service.

16 U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition 

Service, Office of Analysis, Nutrition and Evaluation. 

Characteristics of Food Stamp Households: Fiscal Year 

2003, FSP-04-CHAR, by Karen Cunnyngham and 

Beth Brown. Project Officer, Kate Fink. Alexandria, 

VA: 2004. Available at http://www.fns.usda.gov/ora/

MENU/Published/SNAP/FILES/Participation/2003Ch

aracteristics.pdf. 

17 Ibid.

FOOTNOTES FROM INTRODUCTION
F | 9

RESOURCES

NATIONAL & REGIONAL SNAP OUTREACH AND MEDIA CONTACTS

NATIONAL

National Headquarters

3101 Park Center Drive

Alexandria, VA 22302

Media Team

703-305-2281

Pat Seward

SNAP Media Contract Coordinator

Pat.Seward@fns.usda.gov

NORTHEAST REGION 

(ME, NH, VT, MA, RI, CT, NY):

Northeast Regional Office

10 Causeway Street, Room 501

Boston, MA 02222-1069

617-565-6370

MID-ATLANTIC REGION 

(PA, MD, DE, NJ, PR, VA, VI, WV):

Mid-Atlantic Regional Office

Mercer Corporate Park

300 Corporate Blvd.

Robbinsville, NJ 08691-1518

609-259-5025

MIDWEST REGION 

(IL, IN, MI, MN, OH, WI):

Midwest Regional Office

77 West Jackson Blvd., 20th floor

Chicago, IL 60604-3507

312-353-6664

SOUTHEAST REGIONAL OFFICE 

(AL, FL, GA, KY, MI, NC, SC, TN):

Southeast Regional Office

61 Forsyth St. SW, Room 8T36

Atlanta, GA 30303-3427

404-562-1801

MOUNTAIN PLAINS REGION 

(CO, IA, KS, MO, MT, NE, ND, SD, UT, WY):

Mountain Plains Regional Office

1244 Speer Blvd., Suite 903

Denver, CO 80204-3581

303-844-0300

SOUTHWEST REGION 

(AR, LA, TX, NM, OK):

Southwest Regional Office

1100 Commerce St., Room 555

Dallas, TX 75242-9800

214-290-9800

WESTERN REGION 

(AZ, CA, OR, WA, AK, HI, ID, NV, GUAM, 

MARIANA ISLANDS, AMER. SAMOA):

Western Regional Office

90 Seventh St., Suite 10-100

San Francisco, CA 94103

415-705-1310
F | 10

RESOURCES

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Many people contributed to this toolkit. We want to acknowledge and thank them all for their 

commitment and assistance.

In compiling this toolkit, USDA FNS consulted representatives from National, State and local 

organizations, including:

INDIVIDUALS

• Ellen Vollinger, Food Research and Action Center, 

Washington, DC

• Abby Hughes Holsclaw, National League of Cities, 

Washington, DC

• Bill Bolling, Atlanta Community Food Bank, 

Atlanta, GA

• Daniella Levine, Human Services Coalition of Dade 

County, Inc., Miami, FL

• George Matics, Cardenas Markets, Inc., Ontario, CA

• Rich Savner, Pathmark Stores, Inc., Carteret, NJ

• Dennis Barrett, Hunger Fellow, 2005

• Laura Tatum, Hunger Fellow, 2005 

ORGANIZATIONS

• American Public Human Services Association, 

Washington, DC

• Capital Area Food Bank, Washington, DC

• Community Action Partnership for Madison 

County, Inc., Morrisville, NY

• FoodChange, New York, NY

• Fresno Metro Ministry, Fresno, CA

• Human Services Coalition of Dade County, Inc., 

Miami, FL

• Project Bread – The Walk for Hunger, Boston, MA

• United Way of New York City, New York, NY

• Urban Justice Center, New York, NY

• SNAP Outreach Coalition Members

• USDA FNS Regional Offices

• Vermont Campaign to End Childhood Hunger, 

Burlington, VT

• Watertown Tab, Watertown, MA
www.fns.usda.gov/snap/outreach