10/25 Coalition, SNAP Gap briefing, and more updates!

FoodSNAP

We’ve got a few items for the rest of October to share with you!

 

Our next Coalition meeting is next Tuesday, October 25 from 10-11:30. Zoom link here. Our final regular Coalition meeting for 2022 will be December 6 (combining November and December due to the holidays).

SNAP Gap/Common Apps Legislative Briefing on Oct 20th!

 

Please join Senator Sal DiDomenico, Rep Jay Livingstone and the Common Apps Coalition on Thursday, October 20th at 10 AM for a Legislative Briefing (and celebration!) of the historic SNAP Gap and Common Apps Campaigns! Please register in advance HERE

 

The briefing is for Legislative aides and community members who want to learn about the new, simplified way families and individuals can apply for MassHealth and SNAP at the same time - through a simple SNAP “checkbox”!  We will also discuss the future of the Common App implementation, and the White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition and Health recommendations. 

Updated DTA Scorecards include MassHealth checkbox applications!

 

DTA has posted an updated Scorecard for August that includes the number of SNAP applications filed through the MassHealth Checkbox option (implemented in July)!

 

In August, the first full month after the checkbox was implemented, DTA received 5,183 MassHealth checkbox application- 13% of all applications DTA received in August! 

 

The scorecards are chock full of other data - including DTA Assistance Line data showing a significantly elevated rate of dropped calls due to high call volume for those trying to reach DTA by phone in August. 

WH Conference on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health: Updates and MLRI blog

 

The White House (WH) is hosting monthly updates for stakeholders on their National Strategy on Hunger, Nutrition and Health following the recommendations released at the WH Conference. Register here if you want to tune in,

 

And here’s MLRI’s blog, joining with 34 MA state orgs, sending a HUGE THANK YOU to Congressman Jim McGovern for leading the charge to ensure this important conversation took place at the top level!

College student resources - MLRI social media &  fliers

 

We wanted to re-share our new SNAP for student fliers posted HERE in a Google Drive (thanks to our AmeriCorps Katie!) that you can share widely. We have also updated our MassLegalService college student webpage. And thanks to our communications coordinator at MLRI, Allie Girouard, for this fantastic social media video on SNAP for low income students on Instagram! Share widely!

New SNAP Online Purchasing Retailers - Shaw’s and Star Market 

 

DTA recently announced the addition of  Shaw’s and Star Market. For a full list of retailers in MA that currently accept SNAP for online ordering, visit Mass.gov/SNAPOnline.

DTA’s October Advisory Board updates - including VRI expansion!

 

See attached for DTA’s updates from October. Of particular significance for deaf and hard of hearing clients - DTA has expanded Video Remote Interpreter (VRI) access from five local offices to all local DTA offices. VRI is an auxiliary aid that provides video remote American Sign Language (ASL) interpreter services.


 
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