WH Conference happening NOW; Resource links from SNAP Coalition; FRAC Survey on Free School Meals

Just a reminder that you can tune into the White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition and Health this AM, which starts NOW - 9:30 AM.  Here’s the White House live stream link: https://www.youtube.com/WhiteHouse  And here are the White House Strategy Document, which includes recommendations that were released yesterday: 

We are thrilled that Gina Plata-Nino is representing MLRI at today’s conference, here’s our blog post. In May and June, Gina coordinated a number of Massachusetts WH Conference listening sessions to inform the WH agenda, including a listening session - with our colleagues from Equitable Spaces - for MA residents with lived expertise and attended by MA Congressman Jim McGovern!  And you can tune into the Greater Boston Food Banks WH Conference debrief - virtual event tomorrow, 1 PM by clicking here.  

And see info BELOW, FRAC survey, What Has Free School Meals for All Meant for You? This will help build momentum for national universal school meals!

Follow up links from yesterday’s SNAP Coalition meeting. 

We appreciate the robust turnout at yesterday’s Coalition meeting (98 attendees, WOW!). It was an excellent meeting and we were thrilled to celebrate the new SNAP policy changes announced by DTA. Below are the links that folks provided during the Coalition meeting yesterday AM:

• MLRI’s slide on 4 SNAP related policies that will sunset when the federal Public Health Emergency ends

• Emergency Allotment Cliff data: From our friends at Mass Councils on Aging and DTA, click here for the estimated hunger cliff numbers of single older adults by city and town (data useful to understand impact when the Emergency Allotments end) 

• DTA’s list of Client Assistance Coordinators: 

• College students: DTA’s Online Guide Transmittal  2022-73  announcing the SNAP rule changes for college students and here is the direct link to the OLG student guidance.

• Click here for  an MLRI brochure on health insurance for students: 

• Medical expenses: DTA’s Online Guide Transmittal 2022-49 announcing the new SNAP medical costs self-declaration policy and here is the direct link to the OLG medical expense self-declaration guidance.

• Households with Disabilities: 

  • DTA’s list of Client Assistance Coordinators: Mass.gov/doc/client-assistance-coordinator-brochure/download 

  • For a DTA video with ASL interpreter on domestic violence resources, click here. For all DTA videos on YouTube, click here. 

• SNAP and cash “skimming” info: 

  • All DTA resources on skimming and changing the EBT PIN, including videos with an ASL interpreter are linked on this page (English and Spanish URL): Mass.gov/ProtectYourEBT and Mass.gov/ProtejaSuEBT  

  • For a DTA video with ASL interpreter on domestic violence resources, click here. For all DTA videos on YouTube, click here. 

  • Reminder to let MLRI or Legal Services know if you see any households who actually lost SNAP or cash benefits due to skimming

• Employment and Training services:

  • DTA’s SNAP Employment and Training programs go here: SNAPPathToWork.org/clients   Remember, households participating in a SNAP E&T program can access free child care, a relatively new change from DTA. 

  • Information about the Mass Hire career centers here: Mass.gov/masshire-career-centers