Enhancing Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Certification: SNAP Modernization Efforts

Nutrition Assistance Program Report Series Office of Research and Analysis Family Nutrition Programs Enhancing Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Certification: SNAP Modernization Efforts Interim Report Volume 1 United States Food and Department of Nutrition Agriculture Service April 2010 Non-Discrimination Policy The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, and where applicable, sex, marital status, familial status, parental status, religion, sexual orientation, genetic information, political beliefs, reprisal, or because all or part of a person’s income is derived from any public assistance program. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TDD). To file a complaint of discrimination, write to USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, DC 20250-9410, or call (800) 795-3272 (voice) or (202) 720-6382 (TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer. Enhancing Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Certification: SNAP Modernization Efforts Interim Report Volume 1 Authors: Gretchen Rowe Sam Hall Carolyn O’Brien Nancy Pindus Robin Koralek Submitted by: Submitted to: The Urban Institute Office of Research and Analysis 2100 M Street, NW Food and Nutrition Service Washington, DC 20037 3101 Park Center Drive Alexandria, VA 22302-1500 Project Director: Project Officer: Carolyn O’Brien Rosemarie Downer This study was conducted under Contract number GS23F8198H with the Food and Nutrition Service. This report is available on the Food and Nutrition Service website: http://www.fns.usda.gov Suggested Citation: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service, Office of Research and Analysis, Enhancing Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Certification: SNAP Modernization Efforts: Interim Report - Volume 1, by Gretchen Rowe, Sam Hall, Carolyn O’Brien, Nancy Pindus, and Robin Koralek. Project officer: Rosemarie Downer, Alexandria, VA: April 2010. United States Food and Department of Nutrition Agriculture Service Family ProgramsReport April 2010 This project was funded by the United States Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service. The authors thank the many state and local SNAP administrators and partner organizations for completing the national surveys and for their extensive cooperation throughout the study. In addition, staff at the Food and Nutrition Service provided guidance throughout the project and insightful edits to earlier drafts of this report. The nonpartisan Urban Institute publishes studies, reports, and books on timely topics worthy of public consideration. The views expressed are those of the authors and should not be attributed to the Urban Institute, its trustees, or its funders. CONTENTS EXECUTIVE SUMMARY..............................................................................................................................................I CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION .................................................................................................................................. 1 A. STUDY OBJECTIVES............................................................................................................................................ 1 B. PURPOSE AND ORGANIZATION OF THIS REPORT.................................................................................................. 3 CHAPTER 2: SURVEY METHODS ............................................................................................................................ 4 A. STATE FOOD STAMP AGENCY SURVEY............................................................................................................... 4 B. LOCAL FOOD STAMP AGENCY SURVEY............................................................................................................... 4 C. PARTNER ORGANIZATION SURVEY...................................................................................................................... 5 D. SURVEY LIMITATIONS......................................................................................................................................... 6 CHAPTER 3: BACKGROUND..................................................................................................................................... 7 A. OVERVIEW......................................................................................................