SDHC Receives Grant to Increase Access to Healthy Food for Head Start Families

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The San Diego Hunger Coalition (SDHC) works to identify and address systemic barriers to participation in CalFresh, and we have a special focus on vulnerable populations not being successfully reached through existing outreach efforts. Though Head Start families are almost 100% eligible for CalFresh, only 40% are enrolled countywide.

With a $10,000 grant from Kaiser Foundation Hospitals, San Diego, SDHC is launching a new program to connect Head Start families to CalFresh benefits and nutrition education. We are developing a new outreach program tailored for Head Start providers, and our partners on this initial pilot will be Alpha Kappa Alpha (AKA) Head Start and 2-1-1 San Diego.  AKA Head Start serves over 1,500 very low-income three- to five-year-olds at 13 centers in East San Diego County. 

When asked why they have not applied for CalFresh benefits, AKA Head Start families have reported they do not understand eligibility guidelines, need help applying, and/or fear cultural stigma or adverse effects on family immigration status.  Our program will: (1) train Head Start staff on CalFresh application assistance; (2) pair AKA with 2-1-1 for the final stages of CalFresh enrollment through their telephone service; and (3) match the Head Start provider with one or more agencies providing nutrition education. 

We anticipate this will increase the food purchasing power of at least 350 AKA Head Start families by an average of $150 per month through CalFresh enrollment. Other expected outcomes are increased knowledge and motivation to purchase and prepare healthy foods and a decrease in the overall rate of overweight or obesity among AKA Head Start children by 5% during the 2015/2016 school year. 

This pilot project will be self-sustaining, because we are increasing the capacity of AKA Head Start through training, arranging what will be ongoing partnerships, and working with AKA to incorporate the program into organizational protocols.  AKA, 2-1-1, and nutrition educators are all funded by federal, state, and county programs for their elements of the program. The long-term strategy is to scale up the program model developed through this pilot with Head Start providers countywide. 

Hunger Coalition works with CalFresh Task Force to increase participation in food stamps among legal permanent residents

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Hunger Coalition works with CalFresh Task Force to increase participation in food stamps among legal permanent residents

At the last CalFresh Task Force quarterly meeting, The San Diego Hunger Coalition brought together U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services and immigration advocates to talk with CalFresh Task Force members about ways to increase CalFresh participation among legal permanent residents.

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Hunger Coalition Trains UCSD Medical Residents on Connection between Food Insecurity and Health

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Hunger Coalition Trains UCSD Medical Residents on Connection between Food Insecurity and Health

As part of our larger effort to educate the healthcare providers about the impacts of food insecurity on health, our CalFresh Outreach Program Director Amanda Schultz has begun training medical residents at UCSD on how to screen patients for food insecurity. The aim is to connect food insecure patients to critical food resources, such as CalFresh (food stamps) and food banks, as well as reduce hospital and clinic readmission rates.

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Hunger Coalition Conducts FIRST CalFresh 101 Training in Spanish

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Hunger Coalition Conducts FIRST CalFresh 101 Training in Spanish

In San Diego County, 25.2% of households speak Spanish at home. Many bilingual case managers and outreach workers fall into this category.  To better serve our nonprofit partners and help improve their CalFresh outreach, the Hunger Coalition is now providing CalFresh 101 class in Spanish. We held our first ever CalFresh 101 Training in Spanish on March 19th in Vista and the second on April 17thin City Heights.

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CalFresh Families Would Receive Extra Money for Fruits and Veg Through Statewide Nutrition Incentives Program

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CalFresh Families Would Receive Extra Money for Fruits and Veg Through Statewide Nutrition Incentives Program

A program to boost the purchase of California-grown fruits, vegetables, and nuts is gaining a foothold in the state legislature. The program would incentivize CalFresh beneficiaries by increasing their buying power for purchasing these state-grown items.

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CalFresh Outreach Director Amanda Schultz Provides Leadership at Alliance to Transform CalFresh Meeting

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CalFresh Outreach Director Amanda Schultz Provides Leadership at Alliance to Transform CalFresh Meeting

With only 57% of eligible households enrolled, California has long had the lowest CalFresh (food stamps) participation rate in the country. The Alliance to Transform CalFresh is a statewide coalition that aims to dramatically change participation rates.  Recognized as an expert on CalFresh outreach strategies, Amanda Schultz was invited to be a featured panelist at the May 5th Alliance to Transform CalFresh meeting in Sacramento.

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CA Lifts Ban on CalFresh for People with Prior Drug Felony Conviction

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CA Lifts Ban on CalFresh for People with Prior Drug Felony Conviction

California’s recent lifting of a ban on CalFresh for those with a former drug conviction means access to critical food resources for individuals trying to turn their lives around. From advocating to repeal the ban to ensuring the new regulations are implemented on the ground, SDHC has been an important leader on this issue.

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