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DATE: | Feb. 1, 2023 |
SUBJECT: | Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program - FY 2024 Priority Areas for State Outreach Plans |
TO: | All SNAP State Agencies |
The Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) is committed to increasing access to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), one of the most powerful tools available to ensure low-income people have access to healthy food. Program informational activities, or SNAP outreach activities, are a critical tool to ensure vulnerable populations are aware of the availability, eligibility requirements, application procedures, and benefits of SNAP.
FNS strongly recommends that all states develop a SNAP outreach plan. In addition to increasing enrollment among eligible non-participating households, SNAP outreach can help reduce churn by encouraging existing SNAP households to recertify. Outreach work is especially important now for households who need additional support as states continue unwinding the flexibilities in place during the COVID-19 federal public health emergency (PHE).
Outreach is also critical to achieving the goals of the National Strategy on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health.1 The first pillar of the strategy calls for improving food access and affordability and connecting more underserved populations to SNAP. USDA remains committed to advancing racial equity and reducing barriers to SNAP participation. As part of this effort, FNS continues to urge states to strengthen partnerships in the following FY 2024 SNAP outreach priority areas:
FNS encourages states to carefully consider one or more of these priority areas and strategies when analyzing state needs and developing FY 2024 outreach plans. Detailed information about outreach plan requirements and allowable activities may be found in the SNAP State Outreach Plan Guidance. As a reminder, FNS reimburses state agencies for up to 50% of allowable administrative costs, including outreach activities. States must have an approved outreach plan for activities to be eligible for reimbursement.
States should submit outreach plans to their FNS regional office by August 15 to allow sufficient time for review and approval.
Thank you for your efforts to improve access to SNAP for all eligible participants. State agencies with questions should contact their respective FNS regional office representatives.
Moira Johnston
Acting Director
Program Development Division
2Government Accountability Office, “Better Information Could Help Eligible College Students Access Federal Food Assistance Benefits,” December 2018, https://www.gao.gov/assets/gao-19-95.pdf.
3Federal Student Aid, U.S. Department of Education, “(GEN-22-02) Use of FAFSA Data to Administer Federal Programs,” January 2022, https://fsapartners.ed.gov/knowledge-center/library/dear-colleague-letters/2022-01-20/use-fafsa-data-administer-federal-programs.
4For more information on students and SNAP, visit SNAP’s students webpage.
5Government Accountability Office, “Federal Agencies Should Improve Oversight and Better Collaborate on Efforts to Support Veterans with Food Insecurity,” March 2022, https://www.gao.gov/assets/gao-22-104740.pdf.
6Federal Register, “Advancing Racial Equity and Support for Underserved Communities Through the Federal Government,” Vol. 86, No. 14, Presidential Documents, January 25, 2021, https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2021-01-25/pdf/2021-01753.pdf.
7 U.S. Department of Agriculture, “SNAP Participation Rates by State,” https://www.fns.usda.gov/usamap.