SNAP State Outreach Plan Guidance

State agencies administering SNAP have the option to conduct program informational activities (outreach) to inform low-income households about the availability, eligibility requirements, application procedures and the benefits of SNAP. SNAP outreach can also correct myths and misperceptions about SNAP and enable potentially eligible people to make an informed decision about whether or not to apply. 

The state agency is responsible for administering outreach plan activities and managing outreach funds. FNS reimburses state agencies for up to 50 percent of allowable administrative costs, including program informational activities.

This document is for state agencies that administer SNAP to use in developing and submitting their SNAP outreach plan to FNS for approval. This document provides state agencies:

• policies and instructions to make decisions about the content of their outreach plans; 
• a template to use to develop and present their plan; 
• resources and tools for developing a final report, reporting promising practices, and requesting a waiver. 

Updates to this guidance will be made by FNS as needed via policy memorandum. Outreach policy memoranda can be found online at https://www.fns.usda.gov/snap/outreach.