REPORT/RECOMMENDATION TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY
AND RECORD OF ACTION
November 15, 2022
FROM
SHARON NEVINS, Director, Department of Aging and Adult Services
SUBJECT
Title
Revenue Contract with the California Department of Aging for CalFresh Healthy Living and CalFresh Expansion
End
RECOMMENDATION(S)
Recommendation
1. Approve Revenue Contract (State Agreement No. CF-2223-20) with the California Department of Aging for the CalFresh Expansion Program and CalFresh Healthy Living to provide support outreach, application assistance, and education activities, in the amount of $444,639, for the period of October 1, 2022 through September 30, 2025.
2. Adopt a Resolution, as required by the California Department of Aging, authorizing the Chairman of the Board of Supervisors, the Chief Executive Officer, or the Director of the Department of Aging and Adult Services to execute all contract and certification documents, including any subsequent non-substantive amendments, in relation to State Revenue Agreement No. CF-2223-20 for the period of October 1, 2022 through September 30, 2025, on behalf of the County, subject to review by County Counsel.
3. Direct the Chairman of the Board of Supervisors, the Chief Executive Officer, or the Director of the Department of Aging and Adult Services to transmit all documents and amendments in relation to State Revenue Agreement No. CF-2223-20 to the Clerk of the Board of Supervisors within 30 days of execution.
(Presenter: Sharon Nevins, Director, 891-3917)
Body
COUNTY AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER GOALS & OBJECTIVES
Provide for the Safety, Health and Social Service Needs of County Residents.
Pursue County Goals and Objectives by Working with Other Agencies and Stakeholders.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
This item does not impact Discretionary General Funding (Net County Cost). The recommended Revenue Contract for the CalFresh Expansion Program and CalFresh Healthy Living in the amount of $444,639 is funded 57% from Federal ($253,444) and 43% from State ($191,195) sources. Adequate appropriation and revenue have been included in the Department of Aging and Adult Services-Public Guardian (DAAS-PG) 2022-23 budget and will be included in future recommended budgets.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), formerly known as the Food Stamp Program, is a federal aid program, and in California it is State-supervised, County-operated, and known as CalFresh. The CalFresh Program provides monthly food benefits to individuals and families with low income and provides economic benefit to communities. CalFresh benefits increase food budgets, allowing individuals and families to afford nutritious food, including more fruit, vegetables, and other healthy options. SNAP-Education (SNAP-Ed) is funded by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and is known as CalFresh Health Living (CFHL) in California. The goal of CFHL is to provide educational programs, policies, and messaging to promote healthy food choices to program recipients.
On June 18, 2018, Assembly Bill 1811, known as The Human Services Omnibus Trailer Bill, passed and reversed the CalFresh eligibility policy known as “cash-out” under which Supplemental Security Income (SSI)/State Supplemental Payment (SSP) recipients were ineligible for CalFresh. As a result, beginning June 1, 2019, the County, along with all other California Counties expanded CalFresh eligibility benefits to older adults and people with disabilities receiving SSI and SSP. This effort ensures the older adult population is able to obtain adequate nutritional support without change or reduction of their existing SSI/ SSP benefits.
In 2019, the County launched a widespread outreach effort to engage and enroll SSI/SSP recipients into the CalFresh program. Outreach was conducted through radio public service announcements in 14 markets within 36 counties in four languages to promote the change in eligibility rules and encourage CalFresh enrollment for SSI/SSP recipients. In addition, a social media video campaign ran and agencies, such as the Social Security Administration, California Department of Public Health and Department of Social Services, and USDA, continue to promote policy change and encourage enrollment on their websites.
When compared to other age groups, older adults have a very low participation rate in the CalFresh program. Nationally, 42% of eligible older adults participate in SNAP, whereas only 19% of eligible California seniors participate in CalFresh. As of October 2022, the average benefit amount issued per month nationally is $232, while in California the average is $259 for older adults or people with disabilities.
This revenue contract will expand CalFresh outreach by collaborating with County Welfare Department and other community based organizations to provide educational and informational information about the nutritional and other benefits of participating in Cal Fresh program directed to nonparticipating but potentially eligible persons. The benefits of the outreach will inform low-income households about the availability, eligibility requirements, and application procedures, and provide accurate information, which will allow individuals to make an informed decision about applying. It will help develop and provide flyers to rural communities, which includes approximately 1,717 unduplicated and newly eligible customers throughout the County, including its elderly residents.
On August 12, 2021, the California Department of Aging (CDA) sent out a request for survey with an opt-in choice to all Area Agencies on Aging (AAA). On August 26, 2021, DAAS-PG completed the survey with the choice to opt-in, thereby electing to participate in CalFresh Expansion efforts. On September 16, 2022, DAAS received notification of award of State Revenue Agreement No. CF-2223-20 for the CalFresh Healthy Living and Cal Fresh Expansion Program, in the amount of $444,639, for the period of October 1, 2022 through September 30, 2025. This item is being presented at this time, as this is the first date available following the required operational, fiscal, and legal reviews. Approval by the Board of Supervisors on this date will have no impact on DAAS services or activities.
PROCUREMENT
Not applicable.
REVIEW BY OTHERS
This item has been reviewed by Human Services Contracts (Patty Steven, Contracts Manager, 388-0241) on October 17, 2022; County Counsel (Jacqueline Carey-Wilson, Deputy County Counsel, 387-5455) on October 17, 2022; Finance (John Hallen, Administrative Analyst III, 388-0208) on October 17, 2022; and County Finance and Administration (Cheryl Adams, Deputy Executive Officer, 388-0238) on October 31, 2022.