State-SNAP FAQ and training resource materials; FRAC report on School Meals - MA ROCKS!

A few items to share. 

State SNAP for MA Immigrants - Materials 

Thanks to those of you who attended yesterday’s training on SNAP for Massachusetts immigrants. 196 folks registered in less than 24 hours!  WOW! We are following up with materials for both attendees and those of you who missed it - below:.

• Powerpoint slide deck of yesterday’s presentation

• DTA's guidance  to workers on the new state-funded SNAP - posted now on DTA’s Online Guide and chock full of details

• State SNAP FAQ in English and Spanish (Portuguese available soon)

• FAQ on Cash and SNAP for Haitian Immigrants in English and Haitian Creole 

• MLRI’s 2024 SNAP Advocacy Guide - Q 47-55 cover immigrant eligibility

• Our SNAP Math calculator for quick SNAP math checkups!

• Can’t get through DTA Assistance Line? See MLRI list of resources and suggestions

FY25 Budget State-Funded SNAP Campaign - Action Item!

The new state-funded SNAP benefits are temporary and may run out at the end of June (or possibly sooner - depending on how many people qualify).  We need your help.

• Please THANK members who co-sponsored H.135 and S.76! House cosponsors HERE and Senate co-sponsors HERE.The Joint Committee on Children, Families and Persons with Disabilities gave the bill a favorable report on 2/7/24, and sent to Ways and Means yesterday! We are tweeting out to members thanking them TODAY! Please amplify!  https://twitter.com/feedneighborsma 

• Please urge your Representative and Senator to include funding for state-funded SNAP benefits in their top 5 priorities for the FY25 Budget. Members are actively meeting with House Ways and Means and the Speaker’s office in February and March.  See Feeding Our Neighbors Action Steps HERE. 

FRAC Report on School Meals - Shout Out to Massachusetts!!

Check out FRAC’s new report The State of Healthy School Meals for All: California, Maine, Massachusetts, Nevada, and Vermont Lead the Way released yesterday. The report looks at school meal participation rates during the 2022-2023 school year and the impact of implementing a state policy that allows schools to offer meals to all students at no change. Key findings:

• School lunch participation increased in all five states by a total of 562,139 students or 14 percent in the 2022-2023 school year, compared to pre-pandemic oper

•  School breakfast saw modest growth of 129,264 more students across four of the five states — California, Maine, Massachusetts, and Vermont — compared to pre-pandemic operations;  

• State child nutrition agencies noted numerous benefits for children, families, and schools to providing school meals to all students at no cost, and public opinion polling showed broad support.

Here’s two sample social posts you can amplify: 

• Offering healthy, free #SchoolMeals4All students increased school meal participation in five states during the 2022–2023 school year, according to a new @fractweets report. https://frac.org/hsmfa-report-2024

• DYK? In 5 states — California, Maine, Massachusetts, Nevada, and Vermont —participation in #schoolunch increased during the 2022-23 school year, compared to pre-pandemic levels. https://frac.org/hsmfa-report-2024