Farm Bill 2018 update and next steps; Mass Rehab & college students: HIP update, Project Bread hiring!

The following are a few quick updates for those of you checking your emails this July 4^th week.  Rest up for the battles ahead!

Farm Bill 2018 Update:  

You likely know that the U.S. Senate passed of 2018 Farm Bill with NO negative provisions. YAY!!! Phew!!  But there’s still more work to be done to protect SNAP in Conference Committee. See FRAC’s Farm Bill primer: http://frac.org/research/resource-library/farm-bill-advocacy-toolkit   

The following NYT opinion piece is a good summary of the status of the bill and minefields: https://www.nytimes.com/2018/07/01/opinion/if-congress-changes-food-stamp-requirements-kids-will-go-hungry.html

What you can do:

• THANK you Mass Member of Congress and both MA Senators for their advocacy to defend and protect SNAP.  The Senatators’ twitter handles are: @SenWarren @SenMarkey 
• Tweet out the following message, or similar message:  #HouseofRepresentatives & #Senate: Protect and strengthen SNAP to keep food on the tables of people struggling against hunger. Reject House #FarmBill leading into conference. @fractweets bit.ly/2yS5nMB
• Reach out to family and friends in other states.  We need their help now more than ever!

Mass Rehab, SNAP & Students:  

We’ve recently discovered that DTA’s protocol for screening of college students can overlook Mass Rehabilitation Commission (MRC) participants. Unless an individual self-identifies as “disabled” on the SNAP application, DTA may not ask them if they are MRC participants.  And many MRC participants do not consider themselves “disabled” even receiving vocational rehabilitation services.  

MRC has over 17,800 Massachusetts participants’ in education and training programs alone, including state colleges. And MRC often pays for part of the education costs not covered by financial aid. Under the SNAP rules, MRC participants qualify as eligible students and are not subject to the other student rules (work study, 20 hrs work, Mass Grant etc).  And, MRC participants are also exempt from the ABAWD 3-month time limit that applies to childless persons ages 18-50.  If you work with a client who gets MRC services, let them know about SNAP and cash benefits. See attached FAQ and sample MRC statement.   

HIP Update:  

Below is an update on the Healthy Incentives Program (HIP) based on information from DTA Central:

On May 23, 2018, HIP benefits were reinstated after DTA received funding from the fiscal year (FY18) supplemental budget. The budget added stat dollars for HIP for the rest of the state fiscal year through June 30^th.  Although the Governor has not received and signed the FY 19 state budget, DTA has confirmed that the HIP program will continue in July and until further notice.

 DTA has sent out SNAP client communications about continued HIP in the form of “Auto-dialer” messaging to HIP participants, DTA Connect Push Notifications,  a DTA Assistance Line “IVR” update, as well as through  www.Mass.gov/DTA  and www.Mass.gov/HIP  banner alert updates.  

Project Bread is hiring a Director of Child Nutrition!   

Here’s a job announcement from Project Bread in their Child Nutrition Outreach Program (CNOP).   Project Bread is an awesome place to work with great anti-hunger colleagues. If you know anyone who might be interested in this job, encourage them to apply!