Fun with Food: Stretching Your Food Dollars Ryan Johnson & Ross Safford Job Loss Professionals: New Tools for New Ti

1. Fun with Food:Stretching Your Food DollarsRyan Johnson & Ross SaffordJob Loss Professionals: New Tools for New TimesSeptember 21, 2010

2. Food Support = SNAP • Eligibility = 130% of FPG or $28,665 for a family of four • Average monthly grant = $212/household • $368/month for families • $78/month for seniors • $318 million in Federal funds to MN (2008) • Only 54% of eligible Minnesotans participate • Blue Earth = 29% • Beltrami = 82% • Full participation could bring an additional $394 million dollars to MN Sources: DHS, Hunger Solutions Minnesota, USDA

3. Food Support Benefits For State and Local Communities By increasing the number of people on Food Support, communities bring in more Federal money Local businesses benefit when Food Support dollars are spent in grocery stores Every $5 in new Food Support benefits generates $9.20 in total community spending Nationwide, retail food demand by Food Support recipients generates 3,300 farm jobs “Extending food stamps are the most effective ways to prime the economy's pump. A $1 increase in food stamp payments boosts GDP by $1.73.” - Mark Zandi, Chief Economist and Co-founder of Moody’s Economy.com Source: USDA

4. Food Support Benefits For Low-Income Workers • Families receiving Food Support spend more money on food than other low-income households. • Every additional dollar’s worth of Food Support generates 17 - 47 cents of new spending on food. • Employees whose food needs are met at home have higher productivity and take fewer sick days for themselves and their children. • Participants become financially stable as they transition to self sufficiency. • Half of all new participants leave the program within nine months. Source: USDA

5. Recent Food Support Changes Combined Application Form simplified – 2008 (more changes coming soon) Benefits available on EBT card up to 1 year 6 month reporting – March 1, 2009 Benefits increased by 13.6% ($16 minimum) – April 1, 2009 Telephone interviews for eligibility and recertification – October 15, 2009 No time limit or work requirements for Able Bodied Adults Without Dependents (ABAWDs) – extended to September 30, 2011 No asset test – November 1, 2010 Eligibility increased to 165% FPG ($36,383 for a family of 4) – November 1, 2010 Online application – March 2011 Sources: DHS, Hunger Solutions Minnesota

6. MN Food Support Characteristics • From 12/08-12/09, overall participation increased by 30% • Other Adult Households (ABAWDs) increased by 105% • Family Households increased by 37% • Senior Households increased by 8% • Disabled Households increased by 12% • 60% of Other Adult Households had no income • Majority of Other Adult Households were young men in their 20’s • Other Adult Households were disproportionately black • 30% compared to 24% of all Food Support adults Source: DHS

7. Source: DHS

8. 36% = Family Households 27% = Disabled Households 23% = Other Adult Households 15% = Seniors Households Source: DHS

9. MN Food Support Demographics 57% female 67% had at least a H.S. diploma or GED 22% between 30-39 (highest for any age range) 60% White 24% Black (4% of all MN adults) 7% Asian 5% American Indian 4% Hispanic 91% U.S. Citizens Source: DHS

10. Economic Characteristics • 19% of all households had no income • 58% of Family Households were working ($1,178/month) • 64% reported unearned income ($732/month) • Unemployment Insurance, Workers’ Compensation, etc. • Average of 36 months on Food Support • 28 months for Family Households • 14 months for Other Adults Source: DHS

11. Food Support Outreach 20 community organizations (CAPs and hunger relief agencies) that provide information and application assistance to Food Support-eligible clients Local agencies cover 56 counties Minnesota Food HelpLine (1-888-711-1151) covers the entire state Bridge to Benefits (bridgetobenefits.org) can help people find out if they are eligible and lists the FSO agencies More local agencies coming on board in October, 2010

12. What is Simply Good Eating? Simply Good Eating is FREE nutrition education for Food Support-eligible clients. • Teaches the importance of a quality diet • Helps people purchase healthy foods within a limited budget • Teaches how to prepare healthy meals with quick and easy recipes • Encourages a physically active lifestyle • Uses science-based, behaviorally-focused curriculum • U of M Extension and Minnesota Chippewa Tribe nutrition educators deliver the programming Consistent nutrition education messages need to be communicated through multiple channels that reach people where they live, work, learn and play.

13. Why is nutrition education important? Low-income households have a higher prevalence of health conditions related to poor nutrition than higher income households Obesity rates have increased the most among the lowest income levels Low-income women are 50% more likely to be obese than women with higher incomes Children of overweight mothers are more likely to be overweight by age 6 than other children Obesity puts people at a greater risk for heart disease, hypertension, diabetes and some cancers With good nutrition, seniors stay in their homes longer and have lower medical bills Well nourished children have better school attendance and are more focused on learning Sources: USDA, CDC-National Center for Health Statistics

14. Partnering with Extension Nutrition Educators are located in every county: http://www.extension.umn.edu/Nutrition/contact.html 612-625-7070 Programming is offered in a variety of settings: Food shelves WIC clinics Senior citizen centers Child care centers Low-income housing Shelters Grocery stores

15. Key Partners Area Agencies on Aging Association of Minnesota Counties Community Action Agencies County Extension Committees County Human Service Directors County Public Health Departments Food Support Outreach Grantees Head Start Agencies Hunger Relief Organizations (food shelves, food banks, meal programs) Minnesota Association of Financial Assistance Supervisors Minnesota Chippewa Tribe Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development/WorkForce Minnesota Fathers and Families Network Minnesota Financial Fitness Network

16. Simply Good Eating:Cooking for Health and Stretching Food DollarsRoss SaffordJob Loss Professionals: New Tools for New TimesSeptember 21, 2010

17. Fast Food?

18. Cookery means the knowledge of Medea and of Circe, and of Calypso, of Helen and of the queen of Sheba. It means knowledge of all herbs, and fruits, and balms and spices, and all that is healing and sweet in the fields and groves and savory in meats. It means carefulness and inventiveness and readiness… It means the economy of your grandmother and great-grandmother and the science of modern chemist; it means much testing and no wasting; it means (English) thoroughness, (French) art, and (Arabian) hospitality. It means, in fine, that your are to see always, that everyone has something nice to eat. John Ruskin (1819 - 1900)

21. Questions?Ryan Johnsonryan.johnson1@state.mn.us651-431-3854Ross Saffordsaffo001@umn.edu612-625-7070