Governor Jim Douglas welcomed the news that Vermont was recognized by the U.S. Department of Agriculture for its improved access through expanded outreach in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) during 2009. As a result Vermont will receive $375,889 in bonus funds for the program as part of $18 million worth of bonus awards announced today by Federal Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. The national SNAP program is known in Vermont as 3SquaresVT.
‘Once again, Vermont is recognized as a leader among states in protecting and serving the most vulnerable in our communities,’ said Governor Jim Douglas. ‘This award recognizes our strong efforts to reach out to Vermonters in need to ensure they have access to critical benefits, especially in these challenging economic times.’
Over the past three years, the number of Vermonters enrolled in 3SquaresVT has risen 63 percent. The additional funding is likely to be used to continue to strengthen Vermont’s ability to serve more and more people in the most efficient manner possible.
Each year USDA sets aside $12 million in bonus awards for states with the best and most improved program access index. According the USDA, the program access index is the ratio of participants to the number of persons below 125 percent of poverty and reflects State performance in reaching those eligible for nutrition benefits.
‘We are improving the accuracy and efficiency of program delivery while working to deliver on Obama administration efforts to reduce hunger and improve nutrition for people across the country,’ said Secretary Vilsack. ‘The States we recognize today are leaders in service to their communities and their success in breaking down access barriers and processing applications in a timely manner is an inspiring model for other States.’
USDA's Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) oversees the administration of 15 nutrition assistance programs. These programs serve one in four Americans over the course of a year and work in concert to form a national safety net against hunger. SNAP, the largest of these programs, helps nearly 41.3 million Americans each month put healthy food on the table. Vermont’s program, known as 3SquaresVT is administered by the Department of Children and Families in the Agency of Human Services.
To view the USDA release visit http://www.usda.gov/wps/portal/usda/usdahome?contentidonly=true&contenti.... And for more information visit http://dcf.vermont.gov/esd/3SquaresVT or www.fns.usda.gov.
Source: Governor's office. 9.24.2010
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