Oklahoma The Oklahoma Department of Human Services, in partnership with the Oklahoma Commission on Children and Youth and a coalition of other State agencies, developed the JOIN website questionnaire designed to determine appropriate government services and serve as a State-wide resource directory. This assists State Food Stamp Program agency staff in the search for appropriate help for clients. Go to http://www.join.ok.gov/. For more information, contact: Jim Struby, Programs Administrator, OKDHS Family Support Services, P.O. Box 25352, Oklahoma City, OK 73125, 405-521-3078, jim.struby@okdhs.org or Richard Cook, Information Systems Planning Specialist, Oklahoma Commission on Children and Youth, 500 N. Broadway, Suite 300, Oklahoma City, OK 73102, 405-606-4920, Richard.Cook@occy.state.ok.us. In partnership with the Department of Human Services, the Tulsa Community Action Program developed an eligibility wizard, BESO, which screens for 25 different programs, provides information about required eligibility, and emails a request for services to the appropriate OKDHS office. For more information, contact: Jim Struby, Programs Administrator, OKDHS Family Support Services, P.O. Box 25352, Oklahoma City, OK 73125, 405-521-3078, jim.struby@okdhs.org or Victoria Haws, BESO Program Manager, Tulsa CAP, 4606 S. Garnett Road, Tulsa, OK 74146, 918382-3374, vhaws@captc.org. The Department of Human Services has a policy of allowing clients in metropolitan areas, such as Oklahoma City, to be served in any office in the area which meets their personal and business needs. Rather than be bound by zip codes, clients in the metropolitan areas can apply for benefits at Food Stamp Program offices close to their work sites or child care centers. For more information, contact: Anne Snell, FNS Southwestern Regional office, 214-290-9900, snell.a@fns.usda.gov.
Oregon Beginning in 2000, the Oregon Hunger Relief Task Force (OHRTF) held a series of focus groups with low-income participants to identify client-perceived barriers to accessing and using the Food Stamp Program, and included ongoing feedback on client barriers from community advocates and service provider partners. In 2004, the State Department of Human Services (DHS) formed the Food Stamp Outreach Steering Committee, comprised of agency and community organization members who problem-solved together with the identified barriers and helped implement successful solutions: a simplified application and the development and distribution of various educational outreach materials. In 2005, their on-going collective effort was published in a DHS report, Food Stamp Program Strategies of Accountability, which outlines specific responsibilities at each staff level throughout the State agency and provides a base point for both State agency staff and advocacy groups to measure access and customer service issues. The FSP Strategies are a work in progress, and are the latest example of the unique and successful collaboration between advocates and DHS. This has contributed to Oregonâ€&#x;s high ranking in increased participation. For more information, contact: Nancy Weed, Food Stamp Outreach Coordinator, Oregon Hunger Relief Task Force, 123 N.E. Third Avenue, Suite 475, Portland, Oregon 97232, 503-998-6194, nancy@oregonhunger.org.
Pennsylvania When Allegheny County experienced its first noticeable influx of Hispanic immigrants a couple of years ago, the Hunger Services Program of the Urban League of Greater Pittsburgh contacted the newly formed Hispanic Center of Pittsburgh to partner in coordinating and delivering services to low income households. Hunger Servicesâ€&#x; Food Stamp outreach program offers pre-screening and
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