Region 3 Success Story: Engaging Local Farmers Markets for Bridge Card Accessibility

Creating a Legacy of Food Security & Supporting the Local Economy

Each year around 200 million dollars enter Kent County through the federal Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP), known as the Food Assistance Program (FAP) in Michigan.  In 2009 less than 1/10 of 1% of that money went to local agricultural producers. Gordie Moeller, a retired social worker, is on a mission to change that by increasing Bridge Card Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) participation at farmers markets across his region. 

For the past year Moeller has been working to bring access to healthy foods to SNAP/FAP recipients through local farmers’ markets and farm stands.

“Without the ability to use their Bridge Card at farmers’ markets, about 25% of area families are denied the opportunity to purchase healthy locally grown farm fresh fruits and vegetables,” says Moeller.

Moeller and his wife created the Food Security Fund at the Grand Rapids Foundation for programs and organizations that prevent and alleviate hunger and address critical nutrition issues.

Moeller located markets, visited farmers and explained his win-win strategy: “People eat healthier food, get fresh air and gain nutritional knowledge,” says Moeller. “In turn, the increased sales help local farmers, which benefits other local businesses.  In comparison, 70% of money spent at supermarket chains leaves town.”

Moeller’s work is beginning to pay off.  In 2010 only six farmers and markets accepted Bridge Cards in the region. In 2011, the number is up 750% to 46. Moeller recently received a letter of recognition from the State of Michigan Department of Human Services Director Maura Corrigan, excerpted here:

Two organizations were instrumental in supporting Moeller’s outreach: the United States Department of Agriculture Food and Nutrition Service and the Michigan Farmers Market Association.

The USDA offers free EBT equipment for farmers and markets with electricity and phone service.

The MIFMA works with farmers’ markets and legislators on relevant issues. They publish a Bridge Card manual that can help farmers get started.
Of note to farmers and markets:

• Large markets can accept Bridge Cards for individual farmers.
• Farmers and markets who already accept credit and debit can easily add Bridge Card EBT.

This summer the Double Up Food Bucks program offers a bonus incentive for Bridge Card holders when they buy from participating community farmers markets— they receive extra SNAP credit to buy double the produce for the regular price.

Farmers markets that accept Bridge Cards:
www.mifma.org/find-a-farmers-market/

Double Up Food Bucks:
www.doubleupfoodbucks.org

Gordie Moeller can be reached at 616.293.4727 or gordiemoeller@comcast.net.

Fueling Young Bodies to Fulfill Growing Needs

Kalamazoo Loaves & Fishes Aims to Feed 10,000+ Hungry Kids this Summer
Kimberly Schoetzow, Communications Coordinator, Kalamazoo Loaves & Fishes

 
Requests for emergency food assistance skyrocket during the summer months. To meet this year’s demand, Loaves & Fishes is kicking off their Food is Fuel Kids Campaign, with a target goal of $50,000 and 50,000 pounds of food by the end of August. 

 “No one can be successful or fully participate in the world around them without regular access to food,” says Anne Wend Lipsey, Kalamazoo Loaves & Fishes’ executive director. “It’s that simple.”

It’s even more important for growing children to have a nourishing diet.Without the proper ‘fuel’ in a child’s diet, they aren’t the best students, athletes, or community members.

Food is the link to ensure kids have the chance to fulfill their ultimate potential. A diet lacking in nutrients can cause irrevocable damage to a child’s health, and their future.

In summertime children don’t have the same access to the free and reduced meals available during the school year.

Last summer 10,910 of the 24,805 food orders distributed by Loaves & Fishers went to children.

“Everyone can make a difference this summer by contributing and connecting hungry kids to food resources,” says Lipsey.

How to help:

• Join local businesses, organizations, and faith groups to collect food and raise funds for hungry local kids.
• Let your clients and community members know about the program.
• Be a part of the Kalamazoo Loaves & Fishes’ Shop-n-Drop Food Drive on July 16 at the Portage D&W Fresh Market.

Visit www.kzoolf.org for food drop-off locations and to donate.

If you’d like to start your own collection or participate in the Shop-n-Drop Food Drive, contact Kimberly Schoetzow, Communications Coordinator, at 269.488.2617 x218 or kimberly@kzoolf.org.

Bundling Benefits to Improve Families’ Financial State

Goodwill of SWMI’s Family Opportunity Center Starts Strong

Moving from poverty into prosperity is not easy.  It requires self-awareness, willingness to learn, a strong support system, behavioral changes, and a lot of hard work. For area residents ready to change their lives, staff members of the new Family Opportunity Center at Goodwill Industries of Southwestern Michigan are ready to provide the support.

The Family Opportunity Center (FOC) is based on the Annie E. Casey Foundation’s Center for Working Families® (CWF) framework for neighborhood service delivery.  This model has shown that bundling and sequencing services and ongoing support has much more success that providing a person or family a singular service.

A Human Service Campus Approach 

“We’re bundling services together for more impact,” says Wilma Wilder, Goodwill’s FOC Coordinator and Employment Coach. “We offer workforce development, financial coaching, and assistance accessing benefits and income supports. All of this happens at Goodwill’s Human Service Campus which also houses several other organizations that can offer services to the participants as well.”

Wilder and colleague Sharilyn Parsons, the FOC’s Financial Coach—on contract from Kalamazoo Neighborhood Housing Services (KNHS)—studied other communities’ programs for best practices and did site visits to two other programs in Detroit.

Employment coach Wilma Wilder works with an
FOC client to identify her transferable skills.

“We are passionate about the work and want to make sure we bring in the best possible format for delivering these services to the residents of Kalamazoo,” says Wilder.

Once enrolled, clients are required to take a four-week financial literacy course with Parsons, to help them with budgeting, improving their credit score, and financial planning.

Wilder teaches an optional six-week Career Discovery / Career Opportunities course and provides one-on-one employment coaching. A regular job club meeting will help keep clients motivated to improve their careers. 

While they have distinct roles, Wilder and Parsons are creating the program with a holistic approach that will take into account each individual’s needs, goals, and life vision.

Family Opportunity Center staff will track participants’ progress through the “Efforts to Outcomes” software that is being used nationally by all of the Family Opportunity and Center for Working Family programs.

Past Present and Future

The Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) asked Goodwill to take on the project in late 2010. The W. K. Kellogg Foundation is funding the Kalamazoo FOC along with sister projects in Battle Creek and Grand Rapids.

The Family Opportunity Center held its first orientation session in early June. Referrals into the program have come from a variety of sources including Goodwill’s other programs such as the GED / ABE program, HIRE; and the Kalamazoo Tax Counseling Initiative. Other organizations have also referred participants including KNHS; the Hispanic American Council; MIWorks!; and Advocacy Services for Kids.

Wilder does outreach at various local career-related events. Local service providers are welcome to refer individuals they believe are suited for the program.

“This is intensive work,” says Wilder. “We’re looking for people who really want to make a change and are willing to commit to a partnership with the FOC coaches.”

A grand opening will occur in late summer or early fall, with a program expansion.

Download an informational flyer here.

Find Goodwill Industries of Southwestern Michigan on the web: 

Double Up Food Bucks Offers Healthy Food Incentives

"The Fair Food Network’s Double Up Food Bucks program provides families receiving food assistance benefits -- Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) -- with the means to purchase more Michigan-grown fresh fruits and vegetables at farmers’ markets. The program aims to increase the consumption of healthy food in low-income communities while also creating new sales opportunities for Michigan growers."

Learn how it works for Bridge Card holders.

Here are currently participating  markets:

Southwest Michigan

100-Mile Market
507 Harrison Street Kalamazoo
Wednesdays 3pm – 7pm

Battle Creek Farmers Market
Festival Market Square at the corner of Jackson and McCamly, Battle Creek, MI
Wednesdays and Saturdays 9am – 1pm

Bellevue Farmers Market
Washington Park at the corner of West Mill and Main, Bellevue, MI
Thursdays 4 – 7pm

City of Springfield Farmers’ Market
503 Military Avenue, Springfield, MI
Wednesdays 12 – 5pm; Saturdays 8am – 1pm

Douglass Farmers’ Market
1000 W. Paterson St., Kalamazoo, MI
Fourth Tuesdays (June 28, July 26, and August 23), 3-7pm

Kalamazoo Farmers’ Market
1204 Bank Street, Kalamazoo, MI
Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays 7am – 1pm
(Bridge Cards accepted Saturdays ONLY)

VA Medical Center Farmers Market
Veteran’s Administration Hospital
5500 Armstrong Road, Battle Creek, MI
Mondays 11am – 1pm (ends Sept 26)

Find all participating markets here. 

Building Bridges to Prosperity

Participants at the April 29 Roundtable discuss MBAI's MiBridges enhancements.

Michigan Benefits Access Initiative Brings Online Efficiency to MiBridges in 2012

Do you help your clients apply for and access state benefit programs? Are they overwhelmed, tired of trying to be in the right place at the right time with the right paperwork to find the window of opportunity to obtain income support?

Imagine how much easier it would be for all of us if clients could complete one application, one time, and have their eligibility verified for all of the state administered programs: Medicaid; Cash Assistance, Child Development and Care; State Emergency Relief; as well as Food and Energy Assistance.

What if they had access anytime to a single source online portal where they could check their enrollment status, upload documents, exchange electronic correspondence with case workers, and have their continued eligibility determined online—in English, Spanish or Arabic.

This is what MiBridges www.michigan.gov/mibridges will bring to your clients in 2012, thanks to the work of the Michigan Benefits Access Initiative (MBAI) task force, a forty member group that has been working since 2008 to bring close to $1 billion unclaimed benefits back into circulation.

MiBridges Creates One Platform

“Research shows more than 50% of the reason for program failure or dropping out is that people just didn’t know what they were supposed to do,” says Linda Schmidt, Poverty Policy Director at the Michigan Department of Human Services.

“As this system is built out, you will be able to help [clients] figure out exactly what’s going on, report changes, and do whatever they need to do to recertify and maintain their eligibility for the programs that they already have—and to apply directly for all of the DHS programs online.”

The electronic upgrades to the MiBridges system are scheduled for completion from December 2011 through March 2012. The work is being done by Deloitte with funding from the Michigan Association of United Ways.

Getting to the Other Side

“The vision is to get us all on the same page with the same piece of technology...to get the income supports into families so that they can complete their training, get that better job, and really make progress against poverty,” explains Nancy Lindman, Director of Public Policy & Partnerships at Michigan Association of United Ways.

“This doesn’t replace the social work,” emphasizes Lindman. “But we need to move people into financial stability.”

Getting Ready for the Change

Currently MBAI is working to bring together two groups of people: those who help people with the paper booklet applications; and those who have experience with online applications. The goal is that when the system rolls out within a year, everyone who works on benefits access will be ready.

MBAI is forming strong partnerships with a growing number of nonprofit networks, such as Voices for Action, to integrate into community initiatives.

The MBAI three-phase outreach plan will help local community-based organizations prepare for the new technology.

1. Recruit non-profit networks that work with clients on a daily basis as benefits access sites.
2. Train staff and volunteers so they feel comfortable with the MiBridges system and assisting people with benefits.
3. Bring in additional funding to clear away barriers for these networks.

The Intended Benefits

Nancy Lindman presents MBAI's
MIBridges enhancements
in Grand Rapids.

Once the system is up and running DHS expects to see increased benefits enrollment, reduced workload, less recertification errors, and fewer re-applications.

With the MiBridges technology update creating more stable income supports, the “real” work can succeed—helping those who are truly in need cross over from poverty to prosperity.

For information about MBAI or MiBridges benefits access training, contact Nancy Lindman, Michigan Association of United Ways (shown at right) nlindman@uwmich.org or 517.371.4360.♦

Download a 2011 MBAI fact sheet.
Download the 2009 MBAI Executive Summary Report.
Download the April 2011 MBAI presentation.

 Michigan Benefits Access Initiative (MBAI) Partners

• Community Economic Development Association
• Department of Corrections - Michigan Prisoner Reentry Initiative
• Department of Human Services - Voices for Action
• Elder Law of Michigan
• Food Bank Council of Michigan
• Michigan 2-1-1
• Michigan Coalition Against Homelessness
• Michigan Community Action Agency Association
• Michigan Community College Association
• Michigan Head Start Association
• Michigan Primary Care Association
• United Way for Southeastern Michigan

Mothers of Hope Ultimate Family Reunion - Aug 6, 2011 Kalamazoo Spring Valley Park

Mothers of Hope Ultimate Family Reunion August 6, 2011

New America Foundation News - The Assets Report 2011

Colleagues,   Every year the Asset Building Program conducts an analysis of the federal budget to provide a more complete understanding of how the federal government encourages the accumulation of assets for families up and down the economic ladder. We seek to shine a light on what policy levers are deployed, who benefits from these programs and policy efforts, and how recent legislation potentially alters the landscape. In that pursuit, we present The Assets Report 2011, an assessment of federal policies and programs to promote asset building opportunities. Our analysis finds:    In Fiscal Year 2012, the President's budget proposes a total of $519 billion in resources to promote asset-building opportunities. This includes $46 billion in direct spending and $473 billion in subsidies delivered through the tax code.     The federal government will allocate $209 billion in resources to subsidize homeownership and $147 billion for retirement security. $57 billion will be devoted to post-secondary education, $357 million for entrepreneurship, and $106 billion to savings and investment activities.     The total tax subsidies for asset building in Fiscal Year 2012 are worth $473 billion, which overwhelmingly accrue to middle- and upper-income Americans.     Tax refunds, which are returned to many households after they file their taxes, represent a significant asset for many families. The combined value of the Earned Income Tax Credit and the Child Tax Credit is $65 billion, $46 billion of which are delivered as tax refunds.  By any account, these are substantial sums; however, the efficacy of these policies is less contingent on the scope of the resources being allocated as the scope of households who benefit from those resources. Those families with lower incomes and fewer resources receive a small fraction of the total resources in play, while those with higher earnings receive the lion's share. The release of this year's report coincides with the broader consideration of federal spending priorities in the context of deficit reduction. As Congress and the Administration discuss options for long-term fiscal reform, they should recognize that targeted policies which enable a greater degree of savings by those at the bottom of the economic ladder are investments that pay off down the line. Not only can these types of policies increase financial security of families still struggling to rebuild their balance sheets two years after the official end of the Great Recession but they can help families achieve economic mobility and invest in their future. We invite you to consult another of our publications, The Assets Agenda, for a fuller description of ideas on how to implement a more inclusive set of savings and asset-building policies to benefit all Americans, but especially those with lower-incomes and fewer resources. Sincerely,    Reid Cramer Director, Asset Building Program New America Foundation  www.NewAmerica.net

Transportation Equity Network News - Help Us Protect Passenger Rail

Help Us Protect Passenger Rail This week, Congressman John Mica, Chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, introduced a draft bill, the Competition for Intercity Passenger Rail in America Act of 2011.  This bill privatizes Amtrak service in the Northeast Corridor, weakens Amtrak service in the rest of the country, and promotes privatization of the new high-speed and intercity rail program throughout the United States. Let your Member of Congress know that privatizing the rail programs in this country is unacceptable and that full funding of Amtrak and the high-speed and intercity rail program in FY 2012 will lead to the creation of thousands of new jobs in this country. Help us support passenger rail and job growth. Write your Member of Congress today. A Failed Concept We don't need to speculate about the possible effects of passenger rail privatization. Britain privatized its rail service in the early 1990's and the experiment has largely been a failure, leading to higher fares, increased costs, and little incentive to modernize infrastructure. The British government now spends more subsidizing a series of commerically unsuccessful rail operators than it did simply running the publicly-owned British Railways. Privatization of passenger rail in this country is unacceptable and we need to make that clear to Congress. Send a message today. Ask your Member of Congress to stand with Amtrak against privatization. Common-Sense Rules Unfortunately, privatization is a growing trend in cash-starved municipalities nationwide. With this in mind, Senator Dick Durbin has introduced a bill to help bring transparency and oversight to the sale of public transit systems and other infrastructure. The bill (Protecting Taxpayers in Transportation Asset Transfers Act S1230) would set important new precedents regarding the disclosure of anticipated effects on wages, employment and work rules. We at TEN applaud Senator Durbin's focus on worker protection and transparency and have signed a letter of support for this important legislation. Capitol Hill Updates We at TEN are pleased to announce a new resource designed to keep you informed about transportation issues being discussed in Washington. They're called Capitol Hill Updates and our second issue goes soon. Click here to sign up for future updates. Click here to read them on our website. Call for Papers The Transportation Research Board is looking for papers relating to the health impacts of transportation policies, procedures, and actions. Click here for more information. Employment Opportunity TEN affiliate United Congregations of Metro-East is looking for a Lead Organizer in the St. Louis area. Click here for more information. Follow Us on Twitter Join Us on Facebook

Transportation Equity Network 4501 Westminster Place, 3rd Floor St. Louis, MO 63108

FAMILY HEALTH CENTER ANNOUNCES OPEN ENROLLMENT FOR KALAMAZOO COUNTY HEALTH PLAN, PLAN B

A unique and rare opportunity for low-income uninsured residents to procure health coverage

Kalamazoo, MI - Family Health Center (FHC) is pleased to announce an open enrollment period for the Kalamazoo County Health Plan (KCHP), Plan B.

KCHP is a community sponsored program for low- income uninsured residents of Kalamazoo County who do not qualify for Medicaid, Medicare or have any other type of healthcare coverage. According to the 2009 Census, there are approximately 37,261 uninsured residents living in Kalamazoo County. Currently, approximately 1,500 of people are enrolled in KCHP, Plan B.

To be eligible for Plan B, a candidate must be a resident of Kalamazoo County, uninsured and have a household income under 200% of the Federal Poverty Level (roughly $1,800/mo for a single-person household and $3,725 for a family of four (4)).

It is important to note that KCHP is primary health coverage, not health insurance, and that minimal co-pays are required. However, for many living without insurance and struggling to make ends meet, KCHP has created new access to quality, primary healthcare.

The Plan B Open Enrollment Period will begin immediately and will remain open until filled. It is estimated that between 200 and 250 people will be able to enroll during this enrollment period. Anyone may call 344-6168 to see if they qualify and to make an appointment to register.

The mission of FHC is to provide quality, comprehensive, primary healthcare to all people regardless of ability to pay. FHC is a community-based Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) which provides primary medical care, dental services and behavioral health care/counseling in a welcoming and inclusive environment.

Medicaid is welcomed and a sliding fee scale based on income is available for anyone who is uninsured. There are six (6) locations in Kalamazoo County with the main office at 117 W. Paterson St. To make an appointment, please call 269.349.2641. You may also visit the website for additional general information at www.fhckzoo.com.