| 
  • If you are citizen of an European Union member nation, you may not use this service unless you are at least 16 years old.

  • You already know Dokkio is an AI-powered assistant to organize & manage your digital files & messages. Very soon, Dokkio will support Outlook as well as One Drive. Check it out today!

View
 

09-29-2004

Page history last edited by PBworks 17 years, 5 months ago

September 29, 2004

ROMNEY ADMINISTRATION WINS $1.25 MILLION FOR EFFICIENCY

Federal grant recognizes Mass. for providing food stamps quicker than any state

 

Even as it cut administrative costs in the food stamp program, Massachusetts received a $1.25 million award from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) for getting food stamps to needy families more quickly than any other state in the nation, said Lieutenant Governor Kerry Healey.

 

Healey noted that the cost to administer the food stamp program in Massachusetts has dropped from $69 million to $62 million over the past two years.

 

“When it comes to state government, we are doing things smarter and more efficiently, ” said Healey, who was joined by Roberto Salazar, the USDA’s Food and Service Administrator to mark the Bay State’s accomplishment.

 

She added, “Through hard work and reform, Massachusetts is tops in the nation for connecting needy families with food stamps. We will continue to do everything we can to provide outstanding service as efficiently as possible to families across the Commonwealth.”

 

Officials from USDA said $6 million in federal funds was divided among the six states with the best records in processing food stamp applications. According to federal timeliness standards, food stamp applications must be processed within either seven or 30 days depending on the individual circumstances. The state Department of Transitional Assistance (DTA), which administers the Massachusetts program, receives approximately 130,000 food stamp applications each year and met the federal goal more than 98 percent of the time.

 

“I am pleased to recognize the Massachusetts Department of Transitional Assistance for their diligence and commitment in the administration of the food stamp program,” said Salazar.

 

Utilizing various technological and management tools, managers, supervisors and DTA caseworkers stressed the importance of timely processing while senior management continually engage in dialogue to explore best practices to improve performance.

 

“Because of the exemplary work of food stamp workers at the Department of Transitional Assistance, not only have we increased access to the federal food stamp program, but we’ve done so in an efficient and timely way,” said DTA Commissioner John Wagner. “As a result, the Commonwealth will have additional federal funding to better serve our families and link them to important employment and training programs.”

 

Wagner said the bonus funds will be used to enhance DTA’s Employment and Services Program (ESP), providing education and training for those individuals receiving public assistance.

 

Salazar also announced that the USDA had awarded a $125,000 grant to Jewish Vocational Services of Boston. The agency will work with employers to improve access to the food stamp program for the working poor.

 

“The JVS Center for Careers and Lifelong Learning is honored to be the Massachusetts recipient of the Food Stamp Program Outreach Grant,” said JVS Chief Executive Officer Barbara Rosenbaum. “The grant will support collaborations among JVS, TJX, MGH and other employers who invest in their workforce. As a result of these partnerships, 750 families will receive food stamps to supplement their earnings.”

 

The food stamp program serves more than 23 million people nationwide, including 334,000 in Massachusetts.

 

###

Comments (0)

You don't have permission to comment on this page.