MAY is CALFRESH AWARENESS MONTH

On May 1, the Board of Supervisors will proclaim May as CalFresh Awareness Month.  The CalFresh Program helps to improve the health and well-being of qualified households and individuals by providing them a means to meet their nutritional needs. In California, the monthly CalFresh benefit is transferred to the household's Golden State Advantage Card, known as Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) card, and is issued when the household 's CalFresh case is approved. 

The following information, courtesy of the DPSS office. Shirley Christensen, Special Assistant, Department of Public Social Services, 12860 Crossroads Parkway South, City Of Industry, CA 91746 

In addition to last year's successful strategies, this year's campaign will include the following:

Public Charge Forum - DPSS, in partnership with U.S. Citizenship and  Immigration Services, California Department of Social Services, U.S. Department of Agriculture -- Food Nutrition Services, and local community and legal advocates, will host a May 9 public/media forum to clarify the misunderstandings about the issue commonly referred to as “Public Charge.” This is a significant issue since many eligible families and individuals do not apply for CalFresh benefits, even though they may be eligible. The forum is designed to reinforce the message that CalFresh is not a “public cash assistance program for income maintenance,” rather, a supplementary, nutrition-based, food assistance program. Therefore, applying for CalFresh will not affect an individual’s chance of becoming a lawful and permanent resident or U.S. Citizen. 

Public Health Issue - Due to reports that lower-income communities in the County are at greater risks for obesity, diabetes and certain other diseases, the campaign has enlisted the help of the Department of Public Health, local supermarkets, farmers' markets and local school districts, to highlight the importance of having access to healthier food choices as
well as the long-term benefits of exercise.  Among the supermarket partners is Northgate Gonzalez Markets, where First Lady Michelle Obama recently visited to promote the 'Let's Move' Initiative to prevent obesity in youth.  

Convenient Methods to Apply for Benefits - DPSS will also publicize the department’s more convenient methods to apply for services, such as its on-line applications and a web-based Customer Service Center.

CHECK OUT THE DPSS HEALTH AND MOBILE TRUCK  

Please mark the dates on your calendar and go to your nearest Island Pacific Supermarket locations to apply for CalFresh benefits. They will be  available to answer and accept applications from 9:00 am- 2:00 pm. For more information, visit their website at http://dpss.lacounty.gov. 

May 11 ,  FRIDAY

PANORAMA BRANCH

8340 Van Nuys Blvd., 

Panorama City, CA 91402

MAY 18  & JUNE 2, SATURDAY

WEST COVINA

1512 East Amar Rd.,

West Covina, CA 91792

JUNE 9, SATURDAY

CANOGA PARK

20922 Roscoe Blvd.,

Canoga Park, CA 91304

DPSS Press Release on Calfresh Awareness Month

County of Los Angeles

DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SOCIAL SERVICES

12860 CROSSROADS PARKWAY SOUTH x CITY OF INDUSTRY, CALIFORNIA 91746

Tel (562) 908-8400 x Fax (562) 695-4801

  

PRESS RELEASE

Contact: James Bolden (562) 908-8521

Shirley Christensen (562) 908-8311

 MAY IS ‘CALFRESH AWARENESS MONTH’

DPSS AND COMMUNITY PARTNERS SET TO LAUNCH COMPREHENSIVE ‘CALFRESH AWARENESS MONTH’ EFFORT TO REDUCE HUNGER IN THE COUNTY OF L.A.

Award-winning campaign will also highlight the long-term benefits of making healthier food choices and increasing exercise activities

 

LOS ANGELES – On Tuesday, May 1, the County Board of Supervisors will join the Department of Public Social Services (DPSS) and a broad-based community collaborative to launch what has been described as the most comprehensive and coordinated local effort to increase access to food assistance and reduce hunger in the nation’s largest county.

According to a U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) report on food insecurity, the number of U.S. homes lacking adequate food more than tripled in the last four years. In Los Angeles County (home to 10.4 million residents), it’s estimated that only half of those  eligible  are  receiving  CalFresh  –  the  supplemental  nutrition  food  benefit previously called Food Stamps.

Despite a record high number of 1,061,000 individuals who received CalFresh benefits in January 2012, there are still many residents in immediate need of assistance who are unaware that they may be eligible for CalFresh.

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“Hunger is an issue that affects us all and this collaboration represents an intense effort to serve those most vulnerable in Los Angeles County, particularly during this tough economic time,” stated DPSS Acting Director Sheryl L. Spiller.

As they did last year, the Board of Supervisors will again kick off the campaign, announcing a month-long series of events to increase participation in CalFresh. Supervisors  Zev  Yaroslavsky  and  Mark  Ridley-Thomas  will  lead  the  Board  in proclaiming May 2012 as “CalFresh Awareness Month” throughout the County.

This year, the campaign will highlight the nutritional benefits of CalFresh. Due to reports that lower-income communities are at greater risks for obesity, diabetes and certain other diseases, the department has enlisted the help of the Department of Public Health (DPH), local supermarkets and farmer’s markets, food banks and school districts, to promote the benefits of healthier food choices and more exercise.

The campaign will also emphasize the department’s convenient methods to apply for services, such as on-line applications and a web-based Customer Service Center.

In May 2011, DPSS and various faith-based and community-based organizations came together with a common goal to highlight the CalFresh program and to remove barriers and/or stigmas that were discouraging eligible individuals and families from applying for food benefits.   The inaugural public outreach campaign was recognized nationally by the USDA – Food and Nutrition Service and the National Association of Counties.

For more information on CalFresh benefits, visit  www.dpss.lacounty.gov/dpss/calfresh or call the Health and Nutrition Hotline at 1 (877) 597-4777.

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