SUMMARY OF EXPERIENCE
URI Feinstein Center for Hunger Prevention: SNAP Outreach Project
This program was founded in 1999 in partnership between the US Department of Agriculture and the RI Department of Human Services. The URI SNAP Outreach Project helps low-income individuals and families access the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, SNAP. Outreach workers can answer questions about SNAP, help determine potential eligibility for SNAP benefits, and provide support with the application process. The SNAP Outreach Project seeks to increase participation with trainings, application assistance, and providing informational material.
I have worked as an Outreach Worker at the SNAP Outreach Project since April 2019. My main duties have been in the field with clients, assisting them with SNAP applications and SNAP-related issues, with additional duties listed below.
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Conduct outreach at social service agencies, meal sites, and other locations throughout the state in an effort to increase the number and percent of eligible individuals who receive SNAP nutrition assistance benefits
Office duties including answering and returning calls related to SNAP issues, completing paperwork, scheduling, and collaborating with supervisor as needed
Ongoing projects including assessing reach and effectiveness of current outreach sites, researching new sites, and connecting with site contacts
Attendance at weekly meetings for professional development trainings and discussing sites outreach workers went to during the week
Meeting with Outreach Coordinator as needed throughout the work day to discuss aspects of current projects as well as scheduling issues
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My work with the program has increased my capacity for understanding and applying new information greatly, as there are numerous aspects to SNAP that need to be understood off hand to help clients. I have also been required to fully and adequately fill out numerous in-house forms when speaking to each client that require a memorization of such procedures.
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