|
Health and Family Services Cabinet
Food Stamp Program Gets $1.5 Million Bonus for Excellent Customer Service; Kentucky gets federal award for second consecutive year
FRANKFORT, Ky. (Dec. 21, 2006) – Federal officials were in Frankfort today to award Kentucky’s Food Stamp Program almost $1.5 million in bonus federal funds for its exemplary service delivery.
Clarence H. Carter, deputy administrator of the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Food Stamp Program, presented a check for $1,484,700 to the Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services (CHFS) for the state’s performance during the 2005 federal fiscal year.
Kentucky was one of six states to earn a bonus for the highest percentage of timely processed food stamp applications. This is the second consecutive year the Department for Community Based Services (DCBS), the agency that administers the state’s food benefits program, has earned the award.
Carter commended cabinet staff for their productivity.
“This award demonstrates your commitment to delivering the nutrition services provided by the federal government,” he said. “Your honor and bonus are well deserved.”
Governor Ernie Fletcher recognized the importance of swiftly approving food stamp applications.
“Access to nutritious food is the first step to good health for thousands of families in the Commonwealth,” he said. “Knowing that needy families are not getting lost in bureaucracy and waiting extended periods to receive these vital benefits is reassuring,” he said.
CHFS Secretary Mark D. Birdwhistell also recognized the value of delivering services efficiently.
“For many of our customers, food benefits make the difference in planning nutritious meals,” he said. “This award means that families have access to those benefits without long delays.”
The USDA administers the Food Stamp Program and sets a 30-day standard for state agencies to process food stamp applications. Kentucky’s rate was 97.75 percent, well above the national average of 89.48 percent.
Figures show that Kentucky has exceeded a federal standard for target participation rates in the program every year since the guidelines were implemented. Monetary awards have traditionally gone to strengthening the program.
Children and Family Services Undersecretary Tom Emberton Jr. said county caseworkers who determine food stamp eligibility are well trained to serve clients and that he is proud of their impressive record.
“Department staff continues to uphold their responsibility to their customers and to taxpayers by providing efficient service,” he said. “In most cases, it takes our staff far fewer than 30 days to process applications. The agency’s award shows that quality service and efficient service can go hand in hand.”
The Quality Control Branch in the cabinet’s Office of the Ombudsman also plays an important role in food stamps services.
Branch staff code the cases based on their status – such as new, timely or untimely applications or recertifications – and sends them to the USDA. This information helps determine which cases are appropriate for sampling and validation by the federal agency.
“Our staff continues the good work of DCBS staff by ensuring the accuracy of each case’s status,” said cabinet Ombudsman Sandra Brock. “Our efforts determine the final percentage of timely processed applications and how much enhanced funding Kentucky will receive.”
About 259,405 households and 592,516 Kentuckians receive food stamp benefits each month.
States sharing in the $6 million bonus, their processing timeliness rates and the awards they received are listed here.
• Massachusetts: 99.50 percent; $1,092,542
• North Carolina: 97.80 percent; $2,035,244
• District of Columbia: 97.75 percent; $350,003
• Kentucky: 97.75 percent; $1,484,700
• West Virginia: 97.62 percent; $742,671
• Montana: 96.88 percent; $294,840
For more information on Kentucky’s Food Stamp Program, log onto http://chfs.ky.gov/dcbs/dfs/foodstampsebt.htm
– 30 –
|