Assembly Member Jim Beall

Wrote food stamp legislation and helped bills out of his committee

Jim Beall cares about hunger enough to volunteer his own time at an emergency food program. In 2007, he pushed several food stamp bills through the committee he chairs, the Human Service Committee.  He is the author of AB 433, the much needed legislation to connect food stamps and MediCAL.  Thanks to Assembly Member Beall’s efforts, AB 433 passed the California State Assembly and is poised for passage in the California State Senate. As his nominator writes: “Assembly Member Beall deserves recognition for his leadership and for authorship of food stamp legislation.”

For more details on Assembly Member Beall's efforts visit http://democrats.assembly.ca.gov/members/a24/newsroom/20070607AD24PR03.htm

Assembly Member John Laird

Led the charge to remove paperwork barriers and completed efforts to get food stamp recipients enrolled in school meals

Two things have happened in the last year that make John Laird a candidate for a Stampy award. First, he continues to push for reform of the paperwork in the food stamp program by authoring legislation to move to 6 month reporting. Second, his work to connect children in food stamp households to school meals without additional paperwork hassles came to fruition this year. Several years ago he sponsored AB 1385 which established a computer matching system to get kids in to school meals. The match was just recently run and as his nominator writes "this effort has been a tremendous success as it helped kids get meals when they otherwise wouldn't."  Throughout his term in the Assembly, Mr. Laird has been a champion on nutrition issues.  For his most recent efforts and for his long-term efforts, Assembly Member Laird deserves a “Stampy Award.”

For more details on Assembly Member Laird's 6-month reporting/paperwork reduction efforts click here.

For details on the recent success of direct certification, visit here.

John Wagner, Director Department of Social Services

For his initiative and his efforts to use administrative action to improve food stamps

Before Mr. Wagner came to California, he was known for his efforts to improve food stamps in Massachusetts.  While Mr. Wagner has only been on the job for a short time, we have already seen that his interest continues.   Just recently, the Department released regulations to remove the face-to-face barrier to continuing food stamps.  Unlike many of the recent improvements to food stamps in the state, this effort was not driven by the legislature or the Governor.  It was driven by the Department.  This encouraging step makes John Wagner worthy of a 2008 Stampy Award, as such initiative and quick action are rare and should be acknowledged.

For more details on the initiative to remove the face-to-face barrier, visit the proposed regulations here.

Charr Lee Metsker, Director Welfare to Work Division

Led the effort to remove the recertification interviews barriers

Charr Lee has had a hand in many of the food stamp improvements over the last few years. Most recently, she led the efforts to remove face-to-face interview barriers to recertifying food stamp recipients. This effort will improve the state's participation rate by ensuring that needy families do not fall off the program simply because they can’t get to a food stamp office to recertify.

For more details on the initiative to remove the face-to-face barrier, visit the proposed regulations here.

Liz Mooney, staff for Assembly Member Mark Leno

For efforts to remove finger imaging from the Food Stamp Program

Liz has long been a supporter of the Food Stamp Program.  While working for Assembly Member Mark Leno, Liz was the Assembly Members point person on the successful legislation to utilize the Food Stamp Program to make fruits and veggies more affordable, AB 2384.  Most recently she led Mr. Leno’s efforts to remove the finger imaging, AB 1382.  While the bill was ultimately vetoed, Liz drew praise for the progress made on this issue. As her nominator wrote: “After years of battling irrational district attorney's and law enforcement officials over the value of finger imaging, Liz got the LA District Attorney to admit on the record that finger imaging is unnecessary and has no impact on deterring food stamp fraud. Quite a miracle, if you ask me and worthy of recognition.”

Luis Miguel Haro, Mexican Consulate

For his continued efforts to increase access to food stamps among Mexican-Americans

Luis Miguel Ortiz Haro is no stranger to the Stampy Awards.  In 2006, he received a special Stampy Award for his efforts to promote the Food Stamp Program to Spanish speakers in Southern California.  As his efforts did not end with this special award, Mr. Haro has once again been nominated.  His efforts to reach out to Spanish speaking populations of Los Angeles and Orange Counties have helped remove fears and his nominator writes: “we should gives thanks his hard work to help people to get a better life, for standing by with the poor, and encouraging them to apply for the Food Stamp Program.”

 Jim Adler, Los Angeles County

For his focused efforts to increase food stamps participation, stimulating action in Los Angeles

For more than five years, Jim has volunteered time away from his career as an attorney to serve on the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors' Public Social Services Commission, providing advice and recommendations to the Department of Public Social Services. Jim continues to seek new strategies to increase the uptake of food stamps in Los Angeles by convening meetings, engaging the Department of Public Social Services, and continually identifying creative new names for the Food Stamp Program. At each meeting, Jim has identified another slogan to re-frame food stamps, beguiling advocates and administrators alike with his consistent commitment to re-branding food stamps, a key first step in reaching more eligible families.

Marie Pickney, Merced County

For her efforts to pilot "C4Yourself " and for implementing EBT in Flea Markets

Marie Pickney is nominated for "improving the food stamp redemption rate in Merced County."  Marie Pickney brought the pilot program "C4Yourself" web based application to Merced County in collaboration with the Merced County Community Action Agency WIC Program. Only four other counties qualified for this pilot program. This program will help more people to apply at WIC clinics and other Community and Faith Based Organizations, libraries and other public places. Marie, through her community involvement, helped to implement the EBT process at local flea markets. This too will help improve the redemption rate in Merced County because a great proportion of the eligible participants shop at the flea markets.

Mary Sawicki, Calaveras County

As the Food Stamp Program in California is county administered, county staff are challenged to implement a program to meet the needs of their unique communities.  Small, spread out rural communities present special challenges.  Calaveras county is one such community.  Mary Sawki worked hard and has set up 6 outstation units in Calaveras County. To increase connections to the community, these outstations are staffed by CalWorks staff who live in that specific community. These efforts have led to a friendlier, more community responsive program.  Mary has also helped addressed the local need for extended hours need by ensuring there are Cal-Works staff at the Human Resources Councils’ Food Bank's extended hours night. According to her nominator:  “Mary has made a tremendous difference for Food Stamp Outreach and the program in Calaveras County.”

Tia Anzellotti, San Diego County

For her work with the media and elected officials to draw new attention to food stamps

According to national reports, San Diego has the worst program access problem in the country.  Dealing with the severity of the problem has required a multi-pronged approach.  By working closely with a variety of journalists, elected officials and their staff, Tia has increased the urgency among San Diego leaders to improve access to food stamps in San Diego County. Additionally, Tia has coordinated a diverse coalition of local partners to work with the county on increasing participation.

For a sample of Tia's work, click here.

Jeff Bridges, Santa Barbara County

For his efforts to highlight the successful history of the Food Stamp Program

Though Mr. Bridges is best known for acting talents, he is also known to the anti-hunger community for his efforts to increase school breakfast participation in his own community and his national efforts to reduce hunger in America through his “End Hunger Network.”  In 2006, with Congress debating the value of the Food Stamp Program as part of the Farm Bill, Mr. Bridges lent his considerable talents to the video “Making America Stronger.”  This moving piece was instrumental educating decision makers on the history of the Food Stamp Program, and most importantly, the program’s amazing success at reducing the high levels of hunger found throughout the country, but most notably the rural south.  Most who view the video will likely realize why Mr. Bridges is being nominated for a 2008 Stampy Award.

To view the Food Stamp video narrated by Mr. Bridges click here.

For more info on Mr. Bridges anti-hunger efforts visit http://www.jeffbridges.com/ and click on the End Hunger Network

Jerry Sanders, Orange County

For his efforts to reduce hunger in Orange County through food stamp outreach

Jerry's nominator says it all:  “Jerry Sanders is a very good, hard working man.  He helps people from Orange and Los Angeles County to a better life.  He is very dedicated to work of  food banks, to Food Stamp outreach, and to the Food Stamp Program itself.”   Jerry brings a unique perspective to the work as former county employee who now leads community-based outreach efforts.

 

For more on Jerry's work view this highlight of his "promising practice."