Assembly Member Jim Beall, California Legislature

For his efforts to remove the asset test and rename Food Stamps

In 2008, Assembly Member Jim Beall authored AB 433, the much needed legislation to remove the asset test from the Food Stamp application and rename the Food Stamp Program.  Thanks to Assembly Member Beall’s efforts, AB 433 passed through the legislature and was signed into law by Governor Schwarzenegger.  As a result, people applying to Food Stamps will not have to "spend down" their savings in order to receive benefits.  Also, the Department of Social Services will be renaming the Food Stamp Program to reposition it as a nutrition and health program.  AB 433 is a great step towards alleviating hunger and poverty in California.

For more details on Assembly Member Beall's efforts visit http://democrats.assembly.ca.gov/members/a24/News_Room/press/20080822AD24PR01.aspx

John Wagner, Director of Department of Social Services

For his leadership on improving program access and removing participation barriers.

Since his move from the Massachusetts Food Stamp Program to our program, Mr. Wagner has successfully pushed several  food stamp reforms.  His support was crucial to the passing of AB 433, the bill that removed the asset test from the Food Stamp application process.  Under his direction, his staff partnered with Assembly Member Jim Beall's office to make possible the removal of the asset test for not only federal Food Stamps, but also for California Food Assistance Program, which serves immigrants.  Mr. Wagner didn't stop with asset reform - he is now working to pass new tools on to counties.  Most recently, his team moved to give counties much needed flexibility by allowing them to waive the face-to-face interview at application for all applicants.  This action can radically change the food stamp application process for the better, particularly by increasing access for the working poor. 

The Department of Social Services is leading the effort to rename and rebrand the Food Stamp Program.  Thanks to John Wagner's leadership, California will be able to place a new name on greatly improved program.

Julie Salley-Gray, Principal Consultant, Assembly Appropriations Committee

For her work to shape food stamp legislation to fit fiscal realities while still serving more families

Food Stamp policy changes have succeeded in recent years despite tough fiscal times.  Why? In large part because of the beneficial "math" that comes along with increasing food stamp participation.  Julie, in her role as consultant to the Appropriations Committee, has been at the center of these "math" debates.  Her expertise and understanding of the broad, complex, impacts that food stamps have on state and local economies have been key to enabling food stamp policies to succeed where others have failed.  The Appropriations Committee is generally where bills go to die.  But over the last several years, Julie's careful analysis of the revenue generating aspects of increased food stamp participation has led to success.  As a result, policymakers have decided that, even in tough times, food stamp reforms make smart fiscal sense.

Sue Foerster, Chief of Cancer Prevention and Nutrition Section, California Department of Public Health

For coordinating efforts among state level agencies to increase food stamp utilization

Sue has focused her efforts on improving the lifestyle and opportunities for food stamp eligible populations.  Her leadership initially created the California 5 a Day-for Better Health! Campaign a program that went national and international into a number of countries.  Sue also created the Network for a Healthy California and the Champions for Change. This is the largest social marketing nutrition program in the nation and recognized as the leader for USDA's SNAP-ed.  The Network has been a driving force for nutrition education and community mobilization and empowerment.  This has fostered the creation of the Champion Moms and also the implementation of  the Food Stamp Office Resource Kits for nutrition education efforts in food stamp venues. 
 
As part of Ms. Foerster's leadership she has created coordinated meetings of state and federal government agencies and advocacy organizations to focus on the needs and efforts required to increase the participation in food stamp usages.   This has lead to greater coordination between state agencies and federal agencies and to the creation of new legislation from advocate organizations to improve California's participation in food stamps and for innovative ways to incentivize food stamp spending.  Sue has dedicated her life to helping others and has been a driving force to help reduce food insecurity in California.
 

LeAnne Torres, Manager of Policy Implementation Unit, Department of Social Services

For serving as an exceptional Food Stamp policy resource for her staff, county office workers and advocates

"As a front-line manager in the Food Stamp Bureau, LeAnne provides consistent, high quality service to county/state staff and the advocate community in implementing and interpreting Food Stamp regulations and policies. LeAnne is the 'go to' behind the scenes person who is called upon to resolve the thorny, difficult policy issues that can be such conundrums. Because of her vast program knowledge, leadership abilities and keen analytical skills, she has served on numerous work groups representing food stamps. She always keeps the best interests of the Program as her priority. Under her direction, her staff have worked to develop and implement PICS, though which food stamp Q and A's are accessed electronically. Her efforts have made a huge contribution to reducing the food stamp error rate and keeping it low."

Tiana Wertheim, San Francisco City and County Human Services Agency

For her initiative to implement Service Center, Web Application and CBO Network

"Tiana Wertheim came to the Food Stamp Program in the midst of major restructuring. She stepped in and took the lead on many significant projects including: web application; CBO Network and managing the clerical restructuring process. Now, because of Tiana, clients will be able to apply for food stamps from the comfort of their own homes. Similarly, the network of CBOs who have been trained to screen and submit applications will assist us in improving access and participation. Finally, she fine-tuned a task calculator to make the distribution of tasks more efficient and equitable, with respect to the seven languages we serve. This new system decreased the number of misplaced documents which allows us a better rapport with our clients. Tiana is the first one at work, and the last one to leave. I can't think of anyone more deserving of this award."

Phil Ansell, Los Angeles County Department of Public Social Services

For his efforts to protect Food Stamp resources and to innovate in the area of Food Stamp outreach

Phil has been the leading county voice on protecting administrative resources for Food Stamps and has been an innovator in the use of call centers and non-profit application assistance.  He has been the Director of the Bureau of Program and Policy for the Los Angeles County Department of Public Social Services (DPSS) since November 2003. He is responsible for the CalWORKs, Medi-Cal, Food Stamps, General Relief, CAPI, GROW, and GAIN programs, as well as State and federal budget/legislative advocacy and interagency relations. In addition, he has been responsible for leading or being the DPSS lead in major State and local interagency initiatives and task forces, including the creation and maintenance of the California Food Assistance Program (CFAP), restoration of federal food stamps for most legal immigrants and the implementation of Quarterly Reporting/Prospective Budgeting (QR/PB). In addition, he was instrumental in the development and implementation of Los Angeles County’s first Countywide Food Stamp Outreach Campaign Project and Community-Based Organizations/Faith-Based Organizations Application Assistance Project. In October 2007, Los Angeles County’s Food Stamp Only caseload was 109,395; it increased to 122,633 by September 2008. This is an increase of 12.10%, which is attributed to the Countywide Food Stamp Outreach Campaign Project and Community-Based Organizations/Faith-Based Organizations Application Assistance Project. Prior to joining Los Angeles County in 1995, Phil was an organizer and senior field representative for the Social Services Union for 11 years.

Julia Martinez, Alameda County

For her years of work to improve Food Stamp access and recent work on the county online application

Julia was named Social Services Agency Manager of the Year in 2007 in recognition of her success in expanding the Food Stamp Program to more eligible families and individuals; for keeping our Food Stamp error rate below the state average; and for bringing it to a record low."  Julia has collaborated with the Food Bank and others to perfect a FS application that CBOs submit via a secure server, she has trained CBO staff within Alameda County and has gone to other counties to train their CBOs.  She's currently collaborating on a new application on which people can apply for several different nutrition programs (e.g. WIC, NSLP) on the same application.