Follow the Leaders

The Food Research Action Center (FRAC) is the leading organization in food policy research and advocacy in the United States.   They work by promoting public-private partnerships that aim to eliminate hunger and food insecurity.  Their website http://frac.org/index.html provides a plethora of helpful information and insight for advocates to help us "address hunger and its root cause, poverty."

Its most recent publication is -by my account- its magnum opus... although, I say that almost every time they release a report.  The importance of this work rests on the relevance of these recommendations at a time when so many people are struggling to meet their basic needs.  If you are still unsure about how many people are hungry or food insecure, I encourage you to look at the new report released by Feeding America.  It should abate your skepticism.  It sure hit me like a ton of bricks.

The outline FRAC offers provides detailed guidance for advocates and policymakers to help in the implementation of these best practices.  Here are the main sections:

"Section One: SNAP/Food Stamp Policy Options Especially Effective in Helping Working Families and the Newly Jobless

Section Two: SNAP/Food Stamp Policy Options Especially Effective in Helping Older Americans and Persons with Disabilities

Section Three: SNAP/Food Stamp Policy Options to Increase Benefits For All Low-Income Households and Reduce Agency Workloads

Section Four: SNAP/Food Stamp Policy Options for Agency Workload Reduction

Section Five: Increasing Participation in the Afterschool and Summer Nutrition Programs

Section Six: Increasing Participation by Low-income Children in the School Breakfast and Lunch Programs

Section Seven: Increasing Participation in the Child and Adult Care Food Program"

Most of all, I was proud to see that some of the work that has turned Massachusetts into one of the leading states in Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP) are distinctly featured.  Kudos to the Food SNAP Improvement Coalition, its multiple advocate members, and the Department of Transitional Assistance (DTA) for making Massachusetts a better place for all.