Exhibit_A_-_SNAP_Access_and_Information_Plan__11.22.22_.pdf

Arizona Department of Economic Security SNAP Access and Information Plan for FFY 2023

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Access and Information Plan

State: Arizona

State Agency: Department of Economic Security

Fiscal Year: 2023

Primary Contacts

Name Title Phone Email

Jeffrey Morley Assistant Director, Division of Benefits and Medical Eligibility

(602) 542-7596 jmorley@azdes.gov

Stephen Brennan Business Administrator, Division of Benefits and Medical Eligibility

(602) 542-8266 sbrennan@azdes.gov

Jennifer Snow Deputy Assistant Director, Division of Community Assistance and Development

(602) 542-1713 jsnow@azdes.gov

Gloria Garcia- Hernandez

Hunger Relief Program Manager, Division of Community Assistance and Development

(480) 521-5700 ggarcia- hernandez@azdes.gov

Name, Title/Agency Jeffrey W. Morley, DBME Assistant Director mailto:jmorley@azdes.gov mailto:sbrennan@azdes.gov mailto:blong@azdes.gov mailto:hernandez@azdes.gov

1. Acronyms and Definitions

Acronym or Term Definition

ADES Arizona Department of Economic Security; the State SNAP Agency.

CAA Community Action Agency, subrecipient (Phase two (2))

Churning

As applied to SNAP, a cycle of losing and regaining eligibility in a short period of time, generally no more than four months, due to client inaction or lack of timely recertification.

Client A person requesting information on or receiving ADES services.

Colleague A person with whom one works or collaborates, especially in a profession or business, regardless of paid or volunteer status.

De Minimis Indirect Cost Rate

Ten (10) percent of modified total reasonable, allowable, and necessary direct program costs not readily assignable to budget line items specifically benefitted without effort disproportionate to the results achieved; to be used only when an agency does not have a federally negotiated indirect cost rate agreement.

Federally Negotiated Indirect Cost Rate

The percentage of approved base expenditures not readily assignable to the line items specifically benefitted without effort disproportionate to the results achieved; negotiated through the requesting agency’s cognizant federal authority.

FFY Federal Fiscal Year; a twelve (12)-month period beginning on October 1 and ending on September 30 of the following calendar year.

Food Insecurity A household-level economic and social condition of limited or uncertain access to adequate food.

Hotspot

A mobile device used to obtain internet access via cellular networks, typically using Wi-Fi technology or physical tethering, to allow an internet connection to be established in remote locations.

ICR Indirect Cost Rate.

Indirect Cost Base

The approved direct cost categories per an agency’s individual federally negotiated indirect cost rate agreement to which the indirect cost rate is applied or ten (10) percent of an agency’s modified total direct program costs when the agency does not have a federally negotiated indirect cost rate agreement.

IRS Internal Revenue Service.

Acronym or Term Definition

MOU

Memorandum of Understanding; an agreement held between the state SNAP contractor and a participating agency detailing requirements and allowing or disallowing reimbursement for expenditures directly related to SNAP access and information activities.

Plan Arizona's Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Access and Information Plan.

SCP

SNAP Community Partner; a non-profit or governmental agency performing SNAP access and information operations in coordination with ADES and the state SNAP contractor.

SNAP

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (formerly known as the "Food Stamp Program").

TANF-CA

Cash assistance through the federal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program.

TIN

Taxpayer Identification Number: a tracking number used by the IRS in the administration of tax laws.

USCIS United States Citizenship and Immigration Services.

USDA/FNS United States Department of Agriculture/Food and Nutrition Service.

Contractor Statewide Contractor, subrecipient (Phase one (1)).

Statement of Need

As the State of Arizona continues its Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) in building economic strength, our focus will remain on vulnerable populations, underserved regions in Arizona who continue to experience pervasive levels of food insecurity, and focusing on recertification for high SNAP participation locations throughout the state. SNAP Outreach will aid in the transition from COVID-19 Federal PHE flexibilities to normal program operations and assistance.

In FFY 2023, the plan will continue its focus on specific vulnerable populations and regions with a need to access

SNAP application assistance and information services, learn about the benefits and requirements of participating in SNAP, and maintaining recertification without allowing unnecessary gaps in enrollment. ADES plans to expand our SNAP Outreach activities into two phases:

Phase one (1): State agency will continue partnership with Subrecipient (Contractor) as identified in the project details section.

Phase two (2): State agency will initiate partnership with potentially eleven (11) new Subrecipients CAAs as identified in the project details section.

The Community Action Agencies (CAAs) were established in 1967 in every state. With the development of

CAAs, each state had to establish one (1) association to assist and support each of the CAAs. In the state of

Arizona, (Contractor) represents the network of Community

Action Program providers. The agency assists and supports the CAAs by providing training, technical assistance, and coordination of efforts to end poverty. Contractor's services include the following:

Coordination: Development and implementation of high impact strategies focused on statewide services to individuals and families who are in economic crisis.

Technical Assistance: Assist the agencies to accomplish federally required Results-Oriented Management

Accountability (ROMA) goals.

Training: Historically, the LIHEAP has been provided by our external providers; however, the application, eligibility and benefits will now be administered internally by ADES. Contractor will provide transitional and change management training during this pivotal time as ADES moves towards a new navigator model.

Navigator Program: ADES plans to expand access to DES programs for harder to serve populations by leveraging statewide partnerships with Arizona Community Action Agencies (CAAs) as physical and virtual no-wrong door access points. CAAs will be trained to conduct outreach, perform needs assessments, identify available resources, and provide direct application assistance to remove barriers to apply.

The Arizona Department of Economic Security (ADES) mission is to make Arizona stronger by helping Arizonans reach their potential through temporary assistance for those in need and care for the vulnerable, while its vision is to provide all Arizonans with timely ADES services. In the spirit of the ADES mission and vision, ADES views SNAP access and information services as critical in fulfilling its goals of:

• Serving Arizonans with integrity, humility, and kindness;

• Supporting Arizonans to reach their potential through social services that train, rehabilitate, and connect them with job creators;

• Providing temporary assistance to Arizonans in need while they work toward greater self-sufficiency; and

• Providing children with food, health care, and parental financial support; providing services to individuals with disabilities; and protecting the vulnerable by investigating allegations of abuse, neglect, and exploitation.

Vulnerable Populations

While retaining its foremost goal of serving Arizonans who are struggling to achieve food security, regardless of race, color, national origin, gender, religious creed, disability, age, political beliefs or any prior civil rights activity, the Plan specifically focuses on the following vulnerable populations:

• American Indians;

• Asylees, immigrant communities, mixed status families, refugees, and speakers of English as a second language;

• Children and adults with mental or physical disabilities;

• Students;

• Ex-offenders transitioning from incarceration to the community;

• Individuals and families experiencing homelessness or near homelessness;

• Military Veterans;

• Older adults;

• Single parents; and

• Victims of domestic violence;

Areas of Need

Poverty has been identified as a common causal mechanism when comparing rates of food insecurity and chronic disease.1 As such, the identification of areas of need was determined by using U.S. Census poverty rate information at the county level. The ADES Plan will maintain the work in all counties with specific focus on counties with the highest level of poverty.

See Appendix B - Arizona Percent of Total Population in Poverty

1. Executive Summary

The ADES Plan allows a formal structure for statewide SNAP access and information services and secures federal funding that provides a fifty (50) percent reimbursement on approved SNAP Community Partner (SCP) reasonable, allowable, and necessary administrative expenditures. The Plan is divided into four projects with each having its own unique activities and evaluation metrics.

Project number one, Application Assistance, provides help to vulnerable Arizonans who are not able to complete an ADES application for benefits on their own. The inability to complete the application can be attributed to a number of factors such as a lack of Internet access for online application submission, not understanding how to complete the application, general uncertainty regarding the application submission process, a physical or mental disability or a lack of access to technology used to submit the application and required verification documents. SCPs self-select their assistance model. Assistance model options consist of the following:

• Full-Service: a SCP colleague submits the application and verification documents on behalf of the client and may contact ADES, with the client’s permission, to relay problems associated with the application.

When applying on behalf of the client, the client must be the person who signs the application. SCPs are prohibited from signing any document on the client’s behalf, and all information collected from the client must be stored in accordance with ADES confidentiality guidelines (see Appendix A for more information on data storage requirements). Under this model and all following models, SCPs are not considered authorized representatives and are prohibited from interfering with the interview process in accordance with United States Department of Agriculture/Food and Nutrition Services (USDA/FNS) regulations.

• Self-Service: a SCP makes available equipment used to submit an online or paper application and verification documents to ADES. The SCP does not actively assist the client with the application but may assist with the usage of the equipment itself.

1 Laraia, B. Food Insecurity and Chronic Disease. Adv. Nutr. March 2013;4: 203-12

Types of equipment used consist of computers with internet access, fax machines, telephones, document scanners and any other equipment needed to aid in providing ADES with information needed for the SNAP eligibility determination.

• Both Full and Self-Service: this model combines full and self-service assistance to provide a holistic application assistance experience for the client.

Project number two, Information Distribution and Client Education, is a mandatory project for all SCPs and provides vulnerable Arizonans with the up-to-date, accurate and culturally relevant information needed to complete the following:

• Understand the SNAP application and eligibility process;

• Make an informed decision on whether to apply to ADES for participation in SNAP. When the client makes an informed decision not to apply for SNAP, the SCP should refrain from continuing to pressure or attempting to convince the client to apply;

• Receive necessary information to assist the client in understanding and being confident in their SNAP participation. Breaking through myths and outdated information that continue to prevent potentially eligible clients from applying due to inaccurate information being spread in a community by those not familiar with current program requirements;

• Understand the detrimental effects of allowing a certification period to lapse while the household is still in need of SNAP benefits and the cycle of losing and regaining eligibility due to not reapplying for SNAP (i.e., churning prevention); and

• Understand what may be required of the client during the application and eligibility phase of participation in SNAP. Examples of such requirements are:

o Completing an eligibility interview with an ADES state merit colleague;

o Providing accurate, truthful information to ADES on the application, during the interview and throughout the certification period;

o Reporting changes that have occurred between application submission and the interview and understanding the need to report changes throughout the certification period; and o Reading and understanding, or obtaining help to read and understand, all communication sent from ADES regarding the application and eligibility determination.

Project number three, Partnership Coordination, involves the administrative and support functions required to ensure SCPs are provided with the services necessary to perform at their fullest capacity. As the duties under this project are numerous, see the Project Details section of this document for information regarding coordination functions.

Project one through three, Partnership Collaboration, involves collaboration between subrecipient and ADES to ensure SCPs within rural areas are provided with required support for the community they serve. Please see

Project Details section of this document for information regarding Partner Collaboration functions.

ADES contracts with a qualified non-profit organization for Plan administration on the local level. The contractor

(hereinafter “Subrecipient”) holds an individual Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with each SCP and acts as the entity responsible for passing through drawn down federal funds. Contracts and MOUs are kept on file and available for review.

Phase one (1):

In addition to Subrecipient, ADES will partner through agreements with the subrecipient with fifty-eight (58) SCPs.

The total projected program budget is $10,396,855.00 resulting in a projected maximum reimbursement request of $5,198,427.00 which is fifty (50) percent of planned expenditures. All SNAP funding under the Plan will remain under the administrative control of ADES. Financial and other program records are maintained on file with ADES, Subrecipient and SCPs for a minimum of three years after the close of the relevant FFY.

Phase two (2):

In addition to Subrecipient (Contractor), ADES will potentially partner with an additional eleven (11) Subrecipients

(CAAs) statewide. The total projected program budget is to be determined once proposals are submitted to

ADES.

Project Summary

Project Number

Title Geographic

Area

Target Audience Contracted or In- House?

Application Assistance and

Partnership Collaboration

Statewide

Vulnerable populations and regions as identified in the Project Details

Contracted and In-

House

Information Distribution, Client Education, and Partnership

Vulnerable populations and regions as identified in the Project Details

Coordination, and

Participating SCPs and other agencies interested in starting SNAP access and information operations

2. Project Details

1 – Application Assistance

Goal Phase one (1):

Arizonans will be provided with SNAP application access options outside of the traditional

ADES local eligibility office, assistance with completing applications and the equipment necessary to submit applications. SCPs will assist clients with providing verification documents electronically and completing telephone interviews in place of travelling to a local eligibility office. ADES anticipates that SCP assistance will result in applications and proper verification documents being submitted at the same time, which will lead to an increase in both case accuracy and timely eligibility determination timeliness. This project will serve to expand access to SNAP for clients who lack the electronic resources for an online application, are homebound or lack a means of transportation for travelling to a local eligibility office.

Arizonans will be provided with SNAP application access options outside of the traditional

ADES local eligibility office, assistance with completing applications and the equipment necessary to submit applications. Subrecipients (CAAs) will assist clients with providing verification documents electronically and completing telephone interviews in place of travelling to a local eligibility office. ADES anticipates that Subrecipient (CAA) assistance will result in applications and proper verification documents being submitted at the same time, which will lead to an increase in both case accuracy and timely eligibility determination timeliness. This project will serve to expand access to SNAP for clients who lack the electronic resources for an online application, are homebound or lack a means of transportation for travelling to a local eligibility office.

Target Audience Potentially eligible vulnerable populations throughout Arizona

Timeline Phase one (1) : October 1, 2022, through September 30, 2023

Phase two (2) : Dates to be determined.

Description of

Activity Phase one (1):

SCPs will perform full-service, self-service or both full and self-service application assistance dependent upon the SCP's resources and the availability of paid colleagues or volunteers.

SCPs include, but are not limited to, faith-based organizations, health centers, food banks, domestic violence shelters, community action organizations and other agencies committed to providing application assistance in communities with a high number of vulnerable, potentially eligible persons.

Phase two (2):

Subrecipients (CAAs) will perform full-service and self-service application assistance.

Subrecipients (CAAs) are community action organizations providing application assistance in communities with a high number of vulnerable, potentially eligible persons.

Subrecipient Phase one (1)

Contractor October 1, 2022, through September 30, 2023, provides support and oversight for each SCP participating below:

Subrecipients

• Adelante Healthcare

• Against Abuse

• ARC Pima Community College

• Arizona Baptist Children's Services

• Arizona Justice Center

• Arizona State University

• Arizona Women’s Recovery Center

• Aster Aging

• AZCEND

• Banner Olive Branch Senior Center

• Catholic Community Services (Pio Decimo)

• Chandler Care Center

• Chicanos Por La Causa (CPLC)

• Community Food Bank of Southern Arizona

• Cornerstone Mission Project

• Cultural Cup Food Bank

• Dress for Success Phoenix

• Empowerment Systems

• Father Matters

• Foothills Food Bank

• Goodwill Industries of Southern Arizona, Inc.

• Greater Phoenix Urban League

• Helping Families in Need

• Interfaith Community Services

• International Sonoran Desert Alliance

• Live and Learn

• Lutheran Social Services of the Southwest

• Manzanita Outreach

• Maricopa County Community College District

• Mountain Park Health Center

• Native Health dba Native American Community Health Center

• Neighborhood Ministries

• Neighborhood Outreach Access to Health (NOAH)

• Nogales Community Development Corporation

• North Country Healthcare

• Northern Arizona Council of Governments (NACOG)

• Northland Family Help Center

• Northland Pioneer College

• Nourish Phoenix

• Old Town Mission

• Phoenix Dream Center

• Phoenix Indian Center

• Pilgrim Rest Foundation

• Pinnacle Prevention

• Regional Center for Border Health

• Rio Vista Center

• Sahuarita Food Bank

• Salvation Army Phoenix

• Seniors Personal Assistance Corporation

• Sun Life Family Health Center, Inc.

• Sunset Community Health Center

• Tanner Community Development Corporation

• Tempe Community Action Agency

• Town of Guadalupe Community Action Program

• University of Arizona Campus Pantry

• Unlimited Potential

• Valley Assistance Services

• Western Arizona Council of Governments – WACOG

• World Hunger Ecumenical Arizona Task-Force – WHEAT

Subrecipients (CAAs) contract dates and list of CAAs to be determined.

Subrecipient

TIN

860311619

Role of the Subrecipient

Phase one (1):

Subrecipient will recruit agencies in underserved communities, maintain MOUs with participating SCPs, offer financial oversight, pass through federal reimbursement funds, maintain current SCP SNAP training curriculum, develop additional training materials, and provide training and technical assistance to SCPs requiring such support.

Phase two (2):

Subrecipients (CAAs) will perform full-service and self-service application assistance.

Subrecipients (CAAs) are community action organizations providing application assistance in communities with a high number of vulnerable, potentially eligible persons.

Role of the State Agency

ADES will continuously monitor and correct as needed Subrecipient’s and SCP performance by providing SNAP policy support, approving Subrecipient and SCP-generated marketing materials intended to increase the number of potentially eligible clients visiting an Subrecipient or SCP for service, performing desk audits, and reviewing monthly Subrecipient and SCP activity reports to ensure expenditures are reasonable, allowable, and necessary prior to approving Subrecipient and SCP reimbursement requests.

Project Number 1 – Application Assistance

State/ Subrecipient

Funding Source(s)

All funding under the Plan is sourced from the USDA/FNS fifty (50) percent reimbursement of reasonable, allowable, and necessary program expenditures.

In phase (1) one:

ADES retains a total of five (5) percent of the fifty (50) percent reimbursement to fund its program activity, Sub-recipient retains five (5) percent of the reimbursement, and the remaining forty (40) percent is disbursed to SCPs. There are no state matching funds or other federal funds allocated to the Plan. SCPs source private dollars through fundraising efforts and are prohibited from requesting reimbursement for Plan expenditures paid with funds from other federal awards.

In phase (2) two:

To be determined.

Volunteers Are volunteers involved in this activity: Yes☑ No⬜

Volunteers under this project complete frontline activities such as assistance with applications, submitting verification documents and contacting ADES for the eligibility interview. Volunteers, as with paid staff, must complete annual civil rights training and SNAP application assistance training modules. Volunteers must have a confidentiality agreement on file with the SCP and comply with the agreement.

Evaluation ADES will consider this project successful when identified areas of need experience a decrease in food insecurity rates. A successful outcome is achieved when:

• SNAP participation growth in identified counties outpaces growth in lower poverty counties by a reasonable margin; or

• Participation in high poverty counties increases or remains stable, while lower poverty counties experience a participation decrease.

• SCPs will provide monthly reports to subrecipient that identify SNAP outreach activity: Number of applications, number of screenings, and assistance with applications. These are collected and shared with ADES each month; in addition, subrecipient will provide quarterly and annual reports to ADES.

Tracking of agency capability through comparing monthly reports with the initial application assistance goals of the SCPs (as indicated in their partnership applications) and providing technical assistance as needed.

Project Number 2 – Information Distribution and Client Education

Goal Vulnerable Arizonans will be provided with the information necessary to make an informed decision on whether to apply for SNAP and guidance on the application and eligibility process. Myths regarding SNAP will be eliminated and current, accurate information about

SNAP will be spread among potentially eligible clients. Subrecipient’s/SCPs will continue to inform legal immigrants that participation in SNAP does not cause the person to be classified as a “public charge,” which would potentially hinder their ability to become naturalized United

States citizens. Ineligible foreign nationals in Arizona without permission from United States

Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will no longer fail to apply for SNAP for their

United States citizen children or legally residing children due to misunderstandings about

SNAP eligibility requirements. Clients will no longer allow cyclic participation (i.e., churning) to occur due to client inaction or failure to read and understand information being sent from

ADES.

Target Audience Potentially eligible vulnerable populations throughout Arizona

Timeline Phase one (1) : October 1, 2022, through September 30, 2023

Phase two (2) : Dates to be determined.

Subrecipient Phase one (1):

Subrecipient

• Against Abuse

• ARC Pima Community College

• Arizona Baptist Children’s Services

• Arizona Justice Center

• Arizona State University

• Arizona Women’s Recovery Center

• Aster Aging

• AZCEND

• Banner Olive Branch Senior Center

• Catholic Community Services (Pio Decimo)

• Chandler Care Center

• Chicanos Por La Causa (CPLC)

• Community Food Bank of Southern Arizona

• Cornerstone Mission Project

• Cultural Cup Food Bank

• Dress for Success Phoenix

• Empowerment Systems

• Father Matters

• Foothills Food Bank

• Goodwill Industries of Southern Arizona, Inc.

• Greater Phoenix Urban League

• Helping Families in Need

• Interfaith Community Services

• International Sonoran Desert Alliance

• Live and Learn

• Lutheran Social Services of the Southwest

• Manzanita Outreach

• Maricopa County Community College District

• Mountain Park Health Center

• Native Health dba Native American Community Health Center

• Neighborhood Ministries

• Neighborhood Outreach Access to Health (NOAH)

• Nogales Community Development Corporation

• North Country Healthcare

• Northern Arizona Council of Governments (NACOG)

• Northland Family Help Center

• Nourish Phoenix

• Old Town Mission

• Phoenix Dream Center

• Phoenix Indian Center

• Pilgrim Rest Foundation

• Pinnacle Prevention

• Regional Center for Border Health

• Rio Vista Center

• Sahuarita Food Bank

• Salvation Army Phoenix

• Seniors Personal Assistance Corporation

• Sun Life Family Health Center, Inc.

• Sunset Community Health Center

• Tanner Community Development Corporation

• Tempe Community Action Agency

• Town of Guadalupe Community Action Program

• University of Arizona Campus Pantry

• Unlimited Potential

• Valley Assistance Services

Phase two (2)

Subrecipient TIN 860311619

Role of the Subrecipient

Subrecipient (Contractor) will produce and maintain targeted information materials and training presentations. Subrecipient (Contractor) will assist in communicating SNAP policy updates and resource information as well as obtaining pre-approval marketing material

Role of the State Agency

ADES will provide policy, data, and development support to Subrecipient’s to create training curriculum and presentations. ADES will review and provide final approval of training material and SCP-generated marketing materials. ADES will ensure all SNAP related materials contain the appropriate funding credit and nondiscrimination statements and encourage the proper use of the SNAP logo. ADES will only approve materials that follow USDA/FNS guidelines.

Project Number 2 - Information Distribution and Client Education

State/

Subrecipient

Funding

Source(s)

All funding under the Plan is sourced from the USDA/FNS fifty (50) percent reimbursement of reasonable, allowable, and necessary program expenditures.

In phase (1) one:

ADES retains a total of four (4) percent of the fifty (50) percent reimbursement to fund its program activity, Subrecipient retains six (6) percent of the reimbursement, and the remaining forty (40) percent is disbursed to SCPs. There are no state matching funds or other federal funds allocated to the Plan. SCPs source private dollars through fundraising efforts and are prohibited from requesting reimbursement for Plan expenditures paid with funds from other federal awards.

In phase (2) two:

To be determined.

Volunteers Are volunteers involved in this activity: Yes ☑ No ⬜

Volunteers under this project complete frontline activities such as providing information about the SNAP application process and benefits of participation. Volunteers may also create informational materials, conduct home visits, and complete administrative tasks.

Volunteers, as with paid staff, must complete annual civil rights training and SNAP application assistance training modules. Volunteers and staff must have a confidentiality agreement on file with the SCP and comply with the agreement.

Evaluation ADES will base the evaluation of this project on:

• The observation of reasonable efforts made to increase the number of clients who receive information about SNAP in SCP offices or at community engagement events;

• The continuation of home visits made to potentially eligible, homebound clients; and

Subjective evidence of potentially eligible clients, under the impression that they or other members of their household do not qualify for SNAP, being educated on program benefits and requirement with subsequent enrollment in the program.

3 - Partnership Coordination

Goal Subrecipient (Contractor) will be provide to Subrecipient (CAA’s) and SCPs with up-to-date training, technical assistance, program compliance monitoring, goal setting and accomplishment assistance, facilitation of networking meetings and site visits to identify areas of Subrecipient (CAA’s) and SCP strength and improvement opportunities. New

Subrecipient (CAA’s) and SCPs will receive education on SNAP guidelines, monthly reporting requirements and guidance on reasonable, allowable, and necessary expenditures as well as allowable and non-allowable activities. Returning Subrecipient

(CAA’s) and SCPs will be provided with the same level of support as new Subrecipient

(CAA’s) and SCPs, as needed. Subrecipient (CAA’s) and SCPs will receive reimbursement on approved expenditures in a timely manner. All SCPs will attend mandatory partnership orientation and monthly conference calls. Subrecipient (CAA’s) and SCPs will report a minimum satisfaction rating of ninety (90) percent after attending a training or conference call.

Target Audience Subrecipient (CAA’s) and SCP program managers, financial staff, frontline staff, and supervisors, as well as nonparticipating agencies seeking information about participating in the Plan as an active SCP.

Timeline Phase one (1) : October 1, 2022, through September 30, 2023

Phase two (2) : Dates to be determined.

Subrecipient Phase one (1):

• Against Abuse

• ARC Pima Community College

• Arizona Baptist Children's Services

• Arizona Justice Center

• Arizona State University

• Arizona Women’s Recovery Center

• Aster Aging

• AZCEND

• Banner Olive Branch Senior Center

• Catholic Community Services (Pio Decimo)

• Chandler Care Center

• Chicanos Por La Causa (CPLC)

• Community Food Bank of Southern Arizona

• Cornerstone Mission Project

• Cultural Cup Food Bank

• Dress for Success Phoenix

• Empowerment Systems

• Father Matters

• Foothills Food Bank

• Goodwill Industries of Southern Arizona, Inc.

• Greater Phoenix Urban League

• Helping Families in Need

• Interfaith Community Services

• International Sonoran Desert Alliance

• Live and Learn

• Lutheran Social Services of the Southwest

• Manzanita Outreach

• Maricopa County Community College District

• Mountain Park Health Center

• Native Health dba Native American Community Health Center

• Neighborhood Ministries

• Neighborhood Outreach Access to Health (NOAH)

• Nogales Community Development Corporation

• North Country Healthcare

• Northern Arizona Council of Governments (NACOG)

• Northland Family Help Center

• Nourish Phoenix

• Old Town Mission

• Phoenix Dream Center

• Phoenix Indian Center

• Pilgrim Rest Foundation

• Pinnacle Prevention

• Regional Center for Border Health

• Rio Vista Center

• Sahuarita Food Bank

• Salvation Army Phoenix

• Seniors Personal Assistance Corporation

• Sun Life Family Health Center, Inc.

• Sunset Community Health Center

• Tanner Community Development Corporation

• Tempe Community Action Agency

• Town of Guadalupe Community Action Program

• University of Arizona Campus Pantry

• Unlimited Potential

• Valley Assistance Services

Description of Activity

Subrecipient will maintain the partnership policy manual and issue updates as directed by

ADES, provide initial review of SCP activity reports and reimbursement requests, maintain a mentorship system, and encourage all SCPs to participate as either mentors or mentees, review and revise as needed training curriculum modules one through six (i.e., SNAP training modules). Community Partner Certification Curriculum and continue production of new modules, develop content for and host mandatory monthly partnership calls in conjunction with ADES, conduct site visits at a minimum of 20 percent of returning SCPs and at all new SCPs, act as a liaison between SCPs and ADES when issues are raised that do not pertain to specific client cases and maintain connections to other state agencies to ensure the maximum amount of collaboration and information is provided to SCPs.

Subrecipient is prohibited from viewing or storing client case information.

Subrecipient Contractor October 1, 2022, through September 30, 2023

Subrecipient TIN 860311619

Role of the

Subrecipient will conduct all activities as indicated in the Description of Activity section of this table.

3 - Partnership Coordination

Role of the State Agency

ADES will co-host and present SNAP information during mandatory monthly conference calls, collaborate and co-present with Subrecipient at partnership orientations to provide support and offer a question and answer session to enhance SCP SNAP knowledge, assist

Subrecipient in resolving SCP issues involving ADES or USDA/FNS regulations, act as a direct liaison between SCPs and ADES client advocates to protect Subrecipient from unintentionally receiving confidential case information, accompany Subrecipient on site visits and during SCP recruitment activities on Subrecipient request and review and assist in the development of SCP training curriculum, modules and materials. ADES will assist

Subrecipient in connecting to other divisions and work units within ADES and other state agencies as requested by Subrecipient. ADES will also provide a minimum of two live civil rights trainings via webinar to subrecipient.

State/Subrecipient Funding Source(s)

All funding under the Plan is sourced from the USDA/FNS fifty (50) percent reimbursement of reasonable, allowable, and necessary program expenditures.

In phase (1) one:

ADES retains a total of four (4) percent of the fifty (50) percent reimbursement to fund its program activity, Subrecipient retains six (6) percent of the reimbursement, and the remaining forty (40) percent is disbursed to SCPs. There are no state matching funds or other federal funds allocated to the Plan. SCPs source private dollars through fundraising efforts and are prohibited from requesting reimbursement for Plan expenditures paid with funds from other federal awards.

In phase (2) two:

To be determined.

Volunteers Are volunteers involved in this activity: Yes☑ No⬜

Volunteer duties under this project consist of attending annual civil rights training, completing application assistance training modules and, at the SCP’s discretion, participating in the annual partnership orientation.

3 - Partnership Coordination

Evaluation ADES will consider this project successful when:

• SCPs report that they are satisfied with the training and support received from

Subrecipient at a rate of at least 90 percent of post-event survey respondents;

• Errors and omissions in SCP-generated informational materials are identified by

Subrecipient prior to forwarding to ADES for final review at a rate of at least 95 percent of items submitted;

• Subrecipient has conducted site visits to include, at a minimum, 20 percent of SCPs that are at least in their second year of Plan participation and 100 percent of SCPs in their first year of participation;

• ADES has conducted 10 site visits to SCPs currently participating in the program;

• 100 percent of SCP frontline staff, supervisors and volunteers complete annual civil rights training; and

• 100 percent of SCP application assistors complete the SNAP training modules.

1-3: Partnership Collaboration

Goal Phase one (1)

ADES will partner with the subrecipient to determine where further SCP expansion can occur for the enrollment of interested organizations through the state.

ADES plans to expand access to DES programs for harder to serve populations by leveraging statewide partnerships with Arizona Community Action Agencies (CAAs) as physical and virtual no-wrong door access points. CAAs will be trained to conduct outreach, perform needs assessments, identify available resources, and provide direct application assistance to remove barriers to apply will launch

Target Audience

Potentially eligible vulnerable populations throughout Arizona

Timeline Phase one (1) : October 1, 2022, through September 30, 2023

Phase two (2) : Dates to be determined.

Description of

Activity ADES will plan to expand access to DES programs for harder to serve populations by leveraging statewide partnerships with Arizona Community Action Agencies (CAAs) as physical and virtual no-wrong door access points. CAAs will be trained to conduct outreach, perform needs assessments, identify available resources, and provide direct application assistance to remove barriers to apply.

Project Number 4 - Partnership Collaboration

Subrecipient Contractor October 1, 2022, through September 30, 2023

Subrecipient TIN 860311619

Role of the Subrecipient

Subrecipient will recruit agencies in underserved communities, maintain MOUs with enrolled

SCPs, offer financial oversight, pass through federal reimbursement funds, maintain current SCP

SNAP training curriculum, develop additional training materials, and provide training and technical assistance to SCPs requiring such support.

Role of the State Agency

ADES through continuous internal collaboration will establish additional support to current SCPs within rural locations through the DOTS program. While establishing where DOTS may be best suited, ADES will partner with subcontractor to determine further SCP enrollment to organizations that demonstrate interest in the focused counties.

State/ Subrecipient Funding Source(s)

All funding under the Plan is sourced from the USDA/FNS fifty (50) percent reimbursement of reasonable, allowable, and necessary program expenditures.

In phase (1) one:

ADES retains a total of four (4) percent of the fifty (50) percent reimbursement to fund its program activity, Subrecipient retains six (6) percent of the reimbursement, and the remaining forty (40) percent is disbursed to SCPs. There are no state matching funds or other federal funds allocated to the Plan. SCPs source private dollars through fundraising efforts and are prohibited from requesting reimbursement for Plan expenditures paid with funds from other federal awards.

In phase (2) two:

To be determined.

Volunteers Are volunteers involved in this activity: Yes☑ No⬜

Volunteers under this project complete frontline activities such as assistance with applications, submitting verification documents and contacting ADES for the eligibility interview. Volunteers, as with paid staff, must complete annual civil rights training and SNAP application assistance training modules. Volunteers must have a confidentiality agreement on file with the SCP and comply with the agreement.

Project Number 4 – Partnership Collaboration

Evaluation ADES will consider this project successful when identified areas of need experience a decrease in food insecurity rates. A successful outcome is achieved when:

• SNAP participation growth in identified counties outpaces growth in lower poverty counties by a reasonable margin; or

• Participation in high poverty counties increases or remains stable, while lower poverty counties experience a participation decrease.

• SCPs will provide monthly reports to subrecipient that identify SNAP outreach activity:

Number of applications, number of screenings, and assistance with applications. These are collected and shared with ADES each month; in addition, subrecipient will provide quarterly and annual reports to ADES.

• Tracking of agency capability through comparing monthly reports with the initial application assistance goals of the SCPs (as indicated in their partnership applications) and providing technical assistance as needed.

Non-Reimbursable Activities

SCPs may not request reimbursement for expenditures related to any of the following activities:

• Recruiting designed to persuade a client to apply for SNAP benefits after the client has made an informed decision not to apply;

• Placing radio, television, and billboard advertisements that promote SNAP benefits and enrollment;

• Establishing or working under any agreements with foreign governments designed to promote SNAP benefits and enrollment;

• Authorizing retailers for Electronic Benefits Transaction card acceptance;

• Performing activities that solely benefit programs other than SNAP;

• Acting as an authorized representative for applying, receiving SNAP benefits at issuance or food purchasing; and

• Transporting clients to or from an ADES local eligibility office or providing tokens, vouchers, or similar items for transportation of clients to or from the local office.

Unallowable Activities

SCPs may not complete any of the following activities, regardless of the funding source supporting the function:

• Compensating staff based on the number of people who apply for SNAP as a result of that worker’s efforts; and

• Interfering during the certification interview or at other times to campaign on behalf of specific clients.

Projects 00, 0, 1-3

Budget Summary - All Projects (please see excel attachment)

Project 00

Project 1

Project 2

Project 3

Budget Review Methodology (38)

ADES received FFY 2023 Plan participation applications from 59 agencies. Budget projections were evaluated and approved according to guidance and requirements set forth by Title 2, Subtitle A, Chapter II, Part 200 of the

Code of Federal Regulations (2 CFR § 200), United States Department of Agriculture State Plan Guidance issued

July 2017 and ADES program policy.

All approved administrative costs have been determined to be reasonable, allowable, and necessary. Individual

SCP itemized service budgets and staffing details are included in the Agency Service Budgets tab of the accompanying FFY 2023 Informational Workbook. All SCP application documents, including individual SCP budget narratives, are kept on file with ADES and available for review.

Personnel (Salary and Benefits)

Staff wages and benefits are set on a reasonable hourly basis in line with the duties being performed for SNAP access and information operations (see Attachment 1, ADES Policy Memo # PM 15-03 – Staff Wages and

Benefits Allowable Cost Policy). All staffing budgets must be calculated on the percentage of time allocated to

SNAP activities, and SCP budget narratives must explain the SNAP activities to be performed. SCPs are prohibited from compensating staff based upon the number of applications submitted or the number of clients completing an integrated application. All SCPs must provide additional justification for staff with time allocated to more than 50 percent SNAP activity. SCP staff track time spent on allowable SNAP activities via ADES approved electronic or paper tracking forms.

Calculation Method

(Total Annual Cash Compensation + Employee Related Expense Rate) = Total Compensation (Total

Compensation) X (SNAP Activity Percentage) = SNAP Salary

Total SNAP Cost for this Line Item: $ 6,417,031.00

Copying/Printing/Materials

Expenses in the Copying/Printing/Materials line item consist of costs related to the in-house and outsourced production of SNAP informational material such as flyers, newsletters, pamphlets, brochures, and newspaper advertisements. All informational material produced with the support of USDA funding must contain the current

USDA/FNS-approved nondiscrimination and funding statements. SCPs are prohibited from requesting reimbursement for expenditures on radio, television, and billboard advertisements in accordance with § 4018 of the Agricultural Act of 2014 (Pub. L. 113-79).

(Number of Items X Item Cost X Frequency X SNAP Activity Percentage) = SNAP Cost

Total SNAP Cost for this Line Item: $ 185,846.00

Internet/Telephone Expenses in the Internet and Telephone line item consist of costs related to cellular phone monthly charges, desk phone (i.e., landline) monthly charges, and Internet connectivity monthly charges. Internet connectivity can refer to Internet connections delivered to the SCP through physical means such as cabled networks or through wireless devices such as mobile hotspots.

ADES determines the maximum allowable cost of cellular phone and mobile device plans by considering the features of the device (see Attachment 2, ADES Policy Memo # PM 15-01 – Cell

Phone and Data Plan: Allowable Use and Cost Policy). Smart phones and mobile hotspot devices are capped at a maximum reimbursement of $50.00 per device per month, and mobile phones without smart features or hotspot capability are capped at a maximum of $25.00 per device per month.

For cellular phones and mobile hotspots:

(Number of Devices X Monthly Charge X 12 Months X SNAP Activity Percentage) = SNAP Cost

For cabled Internet connections and landline service:

(Monthly Charge X 12 Months X SNAP Activity Percentage) = SNAP Cost

Total SNAP Cost for this Line Item: $ 173,748.00

Equipment and Other Capital Expenditures

Total SNAP Cost for this Line Item: $12,000.00

Supplies and Non-Capital Expenditures

Expenses in the Supplies and Non-Capital Expenditures line item consist of costs associated with the purchase of computing devices such as laptops, printers and scanners and supplies used during SCP SNAP access and information operations. Examples of supplies allocated to this line item include pens, pencils, paperclips, files folders, business cards and notepads. All SCP computing device expenditures must be approved by ADES and evidenced by a sales receipt. SCPs must provide a copy of the sales receipt to ADES. Reinforcement items purchased with program funds must have a direct relationship to program directives and are capped at a maximum value of $5.00 per item. Reinforcements may not be used to incentivize clients to apply for benefits and must be of an educational or informational nature. SCPs are prohibited from purchasing the following items as reinforcements:

• Commemorative items;

• Food;

• Items for staff;

• Items that cost more than $5.00;

• Items intended as rewards for prescreening or completing an application;

• Items used to incentivize potentially eligible people to apply for benefits;

• Items with no outreach messages; and

• Unreasonable or unnecessary items.

SCPs are encouraged to avoid reinforcements resembling food items to aid in the prevention of potential problems caused by children accidentally ingesting the items.

(Number of Items X Item Cost X Frequency (if applicable) X SNAP Activity Percentage) = SNAP Cost

Total SNAP Cost for this Line Item: $406,801.00

Building/Space

Expenses in the Building/Space line item are based upon the percentage of square footage (ft2) used for SNAP access and information operations. SCPs requesting reimbursement under this line item must calculate projected expenses in accordance with § 4.17 of the United States Department of Agriculture State Plan

Guidance issued July 2017. SCPs may not apply a use allowance to projections, nor include building/space expenditures as both a direct and indirect cost. All calculations involving staff are based on full-time equivalency

(FTE). For example, a colleague who works 40 hours per week and spends half the time at one location and half the time at a second location would count as one-half FTE for each location. Staff salaries are not factored into the calculation for this line item. When the SCP rents the occupied space from another entity, rent is the principle occupancy cost on which the SCP claims reimbursement.

When the SCP owns the occupied space, building-related costs are the principle occupancy costs on which the

SCP claims reimbursement.

(Total ft2 Occupied by All Staff X (On-Site SNAP Staff ÷ Total On-Site Staff)) = Base ft2 (Base ft2 X Average On-

Site Staff SNAP Percentage) = ft2 Chargeable to SNAP

(Annual Rent or Building-Related Costs X (ft2 Chargeable to SNAP ÷ Total ft2 Occupied by All Staff)) = SNAP

Cost

Total SNAP Cost for this Line Item: $386,987.00

Other Expenses in the Other line item consist of costs associated with expenditures that cannot be allocated to a different direct cost category or to indirect costs. In general, Arizona SCPs allocates the allowable, reasonable, and necessary costs of professional memberships, dues and subscriptions and costs associated with outsourced services such as information technology support and accounting. SCPs may also charge other costs to this line item as long as the costs are determined to be reasonable, allowable and necessary and are not obviously allocable to an alternative direct cost category.

(Number of Items X Item Cost X Frequency X SNAP Activity Percentage) = SNAP Cost

Total SNAP Cost for this Line Item: $631,710.00

Long Distance (Out-of-State) Travel

Expenses in the Long-Distance Travel line item consist of costs associated with travel to training and conferences outside of Arizona. SCPs must itemize out-of-state travel expenses.

Additionally, SCPs must provide a copy of the training or conference agenda to ADES for review. ADES determines the percentage of SNAP activity allocable to the training or conference based on the agenda. Mileage expenses for out of state travel are reimbursed according to IRS guidelines. The current IRS mileage reimbursement rate for business travel is $0.575 per mile.