Nevada supplemental food program to receive $1.5M from USDA as performance bonus
CARSON CITY — Nevada will receive more than $1.5 million for its Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the state's Health and Human Services Director Richard Whitley announced Thursday.
The performance bonus money, totaling $1,525,636 was awarded to the Silver State for its customer service, processing time and ability to help those eligible who are in need, said Nevada Department of Health and Human Services Director Richard Whitley.
“The staff at the Division of Welfare and Supportive Services has worked very hard towards improving the ratio of number of SNAP participants to the number of estimated individuals eligible,” said Whitley in a news release.
“Nevada was among the six states with the highest Application Processing Time which is an important and highly visible aspect of customer service. I applaud DWSS for their continued efforts to serve eligible individuals through this vital nutrition assistance program,” he said.
The bonus funds are a direct result of DWSS moving to a new model that improved consistency and timeliness for clients and staff.
“The motto is One and Done,” said Steve Fisher, DWSS Administrator. “The goal is same-day determinations and we continue to make improvements in local offices, our call center and our online application at AccessNevada.com.”
DWSS received similar bonus funds in 2016 and re-invested those funds to further improve processing times. DWSS is now in the process of determining how the money will be spent which could include additional actions to prevent fraud, waste, and abuse and improvements in technology that assist recipients with the application process.
“Our staff at every level of the organization has contributed to the success,” said Fisher. “Robert Thompson, Deputy Administrator for Program and Field Operations and Donna Stanley, Field Operations Manager, demonstrated exceptional leadership in identifying problem areas and achieving effective program improvements.”
SNAP provides benefits to low-income individuals and families and provides economic benefits to communities. SNAP serves approximately 438,000 recipients in Nevada. This includes low-income individuals and families, seniors, and people with disabilities.
Improving food security among Nevada’s vulnerable populations is of utmost importance in achieving a safe, stable, and healthy citizenry. By improving access to SNAP benefits and decreasing the time it takes for recipients to get approved and start using their benefits, DWSS is contributing to improved health outcomes for low-income Nevadans.
For more information about SNAP and other assistance programs that help Nevadans achieve safe, stable, and healthy lives, see https://dwss.nv.gov and contact the Division of Welfare and Supportive Programs.
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