Public Consulting Group’s Post

🚀 Imagine skyrocketing SNAP payment accuracy, timeliness, and customer service skills agency-wide! Westat Insight’s SNAP policy, client-centered design, and QC experts recently co-led a tremendous 3-day SNAP Payment Accuracy Conference with the District of Columbia's Department of Human Services, Economic Security Administration. Our mission? To dive into strategies for enhancing the accuracy of SNAP benefits—a crucial factor in providing better customer service to SNAP clients and improving the integrity of SNAP. 🎯 Westat Insight team members @Elizabeth Weber, @Patricia McGinn, and @Brian Jones provided training focused on addressing common issues that significantly impact the District's SNAP payment error rate, such as earned income, the excess shelter deduction, and household composition. Recognizing the importance of human interactions in the human services field, Dr. @Andrea García also provided staff with human-centered interview techniques and demonstrated how effective interviews can expedite accurate certification by responding to client’s individual needs and circumstances. 🌟 At Westat Insight, we’re passionate about leveraging our deep understanding of SNAP policy to foster greater understanding, efficiency, and empathy in the largest hunger safety net program in the United States. Learn more about our partnership with the District: https://buff.ly/3SNOlXl #SNAP #PolicyExpertise #HumanCenteredDesign #WestatInsight #PaymentAccuracy

A great follow-up to my last post: "The poor can't keep up with the paperwork; that's how they get kicked off benefits. And that's done on purpose. That's a feature, not a bug, of these particular types of policies. The bureaucracy of proving that you are holding on to 20 hours of work... that's where so many people fall through the cracks." While millions of families wait on Capitol Hill to determine how much (or how little) they’ll receive in SNAP & WIC benefits, they need our help to find the emergency food resources they need NOW. Lemontree connects neighbors facing food insecurity to the free food in their backyard through an online directory and a tech-enabled helpline, and we serve over 4,000 users every day. I always say that food insecurity is a puzzle, and we're just a piece of it. Government assistance is another crucial piece, and this article does a great job of exploring the impact of these policies, including on the local economy, in a fresh format: https://lnkd.in/exEwvVjY

Check out the latest policy brief from our 2023 #FarmBill series: Payment Error Rates: Understanding What They Are and How to Support #SNAP Agencies in Reducing Them. Learn more: https://lnkd.in/errBUdhh Overview: This brief dives into the important role of payment accuracy in SNAP. We look at how the COVID-19 pandemic displayed the strength of SNAP in quickly and effectively adapting to needs across the country, while the significant and necessary changes in program rules and operations to make this happen have strained the resources and workforce of the agencies that administer the program. The brief also looks at what Quality Control and SNAP Payment Error Rates are and are not, why they increased in response to the pandemic, why there are differences across states, and how the Farm Bill can support SNAP agencies to strengthen their program accuracy for years to come.

🚨 Free webinar alert! "Navigating the New Normal: Understanding the Financial and Wellness Landscape of Low-Income and SNAP consumers" Join us on December 13th for an informative webinar where our NIQ experts Sherry Frey, Health and Wellness Industry Leader, and Maria Maysonet, Associate Client Director, will share the key drivers and nuances of purchasing behavior that help achieve growth amidst continuing high cost-of-living pressures. 🚀 Register here: https://lnkd.in/gPmZesqY The deets 👇 Since the pandemic, the cost of living for Americans has soared, leaving our most vulnerable consumers in a far worse financial situation. Consumers face changing government policies that can quickly impact their wallet like the reduction in SNAP benefits and repayment of Student Loans. On the other hand, consumers are increasingly placing a premium on product choices, with a heightened focus on ingredient lists, nutritional values, and sourcing information, even amidst lingering inflationary times.    During this session, you'll discover:  *How the reduction in Emergency Allotment Benefits has impacted purchase behavior   *The challenges faced by SNAP recipients in everyday life *The effects of SNAP benefit reduction on wellness shipping trends and their reward towards brands that provide (more) product information *And how consumers balance financial constraints through different tactics.  See you there! 🙂

With careful consideration, planning, and access to the right data, #K12 #districtleaders can forecast #enrollment shifts and build a plan to address them. Here are 3 strategies to consider https://hubs.ly/Q02k9bkz0

If you’re in the #SNAP world, you’ve likely heard about payment error rates. But have you ever wondered what exactly they are? How they’re calculated? What they include.. and what they don’t? And, what supports do state agencies need to lower them? Check out our latest #FarmBill brief to learn more about what we’re hearing from our members!

🚨 Calling All Public Defenders! 🚨 At ReEntry Capital, we're not just advocates for those impacted by the justice system; we're innovators looking to drive substantial change. I was once a client of a public defender and have some understand the unique challenges you face daily. That's why we're inviting you to participate in the "Public Defender Technology Needs Survey." This initiative is part of our broader effort through our ventures to apply cutting-edge technology where it's most needed. By participating, you'll be contributing to a project that aims to develop innovative tools designed to enhance your efficiency and effectiveness in the courtroom and beyond. Why Your Insight is Invaluable: Shape Future Tools: Your experiences will directly influence the creation of solutions tailored to meet your specific needs. Drive Innovation: Help us identify key areas within the legal system that can benefit from the latest technological advancements. The survey will only take 10 minutes or less of your time. 👉 Participate now: https://lnkd.in/g7d4XG-7 Together, let's harness technology to make a real difference in the justice system! Your voice is crucial in guiding our efforts to ensure our solutions are impactful and meaningful. #PublicDefenders #LegalTech #Innovation #ReEntryCapital

Time sure flies when you’re busy! That’s why we’ve created the SnapBOI Reporting Platform, designed to make life easier for attorneys, accountants, and financial advisors like you. Here’s what you need to know: ·        Your clients with companies created or registered before January 1, 2024, have until January 1, 2025, to file their BOI reports. ·        Companies registered on or after January 1, 2025, will need to file within 90 days. Our platform helps you effortlessly serve your clients and tap into a new revenue stream. Get started with SnapBOI today and stay ahead of the curve! #Attorneys #Accountants #FinancialAdvisors #BOIReporting #CorporateTransparencyAct #ProfesisonalAdvisors #Compliance

**Attention Trusted Advisors!** The deadline for many companies to file their BOI reports is approaching quickly and some companies already need to have filed!. Ensure your clients comply with the new regulations with the help of SnapBOI. Stay ahead and demonstrate your expertise by leveraging SnapBOI to streamline the filing process for your clients. Feel free to reach out to me directly with any questions. #TrustAdvisors #Compliance #SnapBOI #BOI

During our last community, hang out, uncensored. Data was the culprit that took a large part of their income. Here's a hack to help you, be sure that you're not online doing mindless scrolling. 💙 Have a budget for your monthly data allowance and try to stick with it. 💙 Ask yourself, do I need to be online now 🤔? 💙 Have a schedule and time alloted to it. Because if you don't, you'd end up spending money you can save on data. Would you be doing this 😎? Let me know in the comment section #OptimusbyAfrinvest