Social Impact Bonds and TANF

Here's an update from our friends at EARN:

The “discussion draft” version of TANF reauthorization legislation that House Ways and Means put out for comment last month includes $350 million for social impact bond demonstration projects, see Section 10 of: http://waysandmeans.house.gov/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/JDG_705_xml.pdf

If you don't know what Social Impact Bond are, see this article from Nonprofit Quarterly by  Donald Cohen  at In The Public Interest and Jennifer Zelnick.

According to Cohen and Zelnick, "The concept of SIBs (Social Impact Bonds) is for private investors to lend money to governments for the funding of programs that, if successfully delivered, will generate long-term savings. Repayment of upfront funds is triggered when an independent evaluator certifies that programs have achieved the promised results. Proponents argue that SIBs should be used— at no cost to taxpayers—to test to see which innovative ideas can make a dent in intractable social problems."

Protect our retirement savings

AARP's message regarding closing the loophole that allows financial advisers to give bad advice to retirees and those soon to retire.  Way to go AARP!





Protect our retirement savings

A Framework for Understanding Poverty - Teacher Workshop

Link to Session

SNAP Matters for People with Disabilities

SNAP Matters for People with Disabilities

I had a great time yesterday at lunch listening and watching the Food Research and Action Center’s (FRAC) webinar on Disability, Food Insecurity, and SNAP: Addressing the needs of Americans with Disabilities (click here to watch the recording).

The webinar coincided with the release of FRAC’s report, SNAP Matters for People with Disabilities (click here to download).   The report states that 1 in 3 American’s with disabilities live in a state of food insecurity. 

Food insecurity is the inability to provide adequate food for one or more household members due to a lack of resources at some point in the year, according to Alisha Coleman-Jensen (click link to bio), from the Economic Research Service of USDA.  She also mentioned in in her section of the webinar the USDA report, Food Insecurity Among Households with Working-Age Adults with Disabilities.

I am hoping to take a close look at both of these reports and get back to you all with information regarding North Dakota specific information.  This is an issue that I don’t know personally and I hope to learn more in the coming months. 

If anyone has some information they would like to share with me please contact me at NDESPA@agree.org.

Scott Fry

Disability, Food Insecurity, and SNAP webinar

The Food Research and Action Center (FRAC) is hosting a webinar July 28 at 2pm Central Time on “Disability, Food Insecurity, and SNAP: Addressing the needs of American’s with Disabilities.” 

According to the email from the Coalition on Human Needs the webinar will “highlight the current status of food insecurity among persons with disabilities, the role of SNAP in the safety net for people with disabilities, and recommendations for strengthening SNAP’s supports for this population.” The webinar accompanies the release of FRAC’s new report, “SNAP Matters for People with Disabilities.”

The speakers on the webinar are:

-       Melanie Meisenheimer, Emerson National Hunger Fellow, Food Research and Action Center;

-       Alisha Coleman-Jensen, Social Science Analyst, USDA Economic Research Service;

-       Rebecca Vallas, Director of Policy for the Poverty to Prosperity Program, Center for American Progress; and

-       David Reynolds, Director of NOEP field Operations, Hunger Solutions New York

North Dakotans and Medicaid

1 in 3 Californians are now enrolled in Medi-Cal, California's Medicaid program according to the state Department of Finance. By simplifying their enrollment process and voluntarily expanding its programs California's Medi-Cal program pushed past the 12 million enrollee mark according to an article on San Luis Obispo's The Tribune website. Thanks to AARP for bringing this to our attention. 

The interesting thing in the article is that the majority of the individuals enrolling in the program already qualified under the traditional Medi-Cal program, not the expansion.  This would indicate the simplification of the enrollment process had more to do with the increase than expanding coverage to adults without children and raising the allowable income levels. 

How many North Dakotans would be enrolled in Medicaid right now if we made it easier for them to sign up, rather than figuring out more ways not to provide services?

Missouri Valley Coalition for Homeless People Offers Programs

The Missouri Valley Coalition for Homeless People is putting on some great programs over the next couple of months.  

The first is an advocacy training for homeless people called "Homelessness 101" and is scheduled for August 6th from 9 am to 3pm at the Brynhild Haugland Room at the North Dakota State Capitol.  It costs $20 in advance and $25 at the door.  Call 701-390-1635 to register.  Lunch is provided.  "Learn about the state of homelessness in your community and hot to become an advocate!"

The second, the 7th Annual Missouri Valley Region project Service Connect, is on August 20th from 3pm to 7pm, at the Bismarck Veterans Memorial Public Library in Room A. This is a one day, one stop event to provide FREE services to people experiencing homelessness or people who are at risk of becoming homeless. The services include free meal and beverage, hair cuts, job services, military and veterans affairs services, health and dental care information, and many other boots with great info and services.

If you have any questions please contact them at (701) 390-1635 or at missourivalleyhomeless@gmail.com.