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3 from 78% in 2022 to 84% in 2023 there is still a gap in eligible individuals and those receiving benefits.5 With the increase in inflation, and the resulting increase in food costs, programs like SNAP are even more important to those in need. CDHS understands that the nutritional and economic benefits of SNAP participation will strengthen the lives of Coloradans. We will continue our mission to provide assistance to those people who need the food support offered as part of SNAP. SNAP Outreach is a collaborative partnership. CDHS will continue to join efforts with counties, community partners, advocates, and other agencies to provide outreach throughout Colorado communities. 3. Outreach Plan Summaries Executive Summary The Colorado Outreach Plan for Federal Fiscal Year (FFY) 2026 has six main objectives that will be met through two partner agencies: Benefits in Action and Hunger Free Colorado. To ensure the most vulnerable populations are targeted and that we are aligning with FNS SNAP Outreach priority areas, outreach will be conducted and prioritized to include hard to reach populations such as Able-Bodied Adults without Dependents (ABAWDS), older adults, students attending institutions of higher education, under-employed households, veterans and communities of color. Both outreach partners are expanding in FFY 26 upon previous years’ successful partnerships with varied CBOs to ensure we accomplish our goal of reaching and providing adapted services to all SNAP eligible populations in Colorado. We expect our work to be community-informed and driven by community events, partnerships with health centers, food banks, churches, higher education institutions, counties, and organizations devoted to serving the community, among others. Additionally, we will ensure the program design, language, and structure authentically meets the needs of the SNAP eligible community, and that we are reaching those who have been marginalized and most impacted by food and nutrition insecurity. CDHS continues to remain committed to our outreach partners and sub-recipients by providing many virtual technical assistance sessions and other in-person engagement opportunities to ensure we can continue to help communities navigate the SNAP program. CDHS is ensuring all partners and sub-recipients are trained in telephonic application assistance and monitor these processes regularly to ensure accuracy in the recordings. We expect to continue offering telephone application assistance and will continue to have opportunities for in-person outreach and application assistance in FFY 26. Last year we made a request in the plan for Outreach Partners and subrecipients to make Change Reports when SNAP enrolled participants make a request. This year, change reports will remain a key component of the plan. We will also set a goal and track the number of change reports submitted for FY26. This effort will help SNAP-enrolled Coloradans maintain their benefits more consistently, while also reducing the volume of calls counties receive for these requests. PEAK Pro provides our partners and subrecipients with a streamlined tool to assist clients in submitting change reports efficiently. CDHS remains committed to expanding on-the-ground application assistance in rural areas and with other hard-to-reach populations. As part of this effort, CDHS is encouraging larger partner agencies to engage and support smaller subrecipients, especially in areas where there has been little to no direct SNAP outreach. This strategy aims to build local capacity, strengthen community trust, (Data as of. (2025). Retrieved from https://fns-prod.azureedge.us/sites/default/files/resource-files/snap-persons-7.pdf 5 SNAP Program Access Index | Food and Nutrition Service. (2023). Retrieved from www.fns.usda.gov website: https://www.fns.usda.gov/snap/qc/pai