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Assistance seamlessly allows a child to flow appropriately between the programs and streamlines the application and renewal process for families.

Pennsylvania engages in outreach efforts to support policy directives and initiatives. The Healthy Babies/Healthy Kids Hotlines are available as outreach resources. The hotlines are also referral and informational sources for CHIP and Medical Assistance.

Pennsylvania continues its commitment to provide families with the Medical Assistance and CHIP coverage to which they are eligible.

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Outreach

Pennsylvania has joined with the United States Department of Agriculture Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) to provide funds to nine Community-and-Faith-Based Organizations (CBOs) to perform SNAP outreach. FNS provides a 50 percent reimbursement, and the remaining 50 percent of funds come from Pennsylvania, the CBO, or a combination of both. This project is known as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Participation Project (SNAP PP).

The CBOs use a variety of methods to reach out to households who may be eligible for SNAP, provide information about SNAP and the benefits of receiving SNAP, complete and submit SNAP applications on behalf of interested households to the CAO, and increase public awareness of SNAP.

One purpose of SNAP PP is to introduce applicants to the COMPASS benefits access tool. Through this online tool, users can apply for benefits, renew their benefits, review case information, upload pending verification, complete their Semi-Annual Report, receive notices, report changes, and communicate with their caseworker. Users can also interact with a chatbot to get questions answered in real-time and have access to a screening tool where they can find out if they may potentially qualify for benefits. COMPASS is designed to make state-administered, means-tested benefits, including SNAP, more easily accessible.

Another outreach program, the Pennsylvania Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Education (SNAP-Ed) also referred to as PA SNAP-Ed provides nutrition education to low-income individuals and families who are eligible to receive SNAP benefits. The program aims to foster positive behavioral changes related to nutrition and physical activity. PA SNAP-Ed is currently managed by a Management Entity housed in the College of Health and Human Development at the Pennsylvania State University in State College, PA. There are 21 locally based agencies or programs, collectively referred to as Partners that deliver SNAP-Ed throughout Pennsylvania. SNAP-Ed is federally funded through the Nutrition Education and Obesity Prevention Grant Program.