Fact Sheet

Public Burden Statement:  An agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to respond to, a collection of information unless it displays a valid OMB control number.  The OMB control number for this project is 0584-0547.  Public reporting burden to read this document is estimated to be 5 minutes per respondent.  Send comments regarding this burden estimate or any other aspect of this collection of information, including suggestions for reducing this burden, to:  U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Services, Office of Research and Analysis, 3101 Park Center Drive, Room 1014, Alexandria, VA, 22302, ATTN: Rosemarie Downer

IN-DEPTH CASE STUDIES OF ADVANCED SNAP MODERNIZATION INITIATIVES

The Issue	In recent years, states have been modernizing their approaches to administering the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). These changes incorporate technology, administrative restructuring, community partnering, and policy simplification in an effort to reduce operating costs while maintaining or increasing program access. The level of modernization and specific approaches implemented vary substantially by state, which presents opportunities for states to learn from each others’ experiences.
Research Objectives	The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) has selected Mathematica Policy Research to conduct a study examining the experiences of states with advanced SNAP modernization initiatives. The study will identify lessons that can be learned from states with the most modernization experience. In particular, the study will determine the specific steps states have taken to implement modernization changes, the challenges states experienced implementing these changes, and the perceptions of staff and SNAP participants regarding these changes.
Study Activities	Selection of states. Six states—Florida, Georgia, Massachusetts, Utah, Washington, and Wisconsin—have agreed to participate in the study and were selected from among those states with the most advanced modernization initiatives. Each participating state will be paid $75,000 to compensate for administrative costs they may incur in connection with the study. Orientation meeting. Representatives of the six states participating in the study met with FNS and Mathematica staff in March 2010. This meeting provided an opportunity for states to learn more about the study and for researchers to begin learning about the modernization initiatives in each state. Site visits. Mathematica will conduct two site visits to each participating state in spring/summer 2011. The visits will include at least four locations in each state to reflect a mix of environments and capture key variations in modernization procedures and policies in the state. Site visitors will interview key staff at all levels of the state, community-based partner organizations, and businesses. Site visits will also include observations of program operations and focus groups with SNAP participants and eligible nonparticipants. Extant data collection. Mathematica will collect extant data from each state, including monthly case record extracts for the period beginning two years before their first modernization initiative and running through June 2011; application statistics; records on any performance-related measures that states track; and other relevant materials such as policy manuals, program descriptions, and results of any client satisfaction surveys states conduct.
	Analysis and reporting. After all primary and extant data have been assembled, Mathematica staff will conduct a thorough analysis and draft a final report. The report will include a state profile for each of the six states that summarizes its experience with modernization changes and examines trends to identify any evidence that the changes affect key program outcomes. The report will describe the successes, challenges, and lessons learned; identify the common themes across states and across modernization activities; and highlight the consistent outcomes for the modernization activities.
To Find Out More	Contact Mathematica’s project director, Scott Cody, by phone at (202) 484-9220 or by email at [email protected].

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