What the Caring Council and Supportive Parents Information Network (SPIN) are doing as of March 2011:

• Supporting the Social Services Advisory Board to get as many of the 69 Recommendations from the Working Group implemented by Health and Human Services as quickly as possible.

• Investigating other barriers to participation in CalFresh ("Food Stamps") by eligible persons.

We invite support for our work by all interested persons. For more information, click: You Can Help

Prior work

As a result of these meetings, Supervisors Cox and Roberts requested a Working Group to study the problem and the full board approved. During the fall the Working Group developed 69 recommendations which were forwarded to the Board of Supervisors by the Social Services Advisory Board (SSAB). The Board of Supervisors directed that the recommendations be reviewed, that those found feasible be implemented, the SSAB monitor progress, and to report back within 90 days. (That was done.)

2009: Members of Supportive Parents Information Network (SPIN) trained for many months, learning how to interview people about their experiences in obtaining (or trying to obtain) Food Stamps for their families.  Over 180 interviews were completed, transcribed, and the data analyzed. The final report is on-line: Hunger Report. In the fall of 2009 the US Department of Agriculture, Western Region wrote a report citing many of the same problems documented by SPIN and the Caring Council.

2008: Researched the problem of low participation in "Food Stamps" by eligible persons in San Diego County, developed a plan and got funding do a study. The Caring Council and SPIN attempted unsuccessfully to work with Health and Human Services of San Diego County on the issue.