Davis County senior services awarded NACOA SNAP outreach grant; staff report slow start, ongoing outreach

Candace Woodbury, dietitian for Davis County Senior Services, told the advisory board that the division received a SNAP outreach grant from the National Council on Aging and began the program November 1, 2024.

"We were awarded the SNAP grant from NACOA, National Council on Aging... November 1 is when our grant started," Woodbury said, and added the award amount was $50,000. She described the grant’s purpose as helping people age 60 and older apply for SNAP to reduce food insecurity and improve nutrition and chronic disease management.

Woodbury presented county-level figures from a benefits locator used by the grant: she said the tool indicated 23,777 eligible nonparticipants statewide and 1,749 eligible nonparticipants in Davis County. "So our overall goal has been to find the 1,749 and educate them and assist them in the SNAP application process," she said. The grant runs through April 30, 2026, and the program goal set by the grantor is 650 enrollments; Woodbury said the project was "currently at 53."

Staff described outreach built on existing services. "All of our home delivered meal program clients are prescreened for SNAP and food insecurity," Woodbury said, describing flyers, partnership with property managers, referrals from home health and hospice, and a partnership with Workforce Services. She said Workforce Services’ liaison Frank Vega encouraged applicants to include all expenses on applications and that Workforce Services is applying for an "elder applicant variance" that would allow older adults to reapply every three years instead of annually.

Board members pressed on the scale of the task and on application barriers. Woodbury summarized hurdles: many seniors lack email or internet access, the online application is difficult for people who cannot navigate technology, and the paper packet is long. She described the field practice: staff conduct a prescreen during a Meals on Wheels assessment, then return with applicants’ verification documents, submit paper applications to Workforce Services, and follow up to confirm interviews. "It's easier for them to gather those documents then we will do the application together so that we know," she said.

Directors’ reports later in the meeting provided additional program counts. Director Rochelle reported the division has completed about 250 prescreens under the SNAP project and "59 people who have currently successfully enrolled and are already getting SNAP benefits." That figure was provided as a program update separate from Woodbury's earlier count.

Woodbury gave an individual success story: a homebound client with $595 monthly income who applied with staff help and received an electronic benefits card and a monthly allotment of $290 within about seven days. "She was so grateful... I had no idea regarding this opportunity to use this card," Woodbury said.

Board members noted remaining obstacles. One member said older adults sometimes qualify but receive modest monthly allotments—"they might only receive $34 up to $50"—and others noted that some people whose income exceeds eligibility cutoffs still experience severe expense-driven food insecurity.

The division is pursuing outreach partnerships, including Bountiful Food Pantry, Midtown Community Health Center, Utah Legal Services, and local food banks. Woodbury said staff will continue in-person application assistance and collaborative drop-offs for homebound clients.

The presentation closed with an acknowledgement of funding uncertainty. Woodbury said SNAP education funds have been cut and "there is a chance... we don't know if we'll have the ability... to apply for this grant again," while Workforce Services told staff the funding that serves older adults is secured through 2026.

The advisory board did not take formal action on the presentation; staff said they will continue outreach and follow up with the board on progress.

Ending: The SNAP outreach project is active through April 2026 and uses home-delivered meal visits and partnerships with Workforce Services and local nonprofits to help older adults apply. Staff told the board they will continue one-on-one application assistance and follow up on enrollments and barriers.