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State seeks federally funded CalFresh outreach staff to close participation gap
Summary
CDSS proposed a federal‑funded staffing expansion for CalFresh outreach to raise participation among underrepresented groups, refine county engagement and expand digital outreach; the LAO said administration caseload estimates appear reasonable.
The California Department of Social Services presented a budget change proposal to add four federally funded outreach staff dedicated to increasing CalFresh participation and supporting counties.
"The intent of the BCP is to advance the department's goal of improving CalFresh participation," Alexis Fernandez Garcia of CDSS said, describing work to expand digital outreach, provide one‑on‑one county engagement and increase oversight related to federal program administration rules.
CDSS told the Subcommittee that California's CalFresh participation rate has increased — the department cited a USDA federal participation estimate of 81% for federal fiscal year 2022, up from 67% in FFY 2020. Department officials said gains reflect prior outreach investments and partnerships, and they noted remaining participation gaps among adults, some Asian American communities and persons who speak Spanish, Chinese or Vietnamese.
Senators asked about outreach to college students and the department said it is pursuing data‑sharing agreements with higher education systems and targeted messaging and campus application assistance through partnerships with CSU and community college campuses.
The Legislative Analyst's Office said it independently forecasts caseload and that at the time of the hearing the administration's caseload estimates for food assistance appeared reasonable; LAO will reassess at the May revision. There was no formal vote on the outreach BCP during the hearing.
