CalFresh outreach can present its own set of unique challenges, between trying to find eligible clients that qualify for benefits, to getting clients to come in for their appointments. At Catholic Charities of Yolo Solano (CCYS), it is no secret that we are one of the smaller agencies in the state. But the impact we provide spreads wide over 2 large counties, Yolo and Solano. This large impact is due to the different programs our agency offers, we here at CCYS offer a Client Choice Food Pantry, Immigration Legal Assistance (ILS), Natural Disaster Preparedness Education (LISTOS), Nutrition Education (CFHL), and of course CalFresh Application Assistance. Through these different programs it has allowed us to divide and conquer these large counties, so we may identify hard to reach communities experiencing hardships. Whether those hardships are food insecurity, proper nutrition education, immigration legal representation, or those affected by natural disasters. Our agency serves diversified communities, so we can be a beacon of hope for anyone in need of a helping hand. We as an agency have collaborated internally so now any client that comes through our doors is given the opportunity to utilize any one of the many services we offer.
By collaborating with the different programs, we have noticed a large uptick in CalFresh exposure, and in turn, have converted eligible clients into CalFresh applications. One of the biggest contributors to our success was partnering with our ILS team. Their clients are incentivized to apply for CalFresh, as it can help reduce a portion of their immigration fees. This beneficial integration between the two programs helps reduce numerous barriers for our clients, bringing them closer to achieving both food security and citizenship. We also see a lot of interest when attending outreach events with our natural disaster team, giving us access to more rural communities, as well as attending nutrition classes with our CFHL educators. We have leveraged our partnership with the CFHL program to conduct bilingual CFO presentations at each site, providing relevant eligibility information tailored to each specific demographic. Our success stems from partnering with various programs, enabling us to reach niche, eligible communities that otherwise would not have sought out our services.
We have noticed our CalFresh reach has increased our numbers on a month-to-month basis by simply collaborating with the different programs we offer. It also allows the client to reap the benefits of all our programs being under the same roof. For example, when they come to our client-choice food pantry, they can apply for CalFresh, and set up a consultation with our ILS team the same day. This approach not only attracts clients but also incentivizes them to keep their appointments, addressing both previously mentioned issues. Our priority is to provide a holistic approach to care, recognizing that many of our clients face multiple barriers to stability.
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