Program Description

Program/Practice Description: Nebraska’s Comprehensive Application for Assistance is the most comprehensive State application in the country. Creating an application for multiple programs involved the work of various State staff representing many assistance programs to develop common questions, devise methods to share information, and develop compatible information technology systems. Several States have developed comprehensive forms to apply for a number of benefits simultaneously, including Food Stamps, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, Medicaid, Social Security, energy assistance, child care, child support enforcement, and children's health insurance. But as the most comprehensive, Nebraska’s application covers eight programs. Furthermore, information on the Web site appears in both English and Spanish.

Innovations and Results: As a result of this new application, clients are able to access needed services more quickly and easily. An internal team of Department of Health and Human Services staff examined other States’ applications to create the best application possible. Moreover, the team received a grant to develop content aesthetically pleasing to both clients and workers.

Operations: To create the integrated application, a team of program specialists at the central Department of Health and Human Services office collaborated with local department staff in both urban and rural locations across the state. One key to their success was soliciting client feedback. After distributing surveys to learn how clients reacted to drafts of the new application, the staff were able to incorporate their ideas and suggestions into the form. Administering the surveys and connecting State and local staff was a lengthy but worthwhile process because their overall goal was to create a single form that would provide accuracy and serve as a tool for caseworkers to identify client needs.