Double Up Food Bucks: A Win for Families, Farmers & Communities

Record Description
Piloted in Michigan and expanded to other communities nationally, Double Up Food Bucks is an innovative program for reducing food insecurity and has generated benefits for families relying on SNAP, farmers, and the communities in which they live. The program doubles the value of SNAP benefits spent on locally grown fruits and vegetables at participating farmers markets and grocery stores; this enables families to purchase healthy produce in greater quantities and at the same time supports local farmers.
Record Type
Combined Date
2019-02-28T19:00:00
Source
Region
City/County
URL
http://www.doubleupfoodbucks.org/
Publication Date
2019-03-01
Section/Feed Type
Latest Information from Network (Home)

Why Leave Benefits on the Table? Evidence from SNAP

Record Description
This working paper from the Upjohn Institute identifies how over half of registering households in multiple states leave SNAP within one year of entry, rather than complete administrative requirements to receive benefits. The paper’s author studied Michigan and combined administrative SNAP and Unemployment Insurance records; findings are relevant for case managers in states other than Michigan.
Record Type
Combined Date
2018-05-20T20:00:00
Source
Region
City/County
URL
https://research.upjohn.org/up_workingpapers/288/
Publication Date
2018-05-21
Section/Feed Type
Latest Information from Network (Home)

Informal Child Care in Detroit

Record Description
This issue brief from Mathematica Policy Research provides a review of the informal child care network in Detroit. Interviews were conducted with program staff and other key informants regarding parents’ use of informal child care. Site visits and interviews with parents and caregivers were also conducted to learn more about informal care networks. Reasons parents choose informal child care and the quality of the available informal child care are explored.
Record Type
Combined Date
2017-10-29T20:00:00
Source
Region
City/County
URL
https://www.mathematica-mpr.com/our-publications-and-findings/publications/info…
Publication Date
2017-10-30

Enhancing Promise Programs to Improve College Access and Success

Record Description
This issue brief from MDRC describes the Detroit Promise Path, a Detroit Regional Chamber initiative that allows Detroit high school graduates to attend college tuition-free. The Detroit Regional Chamber partnered with MDRC to add supportive services to improve the academic outcomes of students who earn free tuition. Those services include access to campus coaches, financial incentives to meet with those coaches, enhanced engagement to jobs and classes during the summer, and use of a monitoring information system that monitors program participation. Early findings from the first year showed that 95% of students responded to coaches’ outreach, 96% of students found the program valuable, and the program had a sizable impact on enrollment in the second semester.
Record Type
Posting Date
Combined Date
2017-07-18T20:00:00
Source
Region
City/County
URL
http://www.mdrc.org/publication/enhancing-promise-programs-improve-college-acce…
Publication Date
2017-07-19

An Evaluation of Financial Empowerment Centers: Building People’s Financial Stability as a Public Service

Record Description
The Cities for Financial Empowerment Fund released the results of an evaluation of a three-year investment in free, one-on-one financial counseling to residents in five cities. This project was based on a model that originated in New York City, in which individuals in financial trouble receive personalized help from a professionally trained counselor through their local government. Bloomberg Philanthropies partnered with Denver, Lansing, Nashville, Philadelphia, and San Antonio to see how they could replicate this model. In each city, the local government implemented the model and contracted with a nonprofit partner to provide counseling services. Over 22,000 individuals received financial counseling, and they were able to achieve positive financial outcomes like opening bank accounts, reducing debt, improving credit, and establishing emergency savings. Each city also found sources of public funding to sustain the program beyond the Bloomberg Philanthropies grant.
Record Type
Posting Date
Combined Date
2017-07-12T20:00:00
Source
Region
City/County
URL
http://cfefund.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/FEC-Evaluation.pdf
Publication Date
2017-07-13
Section/Feed Type
Latest Information from Network (Home)

Labor Market Information Shops as Assets for Workforce Development: Lessons and Examples from Three States

Record Description
The National Association of State Workforce Agencies released this report about State labor market information (LMI) shops. State LMI shops have varying roles and responsibilities in different State governments, and may be part of the State workforce agency or a separate agency, but all LMI shops can foster effective workforce development through the products they disseminate and the services they provide. The report uses Michigan, Utah, and Washington as examples to demonstrate the integral contributions of these States’ LMI shops to the workforce system.
Record Type
Combined Date
2017-01-02T19:00:00
Source
Region
City/County
URL
https://lmi.workforcegps.org/announcements/2017/02/07/14/48/NASWA_LMI_Committee…
Publication Date
2017-01-03

Rescheduled OFA Webinar: TANF and LIHEAP Coordination

Record Description

The Office of Family Assistance will host a webinar on Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program and Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) coordination. In this facilitated webinar, presenters will provide an overview of the structure of the LIHEAP block grant and the flexibility afforded to states in its administration and opportunities for coordination with TANF. Presenters from the states of Michigan and Pennsylvania will also discuss examples of different approaches to LIHEAP coordination with TANF and other supplemental funding streams, to maximize the reach of energy assistance to families in need.

This webinar has been rescheduled. An email alert will be sent when a new date is confirmed.

Record Type
Posting Date
Combined Date
2017-02-27T19:00:00
Source
Region
City/County
Publication Date
2017-02-28

SNAP to Skills Newsletter: E&T in Action: Highlights from Our States

Record Description
The December issue of the SNAP to Skills Newsletter focuses on Michigan’s SNAP Employment & Training (SNAP E&T) program. Its own program, called Food Assistance Employment & Training, or FAE&T, is administered jointly by its Department of Health and Human Services and the Workforce Development Agency. In the future, Michigan plans to bring on additional partners, deepen the collaboration between agencies, and develop a Partner Handbook.
Record Type
Posting Date
Combined Date
2016-11-30T19:00:00
Source
Region
City/County
URL
https://snaptoskills.fns.usda.gov/sites/default/files/2017-01/SNAPtoSkillsETRev…
Publication Date
2016-12-01

Housing as Health Care: A Road Map for States

Record Description
Throughout the past three years, the National Governors Association (NGA) Center for Best Practices has provided technical assistance to Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Kentucky, Michigan, New Mexico, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming to develop statewide plans to improve outcomes and reduce cost of care for high-need, high-cost Medicaid enrollees. This road map from NGA can be used by states across the country that are interested in housing as an element of improved health and a reduction of costly health services.
Record Type
Posting Date
Combined Date
2016-09-15T20:00:00
Source
Region
City/County
URL
https://www.nga.org/center/publications/housing-as-health-care-a-road-map-for-s…
Publication Date
2016-09-16
Innovative Programs

Vehicles for Change

Mission/Goal of Program

Vehicles for Change Inc. (VFC) empowers families with financial challenges to achieve economic and personal independence through car ownership and technical training. In 1999, Vehicles for Change opened outside of Baltimore, Maryland. After building its program in the Maryland-Virginia-Washington D.C. region, VFC began work to replicate those programs nationally, aiming to bring independent transportation and training in the automotive field to as many people as possible. VFC opened its second location in Detroit, Michigan in 2015.

Programs/Services Offered

The car ownership program currently awards cars to families in Maryland, Washington D.C., Virginia and Detroit, Michigan. Families are referred to VFC by their partner agencies, which include TANF agencies, domestic violence shelters, or other workforce training programs. Families are provided with a 12-month loan to purchase vehicles on their own for around $85/ month, and can bring the vehicle to VFC centers for repair, as needed. VFC covers the repair at their cost, at a significant discount.

The program did expand to include: 

  • VFC Training Center

In September 2013, VFC launched the Center for Automotive Careers in Baltimore. Later renamed the Full Circle Auto Repair and Training Center, the center has 2 training programs, a program that trains automotive detailers and a prison reentry program that trains automotive technicians. Trainees are paid a stipend of $340/week. 

  • The VFC Advantage

As part of the Full Circle Auto Repair & Training Center, VFC opened the center to serve the public in June 2015. The garage provides basic auto repair, brakes, tune ups, tires, and oil changes and is open to the local residents, former VFC customers and recipients.

Start Date
Monday, February 1, 1999
Type of Agency/Organization
Community-Based Organization
City
Baltimore
State
District of Columbia
Maryland
Michigan
Geographic Reach
Multisite
Clientele/Population Served
Low-income families, many of whom are receiving TANF benefits; ex-offenders
Topics/Subtopics
Transportation
Access and Availability
Car Purchase Programs
Transportation Subsidies /Vouchers
URL
https://www.vehiclesforchange.org/

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