Public-Private Collaborations

Food Insecurity Nutrition Incentive (FINI) Grant Program:

Healthy Incentives Program (HIP)

NAAMO 2015 Conference, Salem MA

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Collaborative Efforts: Examples

1. Farmers’ Market Working Group

2. SNAP – EBT Equipment at Farmers’ Markets

3. Inter-Departmental Farmers’ Market Tours

4. Healthy Incentives Pilot (HIP)

5. SNAP CSA Recurring Payment Pilot

6. Food Insecurity Nutrition Incentive (FINI) Grant Program

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What is FINI?

Food Insecurity Nutrition Incentive Grant Program (FINI)

USDA-NIFA: National grant program – $31.5 million in FY14/FY15

Supports projects to increase the purchase of fruits and vegetables among SNAP clients by providing incentives at the point of sale

Three categories of projects requested:

Tier 1: FINI Pilot Projects-FPP

Tier 2: FINI Multi-year Community-based Projects-FP

Tier 3: FINI Multi-year Large-Scale Projects-FLSP

RFA based on best practice –Healthy Incentives Pilot (HIP)

DTA was awarded a Tier 3 FINI grant on April 1, 2015

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FINI Project: Healthy Incentives Program (HIP)

Expansion of the Healthy Incentives Pilot = Healthy Incentives Program

Massachusetts statewide coalition

Builds upon established HIP infrastructure and lessons learned

Provides an incentive benefit statewide at the following points of sale:

Seasonal and winter Farmers’ Markets

Farm Stands

Mobile Markets

Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) Programs

Dollar for dollar match for F&V purchases, $40/$60/$80 cap per month

Available to SNAP clients statewide

Incentive instantly applied to SNAP customers’ EBT card

Culturally appropriate foods

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HIP Goals & Outcomes

Project goals:

Reduce barriers to SNAP client and retailer participation

Increase availability of locally grown fruits and vegetables for SNAP clients

Assess the impact of the new incentive program on participants’ purchase of fruits and vegetables to inform future expansion

Intended project outcomes:

Increased purchase of fruits and vegetables by SNAP clients

Increased usage of SNAP benefits for purchasing locally grown fruits and vegetables at the four points of sale

Established sustainable statewide matching/incentive program

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HIP Points of Access

Overview of the Four HIP Points of Access:

1. Seasonal & Winter Farmers’ Markets: Expands HIP implementation using one of the four modes of EBT processing. Includes Boston Bounty Bucks digitization, and the new Boston Public Market.

2. Farm Stands: Utilizes a wireless option, mobile platforms, or Xerox land-line terminals for processing.

3. Mobile Markets: Utilizes a wireless option or mobile platforms for processing.

4. CSA: Initiated via completion of CSA Membership Agreement, serves as client receipt, payments on client’s monthly benefit availability date.

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HIP Coalition

Massachusetts’ Interdepartmental partnership (DTA, DAR, DPH) with support of broad, diverse coalition of statewide community partners.

Primary Regional Partners: Southeast, Eastern, Northeast, Central, Western Federation Mass Farmers Markets

“Buy Locals” (9)

Project Bread

Food Banks (4)

UMass Stockbridge School of Agriculture

DTA-SNAP Nutrition Education (SNAP Ed) Providers

WIC Program Community Coordinators & Local Offices

Mass in Motion (27 Grantees—60 Communities)

Local community partners, direct farms, farmers’ markets

Mass Convergence Partnership and Associated Grant Makers

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Regional Approach Mirrors current DTA SNAP Nutrition Education Geographic Service

Area (GSA) based on 22 DTA service areas:

Southeast Region: Brockton, Fall River, Hyannis, New Bedford, Plymouth, Taunton

Eastern Region: Dudley, Newmarket

Northeast Region: Chelsea, Lawrence, Lowell, Malden, North Shore

Central Region: Fitchburg, Framingham, Southbridge, Worcester

Western Region: Greenfield, Holyoke, Pittsfield, Springfield State, Springfield Liberty

Takes into account cultural and operational differences.

Utilizes existing network of community partners.

HIP Coalition Networks & Linkages

1. Outreach

2. Marketing

3. Education

4. Training

5. Support

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Evaluation & Reporting

Rigorous self-evaluation (process and outcome) – State contractor

Comprehensive program evaluation - Independent federal contractor

Required to participate

Contribute to minimum data set

Collaborate with independent evaluator to identify comparison sites

State reporting requirements, for subawardees and subgrantees

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HIP Timeframe

April, 2015: Award announced

July 2015 – September 2016: Planning, development and systems testing phase

April 2017 – March 2020: Operation phase of project (3 years)

April 2020 – June 2020: HIP operations close out & final reporting

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What was HIP? (reference slide)

Healthy Incentives Pilot (HIP)

Authorized in 2008 US Farm Bill

Rigorously evaluated demonstration grant

Only one of its kind in the country

Tested the effects of providing a financial incentive

Pilot site in Hampden County, Massachusetts

HIP was implemented from November 1, 2011 through December 31, 2012

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For More Information

Frank Martinez Nocito Assistant Director, SNAP Nutrition Education Department of Transitional Assistancefrank.martineznocito@state.ma.us (413) 858-1380

www.mass.gov/dta/hip

HIP reports available at: http://www.fns.usda.gov/snap/hip/