Public-Private Partnership to Improve Access to Nutrition and Health Benefits

About the Program

Category: Human Services (Best in Category)

Year: 2012

San Diego County Health & Human Services Agency (HHSA) has developed a successful partnership with 2-1-1 San Diego (2-1-1) a local, private non-profit organization, to increase access to CalFresh and Medi-Cal benefits. 2-1-1 is a well known resource for San Diego County residents who are in need of assistance. When a resident contacts 2-1-1 with a food/nutrition or health need, 2-1-1 staff inquire if the individual would like to apply for benefits and explain that this could be done over the phone. If the client chooses to apply over the phone, 2-1-1 staff will help the client complete a telephone application for CalFresh and/or Medi-Cal including use of a telephonic signature. This partnership with 2-1-1, in conjunction with use of the telephonic signature, has resulted in the receipt of an additional 898 Medi-Cal applications and 3,686 CalFresh applications of which 3,148 requested CalFresh expedited services. Due to the success achieved we have expanded use of the telephone application to the Low Income Healthcare Program, a Medicaid Demonstration Project, and the telephonic signature is being reviewed for statewide expansion. This partnership supports the County of San Diego’s “Live Well, San Diego!” initiative through improved access to healthy foods and health care benefits resulting in an overall increase in CalFresh and Medi-Cal participation.