Bridge to Benefits: Enrolling in Public Programs for Economic Stability

1. Bridge to Benefits:Helping Families Improve Economic Stability by Enrolling in Public Programs Elaine Cunningham, Outreach Director Children’s Defense Fund-Minnesota January 1, 2020

2. Children’s Defense Fund • Nonpartisan, nonprofit organization • The mission of the Children’s Defense Fund is to Leave No Child Behind and to ensure every child a Healthy Start, a Head Start, a Fair Start, a Safe Start, and a Moral Start in life and successful passage to adulthood with the help of caring families and communities • Four initiative areas to accomplish mission: Legislative advocacy, research and education, youth development and outreach

3. Definitions • FPGs: Federal poverty guidelines which are used to define poverty and on which most program eligibility is based. • Poverty: Families living in households under 100% of FPGs. Family of four = $24,250/year. • Low Income: Families living in households under 200% of FPGs. Family of four = $48,500/year • Extreme Poverty: Families living in households under 50% of FPGs.

4. What is Bridge to Benefits Multi-state project by CDF-MN to improve the well-being of families and children by linking them to public work support programs and tax credits • Health Care Programs (Medical Assistance, MinnesotaCare and Advanced Premium Tax Credits) • Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) • School Meal Program • Energy Assistance Program • Child Care Assistance Program • WIC Program • Tax Credits (EITC and WFC) Relies on a website that includes an online eligibility screening tool at www.bridgetobenefits.org

5. How Does It Work – A Live Demonstration

6. The Family Budget • This family makes $2,875 each month • Without any public programs/tax credits, they are more than $2,173 short each month trying to cover the costs of child care, health care, housing, transportation, food and other necessities for a safe standard of living. • Does not include debt payments, other utilities beside electricity, school-related expenses besides meals, etc. • After enrolling in public programs they are back in the black with $164 leftover. • Brookings Institute study showed $1000 in increased annual earnings improved math and reading scores in young children.

7. Why Bridge to Benefits Public programs can improve child outcomes. Research shows: • Food insecure children have more trouble concentrating and behaving in school • Children without health insurance are more likely to receive delayed care when sick or injured • Children who don’t have a stable preschool experience are less prepared for and less successful in school

8. Why Bridge to Benefits Public programs can improve economic stability, which improves child outcomes Research shows children growing up in households with lower incomes are more likely as adults to have: • Lower earnings • Fewer work hours • Poorer health • Less schooling • Greater liklihood of being arrested (men only)

9. Outcomes by Poverty Status in Early Childhood, Duncan 2011

10. Surrounding Environment & Child Outcomes: Income Affects Outcomes Federal Poverty Threshold = $23,624 annual income for family of four with two children 50% FPT = $11,812 200% FPT = $47,248 Bare bones basic needs budget = $52,000 Source: American Community Survey

11. Why Bridge to Benefits •Addresses underutilization of programs •Includes work support programs and tax credits that were created to help low-income workers meet basic needs •Helps overcome barriers to participation: lack of awareness, complex application process, literacy, language, transportation, stigma, etc. •Improves economic well being of families and communities to improve outcomes for kids

12. How Does Bridge to Benefits Work • Created a screening tool to help families determine potential eligibility for work support programs and tax credits. • Recruited “Screening Organizations”that work with low-income families to use the screening tool on a regular basis to help clients. • Recruited “Application Assistance Organizations”that assist families with applying to public programs and accept email referrals from Screening Organizations.

13. Why Become a Partner • Data collection • E-mail referrals from the website • Applications, handouts and program checklist • Up-to-date program information • Free staff trainings

14. How to Partner with Bridge to Benefits Level 1: Integrate screening into one or more regular clinic activity(s) Level 2: Provide a place, computer, printer and instructions (with someone available to troubleshoot) so patients can screen themselves Level 3: Refer to a current appropriate Bridge to Benefits partner Level 4: Pass out brochures or make other information available

15. How Clinics Can Implement Bridge to Benefits • In the Business Office: For those who are uninsured, screenings can be completed and referrals made to a health care navigator when families are arranging payment schedules in the business office. • Over the Phone: When new patients make appointments, screenings can be done as part of intake process. Patients can be given results when they arrive for appointment. • Social Workers: Can use screening tool when patients indicate a need for resources • Special Projects or Events: Screenings integrated into Clinic hosted events around nutrition or dental month or during health care open enrollment and other special events. • Clinic Screening Process: Integrate B2B screenings with own interview process when asking about developmental issues, safety, nutrition, etc.

16. 2015 Outreach DataJanuary 1 – December 31, 2015 • 300+ screening partners around the state • 37,685 screens completed • 106,263 family members affected • 56% of families screened were potentially eligible for at least one program • Families that were eligible and interested in programs: • Medical Assistance: 32% • MinnesotaCare: 5% - Energy Assistance Program: 40% - SNAP (food support): 37% - Child Care Assistance: 14% • School Meal Program: 10%

17. QUESTIONS? Contact Information: Elaine Cunningham, Children’s Defense Fund Minnesota 651-855-1176 ecunningham@childrensdefense.org