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Food assistance and nutrition programs are more critical than ever before
in helping low-income families transition out of poverty. HSR provides
Federal and state agencies administering food assistance and nutrition
education programs with a range of value-added services. The firm conducts
qualitative and quantitative program evaluations, needs assessment design,
and program planning. A wide range of methodological tools are employed
including survey development and fielding, focus groups, site visits and
quantitative analysis of program data.
In addition,
HSR provides technical assistance related to improving Federal and State-level
programs, including Food Stamps, WIC, Emergency Food Assistance, The Summer
Food Program and nutrition education.
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Sample projects include:
HSR
Completes Report on Food Stamp Program Changes Occurring After Welfare
Reform
In January 2001, HSR completed a report on local food stamp office practices
under welfare reform. The report, Changes in Client Service in the Food
Stamp Program After Welfare Reform: A Synthesis of Case Studies in Eight
States, is the final product of a study conducted for the U.S. Department
of Agriculture's Food and Nutrition Service. This study is designed to
learn about State Food Stamp Program (FSP) policy choices and local implementation
of these policies after the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity
Reconciliation Act of 1996.
The report presents examples of policies and practices that may have affected
client service in the FSP in terms of program accessibility, quality of
service and availability of employment and training (E&T) services.
The findings support the concern that State policies and local office
practices may be a factor contributing to the decline in FSP participation.
The study also revealed examples of State and local policies that are
designed to both promote the goals of welfare reform and maximize FSP
participation.
The examples are based on information gathered from on-site interviews
with program staff in 8 State agencies and 24 local offices located in
one rural area, one small city, and one urban area in each of the 8 States.
The States-Colorado, Kansas, Mississippi, Oregon, Tennessee, Utah, Washington,
and Wisconsin-were selected to provide descriptive information about State
choices regarding food stamp work sanctions, the availability of food
stamp E&T services, and basic changes in up-front operations at local
welfare offices.
Vendor
Management Practices for the Women, Infants and Children (WIC) Nutrition
Program
Under a contract with the Food and Nutrition Service (FNS), HSR conducted
a study to examine the incidence and prevalence of WIC vendors who violate
program rules. The purpose of the study was to collect and analyze data
about State WIC program vendor management practices and to determine the
extent to which WIC vendors nationwide violate program rules and the factors
associated with such violations. The data collected through the WIC Vendor
Management Study will help FNS and State WIC directors devote the appropriate
level of concern and resources to reducing abuse and managing the program
more effectively. The WIC Vendor Management Study involved the development
of a study design, survey instruments, and a data analysis plan. The effort
required the development of a quantitative database in which to store
detailed information and analysis of the information using statistical
software.
Some important
findings were:
- Vendors
who failed to provide a receipt to WIC clients were ten times more likely
to overcharge than those providing a receipt were.
- Small
vendors are three times as likely to overcharge than middle-sized or
large vendors are.
- Vendors
that failed to have the buyer sign the WIC voucher prior to entering
the price was four to six times more likely to overcharge than those
who had the buyer sign the voucher after the purchase amount was written
on the voucher
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