Latest news with #FamiliesFirst
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Federal discussion of reduced SNAP funding draws state and local concern
May 12—ROCHESTER — Amenah Alasadi anticipates the need for more flexibility in helping Rochester-area families if a proposed change to the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program occurs. As a Families First of Minnesota home visitor, she helps families find resources to help balance budgets when their paychecks fall short. "The incomes they have do not cover all the expenses for these families," she said during a roundtable discussion on Monday morning, pointing to a need for SNAP support, which was previously known as food stamps. She pointed to other potential services, but also cited gaps in the help people need to keep food on the table amid increased costs for a variety of necessities. "Channel One is helping a lot of families, but sometimes they don't have everything," she said of the regional food bank and its shelves in Rochester. Channel One Executive Director Virginia Witherspoon said food shelves strive to provide a variety of healthy food options but cannot cover all potential needs, which is where SNAP benefits provide more flexibility. "Channel One doesn't distribute SNAP and doesn't receive SNAP, but we know that it is — much bigger than us — the largest and most effective program," Witherspoon said Monday morning, during the roundtable discussion held at Families First's Rochester offices to address potential SNAP changes. Overseen by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the program provided assistance to 42.2 million people in 2023, according to the department's most recent data. In Olmsted County, 709 families received benefits in March this year, with census data pointing to 6% to 8% of local households relying on the support at some point in recent years. Federal lawmakers have been working on Farm Bill revisions that could shift some of the cost to states. Early versions of proposed legislation sought to shift up to 25% of the cost to states within 10 years, but potential revisions are expected to emerge this week. Tikki Brown, the commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Children, Youth and Families, said the proposed shift could mean $220 million annually for the state program, which she said is unachievable. "We are unable to make up that type of cost in our state budget," she said, noting it would likely require a reduction of dollar amounts issued or the number of people receiving support. With the average benefit set at $5 a day, Witherspoon said local food shelves would likely become overwhelmed if the benefits declined. She pointed to the 2023 benefit decrease in the wake of the COVID pandemic. "We know that SNAP cuts lead directly to increased demand at food shelves," she said. With statewide food shelf visits reported at 9 million last year, Witherspoon said the demand has tripled in recent years as access to food from government commodities and corporate donations has continued to decrease. "We are looking at a perfect storm of everything going poorly at once," she said. Brown said the federal benefit is intended to fill gaps, rather than cover all food costs for a family, which makes food shelf options critical on top of the federal program. "Nearly 70% of families with children who receive benefits have at least one working adult in their household," she said. "This tells us that even with a paycheck, many families need help making their ends meet." It was a message echoed by Gary Wertish, president of the Minnesota Farmers Union, who said many myths and untruths surround the federal program that has been a safety net for families. A former Renville-area farmer who now assists his son operate their family farm, he said he's seen the need in his community and throughout the state when families struggle. "People are proud, but they will use it when they need it," he said of his community members. Steve Barthel of the Minnesota Grocers Association said the impact goes beyond families needing food by providing an economic impact for grocery stores and their employees. "SNAP supports almost 400,000 jobs across the country," he said, pointing to roughly $20 million in direct wages. In Minnesota, he said cuts to the SNAP program could lead to an estimated loss of 1,500 grocery-store jobs due to decreased revenue in an industry facing tight profit margins. "There are other economic impacts that come from what truly is an economic stimulus program, in addition to all the good it does in fighting food insecurity across the state," he said. The Rev. Krista Strum of Rochester's Hosanna Lutheran Church said the potential ripple effects are likely to add stress to already-struggling community programs. "Our churches are seeing people daily coming in and asking for assistance," she said, pointing to church programs throughout the community that seek to fill existing gaps. "We are very concerned about the funding shift," she said. "(It's a concern) for those who are already depending on it, but also for those who are on the margins and struggling to put food on the table. That's increasing."
Yahoo
10-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
‘Families First Fest Western Mass' held in Springfield
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) – Families First Fest Western Mass took place Saturday afternoon at Brightwood Elementary School. Local officers graduate from Municipal Police Training Committee Academy The event featured a variety of activities for children of all ages, including face painting, arts and crafts, a photo booth, and a magic show. Many local organizations were also in attendance, holding raffles and providing resources to parents. Families First is an organization that works with parents to positively impact the lives of children within the community. 'We're trying to build community and parents together as a cohesive unit in the region,' said Israel Rivera, Regional Director of Families First in Western Massachusetts. 'It's one thing in the community to offer programs for kids and the youth, it's another thing to offer programs for parents.' This is the second year Families First Fest has been held, and the first year it was held at Brightwood. The organization hopes to continue raising awareness and expanding this event in the future. WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
09-04-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Crestline students shine with creative projects, heading to state competition
Thirteen students in Crestline High School's Family, Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA) organization are gearing up for state competition in Columbus on April 24. The students qualified in all five events following regional competition in March where students earned gold, silver and bronze medals, according to an announcement. Sophomore Addy Giesige and Freshman Izzy Sefcek received gold medals for their Level 2 Interior Design project, which featured an Airbnb inspired by "The Lion King." Sophomores Bridget Belcik and Jaelyn Tesso earned silver medals for their Professional Presentation project on grief. They presented to elementary classes and the FCS Advisory Committee, sharing their insights on the topic. In another silver medal-winning project, sophomores Kylie Kelly, Jayden Lozier and Haylee Seymour aimed to make reading enjoyable for first graders. They collaborated with teacher Angie Mohn to engage students through reading activities, crafts and snacks, hoping to boost reading scores. Sophomores Alyssa Cottrell, Nevaeh Hill and Sia Tsappa received bronze medals for their National Programs in Action - Families First project. They organized crock pot cooking sessions for sixth graders and their parents, teaching the importance of family meals and cooking together. Eighth graders Calvin Iacobucci, Marcus Wilson and Bentley Woogerd also earned bronze medals for their distracted driving awareness project. They secured a $1,250 stipend and invited the Ohio Highway Patrol to present on the dangers of distracted driving, along with a coloring contest for elementary students. All projects will be refined before the state competition. The top two projects in each category will advance to the national competition in Orlando, FL, from July 5-10. This story was created by Jane Imbody, jimbody@ with the assistance of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Journalists were involved in every step of the information gathering, review, editing and publishing process. Learn more at or share your thoughts at with our News Automation and AI team. This article originally appeared on Bucyrus Telegraph-Forum: Crestline students advance to FCCLA State competition
Yahoo
14-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
$120 payment proposed for families with children in underserved TN counties
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WATE) — Families in two East Tennessee counties could receive a $120 payment under a new proposed $3 million investment in the Summer Food Service Program. The Tennessee Department of Human Services announced that Governor Bill Lee's administration has proposed an investment of $3 million in the program to reach families in underserved or unserved counties. If approved by the Tennessee General Assembly, the Tennessee Department of Human Services will provide a $120 one-time payment to eligible children in SNAP and TANF households in underserved or unserved counties. The funds would be added to existing EBT cards. Knox County News New program brings Knox County Trustee's Office to elderly, disabled residents To be eligible for this addition to the summer food program families need to be a part of the Families First initiative or Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program with at least one child between the ages of 5 and 18 and residing in a Tennessee county identified as unserved or underserved by the Summer Food Service Program. Underserved counties Benton Carroll Carter Cocke Fayette Grainger Johnson Lauderdale Rhea Unserved counties Houston Humphreys Marshall Moore Sequatchie Sumner The investment will be included in Lee's FY25-26 budget amendment. Additional information will be shared regarding distribution dates and other program details in the coming months. North Carolina DOT gives insight into repairs ahead of reopening of I-40 This announcement comes after Tennessee chose not to opt into the Summer EBT Program for 2025. Instead, state leaders said they would focus on the food assistance programs Tennessee already had in place, including the Summer Food Service Program, which has served approximately 3.4 million meals to children. 'With this innovative step, we will go even further to provide food security to Tennessee children,' said TDHS Commissioner Clarence H. Carter. 'This approach will deliver a fiscallyresponsible strategy to reach families in underserved communities in the summer months.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
05-02-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Tennessee governor's bill removes vaccinations, education requirements from welfare program
Gov. Bill Lee's administration is pushing a bill that would remove the requirement for children to get vaccines in order to receive Temporary Assistance for Needy Families. (Photo: Karen Pulfer Focht/Tennessee Lookout) Gov. Bill Lee's administration is pushing legislation that would remove school attendance and vaccine mandates for families receiving state financial assistance payments. Required immunizations, which met opposition in 2021 during the COVID-19 pandemic, are believed to be the impetus for the bill. After the COVID vaccine became available in December 2020, former President Joe Biden — who took office in January 2021— issued an executive order requiring federal employees and contractors to be fully immunized by December 2021. In Tennessee, Lee encouraged people to take the shots, even when protesters railed against his COVID-19 policies. The bill comes as Congress is on the verge of approving Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a vaccine skeptic, as secretary of the U.S. Health and Human Services agency. House Bill 107, sponsored by House Majority Leader William Lamberth of Portland, deletes old 'personal responsibility' rules for Temporary Assistance for Needy Families dealing with education and vaccinations children must receive to attend school and contains measures for child support, work requirements and transportation. Trump taps vaccine skeptic RFK Jr. to lead Department of Health and Human Services Known in Tennessee as Families First, the federal program provides block grants to states to help boost needy families with children toward self-sufficiency. Tennessee receives about $190 million annually for the program. State lawmakers put new rules into the program more than a decade ago. But this measure eliminates requirements that aid recipients ensure children attend school, receive immunizations and health checks and for parents to attend conferences with teachers, take eight hours of parenting classes and participate in child support services. Lamberth referred questions about the bill Tuesday to a House Republican Caucus spokesperson. The Lookout received no response by deadline. Department of Human Services spokesperson Danielle Cotton said Tuesday the proposed 'personal responsibility plans' are designed to match federal requirements. Under current law, failure to comply with these education and vaccination guidelines could lead to a reduction in a family's TANF payments by 20%. The maximum amount a family of three can receive from the program is $387 a month, 18% of the federal poverty level. Democratic state Rep. Sam McKenzie said Tuesday he believes the current rules are designed to hold parents accountable by making sure they send children to school and ensure they get the required shots. 'These are valuable things that ensure that these federal dollars are going to parents that are engaged in their child's life,' McKenzie said. 'And to see that list of cuts, to me it's a poor piece of legislation, and it's going to lead to poor parenting.' The new bill contains no accountability requirements for parents and no fine for failing to meet the 'personal responsibility' guidelines, McKenzie said. He predicted an 'erosion' in what he considers an effective program. Lawmakers have been trying to increase the program's financial distributions since the revelation a few years ago that the state had a $730 million surplus in the TANF fund, money that comes to Tennessee from the federal government. That amount peaked at $798.3 million in 2021 but was still at $717 million a year ago. A spokesperson with Lee's office didn't respond to questions from the Lookout Tuesday. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
