OKDHS Receives Third Consecutive Soaring Eagle Award

OKLAHOMA CAPITOL -- Oklahoma Gov. Brad Henry joined officials with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food and Nutrition Services to congratulate the Oklahoma Department of Human Services for the outstanding administration of the state’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and accepted a $2.2 million federal bonus for SNAP program improvements.

For the third consecutive year, OKDHS received the prestigious Soaring Eagle Award from the Regional Director of the USDA FNS Southwest Region. OKDHS Director Howard H. Hendrick accepted the award on the agency’s behalf.

Kevin Concannon, under secretary for USDA Food, Nutrition and Consumer Services, also presented OKDHS with a $2.2 million bonus award for SNAP improvements the agency has implemented that better determine eligibility for SNAP recipients.

“This is a great honor for the state of Oklahoma and for DHS,” Gov. Henry said. “Thank you on behalf of all citizens for the job you do. We are so very proud of you.”

Henry also thanked Hendrick for serving in what the governor called “one of the most challenging jobs in state government” and for serving in an exemplary fashion.

Hendrick thanked OKDHS employees for making the SNAP program efficient and innovative while serving those in the greatest need.

“This award belongs to our employees,” Hendrick said. “The need is very real and you are responsive and the help goes to where it’s needed most.”

Hendrick noted that OKDHS is able to provide SNAP benefits within 18 days, well below the federal standard of 30 days.

Concannon noted that during these perilous economic times, SNAP is one of the most important safety net programs for children and families.

“In August in Oklahoma, there were more than 524,000 adults and children receiving SNAP benefits,” he said. “Of those, half were children.”

The program also provides a much-needed economic boost to local supermarkets, trucking companies, growers and other producers, Concannon added.

The SNAP enables low-income families to buy nutritious food with an Access Oklahoma electronic benefits card. Families receiving SNAP benefits buy eligible food in authorized stores. The USDA funds the SNAP; no state funds are required. The USDA determines the amount of SNAP benefits an individual or family may receive through the Thrifty Food Plan, which estimates how much it costs to buy food and prepare nutritious, low-cost meals for a household. This estimate changes every year to keep up with changing food prices.

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (federal stimulus funds), increased SNAP benefits 13.6 percent, effective April 1. The stimulus funds provide an additional $6 million in the Oklahoma economy monthly and go a long way toward providing additional help to needy families.

SNAP eligibility depends on the amount of income available to the household. Able-bodied adults without dependents between the ages of 18 and 50 must be exempt or comply with specific work requirements. OKDHS social services specialists in county human services centers process SNAP applications according to specific USDA requirements.

The Soaring Eagle is just one of the honors the agency received. Earlier this year, OKDHS also received the Excellence in Initial Budget Projection award and the Quality Control Star award from the USDA FSN Southwest Region. OKDHS earned the awards for achieving the highest combined points for SNAP access, customer service, most improved in payment accuracy and negative actions and program integrity. The USDA Southwest Region includes Texas, Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma and New Mexico.

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