OKLAHOMA CITY--The Oklahoma Department of Human Services is receiving nearly $1 million in federal grant funds to help improve access to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture awarded $991,373 to OKDHS for the OK Lean and Green program, which is intended to improve efficiencies in office processes and enhance customer service delivery statewide. OKDHS plans to reduce paper and eliminate paper records through a statewide imaging program. OK Lean and Green will help OKDHS workers verify employment information through an online service and in turn, should help Oklahomans receive SNAP benefits more quickly and efficiently.

SNAP, formerly known as Food Stamps, helps ensure that people have access to healthy and nutritious food by providing low-income households with electronic benefits they can use to purchase food at authorized retailers.

Oklahoma is one of only eight states receiving a portion of the $5 million awarded from the USDA.

In state fiscal year 2010, one in five Oklahomans participated in the program. OKDHS distributed $865 million in SNAP assistance payments to Oklahomans, which marks a 46 percent increase in one year and a record high for the state.

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