Governor Fallin and DHS director announce expansion of SNAP education and training program

OKLAHOMA CITY – At a news conference today at the State Capitol, Oklahoma Governor Mary Fallin and Oklahoma Department of Human Services (DHS) Director Ed Lake announced the expansion of education and training (E&T) for SNAP clients through the OK SNAP WORKS program. The program is administered by DHS.

SNAP – the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program – is 100 percent federally-funded through the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and provides food benefits to eligible low-income families. OK SNAP WORKS offers SNAP recipients the opportunity to gain education, training and job skills to help them become more employable and decrease dependence on public assistance. OK SNAP WORKS has been offered to SNAP clients in Oklahoma County since 2017 and the program expanded to Tulsa County earlier this year.

"I appreciate DHS and its partners working together on this program," said Fallin. "It's another step forward for our citizens to gain skills and get off public assistance. Lots of employers are looking for skilled workers and we have to help our businesses find persons with relevant training. I hope this program moves to all 77 counties. It's a win-win for recipients and employers."

DHS currently contracts with five vendors to provide E&T services to SNAP clients:

• Public Strategies, Inc., Oklahoma County
• Center for Employment Opportunities, Oklahoma and Tulsa counties
• Women in Recovery, Tulsa
• Goodwill Tulsa
• Madison Strategies Group, Tulsa

DHS Director Ed Lake said many SNAP recipients often work several low-wage jobs just to survive. "I don't think most people are aware that most of our SNAP recipients are working," said Lake, "but far too many are in multiple, part-time, low-wage jobs that trap people in poverty. Thankfully, the economy continues to improve and the unemployment rate is dropping. This is an opportune time to expand employment-related services for our SNAP recipients."

USDA Southwest Region Director Dwight Crudup also attended today's news conference and said the USDA's main focus is to provide customer service and promote self-sufficiency among SNAP recipients. "We want to help SNAP recipients get more meaningful jobs," said Crudup. "We are happy Oklahoma is going forward with this project and expanding this program."

Also at today's news conference, former SNAP E&T participant Laree Postoak shared her personal story about growing up in poverty and working hard to overcome significant challenges. "I was raised by a single parent on welfare," said Postoak. "I don't know how we survived." Postoak said she had "no structure" in her life and eventually ended up in jail. "When I got out, I got a minimum-wage job. It wasn't enough to live on. This program was my way out. I'm very thankful for this program; I'm grateful for what it's done for me." Postoak is now employed by Urban Farmhouse Designs.

Currently, 5,899 Able-Bodied Adults Without Dependents (ABAWDs) receive SNAP benefits. OK SNAP WORKS is a voluntary program; there are no work requirements for SNAP. In SFY 2018, about one in four Oklahomans (825,583 individuals) received SNAP benefits. Nearly half – 46 percent - were children. About 34 percent of SNAP households have an elderly or disabled family member in the home. The average monthly income in SNAP households is $1,242 and 27 percent of SNAP households have at least one working adult in the home. The average SNAP benefit is $4.02 per day per person, or $1.34 per meal. In addition to feeding families, SNAP benefits provide a statewide economic impact of nearly $888 million which also helps support small, local grocery stores in rural areas across the state. 

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