2023 YEAR IN REVIEW
A Roadmap to End Hunger in Illinois
In 2020, the Pritzker administration appointed new members to the Illinois Commission to End Hunger and charged the Commission with updating recommendations for ending hunger in Illinois. Informed by statewide listening sessions and stakeholder engagement, the Commission released A Roadmap to End Hunger in Illinois in 2021, which outlined three pillars of action for ending hunger in Illinois, each with specific and actionable recommendations: harness innovation, strengthen collaboration, and leverage technology. The Commission then mobilized working groups to advance the recommendations of each pillar.
Over the last two years, the Commission has made significant progress in advancing Roadmap recommendations. This report summarizes the recommendations for each pillar and their current status. Significant progress has been made to harness innovation and strengthen collaboration, with most of the recommendations under those pillars either in progress or completed. Several of the technology recommendations have been explored but have advanced slowly due to complexity. This report provides an overview of progress made toward Roadmap goals since the report was released in 2021.
LEVERAGING TECHNOLOGY
RECOMMENDATION, STATUS, NOTES
Leverage email and texting platforms to facilitate communicaations with nutrition program clients about applications, appointments, and renewals.
- Completed for SNAP
- In Progress for WIC
- Completed for SNAP in 2022; work underway to bring this to WIC
Recognizing that low-income households are less likely to have a home computer and home internet, make the online SNAP application and case management websites user friendly from a mobile device
- In Progress
- IDHS included provisions to make ABE/MMC mobile friendly in RFP, but RFP has been delayed
Establish a statewide online school meals application for free and reduced-price school meals to provide an alternative way for families to enroll in breakfast and lunch
- In Progress
- ISBE secured federal funding; work expected to commence 2024
Explore possible technology solutions to help families locate afterschool program sites
- Completed
- Focus groups with families indicted that an app locator for afterschool meals/snacks would likely be low ROI because decisions about afterschool program participation are made based on the activity, not the food.
Create an online scheduling system for WIC to make it easier for people to schedule an appointment
STRENGTHENING COLLABORATION
RECOMMENDATION, STATUS, NOTES
Develop client-focused marketing materials for use by public and private stakeholders statewide to help inform clients about what nutrition programs are available to them
- In Progress
- Materials will be completed early 2024
Provide website landing page for marketing campaign materials to provide more detailed program information and connect clients with where to go to apply
- In Progress
- Website will launch early 2024
Develop public-private dissemination campaign alongside community-based organizations for marketing materials to provide resources that help stakeholders connect clients with nutrition programs
- In Progress
- Dissemination will commence 2024
Improve program promotion across programs, for example promoting WIC at Head Start centers
- In Progress
- WIC and Head Start developing an agreement around cross-program promotion
Create a one-stop, no wrong door entry point with comprehensive nutrition program eligibility and enrollment information
Identify best practices for data sharing and data matching to support cross program promotion and enrollment
HARNESSING INNOVATION
RECOMMENDATION, STATUS, NOTES
Co-locate food access points to make it easier for families to access, for example locating WIC services at a Head Start
- In Progress
- Launching WIC mobile enrollment project fall 2023
Increase the number of meal program sites, especially to increase access to summer meals
- In Progress
- Implementation of Summer EBT will be completed 2024
Increase access to SNAP online shopping
- Completed
- Conducted outreach to Illinois retailers in 2021 and have brought on 6 new retailers with a combined additional 83 stores across Illinois
Secure federal policy waiver to allow state SNAP outreach plan partners to record client signatures by phone to facilitate phone applications
- In Progress
- Expect to be completed summer 2024: IDHS will leverage Provider Portal to enable state outreach plan partners to record signatures
Secure pre-release waiver to promptly enroll incarcerated individuals in SNAP upon re-entry
- Completed
- IDHS piloted pre-release waiver and has successfully expanded it to all DOC facilities across the state
Implement SNAP Restaurant Meals Program pilot
- In Progress
- Pilot has launched; IDHS plans to review and expand in 2024
Secure Elderly and Disabled Simplified Redetermination Project to make it easier for older adults and people with disabilities to maintain SNAP benefits
- Completed
- IDHS secured the waiver and implemented in 2022
Support increased breakfast participation by providing start-up funding and technical assistance to help schools implement innovative breakfast models
- In Progress
- Introduced legislation in 2023 but action is needed in 2024
Launch state food purchasing program to source Illinois agricultural product for distribution to food insecure families
- Completed
- Legislation and funding secured
Support nontraditional food retail, for example farmers' markets, urban agriculture, and community gardens
- In Progress
- Secured funding for the Healthy Local Food Incentives Fund and Healthy Food Access Program
