OUTREACH FOR ENTITLEMENT PROGRAMS - LESSONS FROM FOOD STAMP OUTREACH IN WASHINGTON-STATE

Outreach programs attempt to overcome obstacles that deter persons fro m participating in social programs for which they are eligible. This a rticle identifies two broad approaches to how an outreach program migh t define its goals arid operate. One is more suitable for local, small -scale social programs with service capacity defined by a limited numb er of staff, while the other is better for open-ended entitlement prog rams. The two approaches require different kinds of programmatic activ ities and organization to be effective. Failure to recognize the diffe rences may lead to organizational confusion and conflict and to an ine ffective program. We draw on this analysis to assess the effectiveness and weaknesses of a pilot food stamp outreach program operated in Was hington State in 1990 and 1991 and to suggest several lessons to guide design of future outreach efforts for entitlement programs.