1. Bridge to Benefits: Helping Families Improve Economic Stability by Enrolling in Public Programs C HILDREN’S D EFENSE F UND M INNESOTA

2. Children’s Defense Fund Nonpartisan, nonprofit organization CDF does not seek nor accept any government funds MN is one of 13 state and regional offices The mission of the Children’s Defense Fund is to Leave No Child Behind and to ensure every child a Healthy Start, a Head Start, a Fair Start, a Safe Start, and a Moral Start in life and successful passage to adulthood with the help of caring families and communities.

3. CDF Minnesota Initiatives Research & Education: MN KIDS COUNT Data Book Outreach: Bridge to Benefits Legislative Advocacy: Health Care Child Care Minimum Wage

4. What is Bridge to Benefits? 1.Multi-state project by CDF-MN to improve the well-being of families and individuals by linking them to public work support programs and tax credits Health Care Programs (MinnesotaCare, Medical Assistance, GAMC) Food Support School Meal Program (free/reduced-priced school breakfast & lunch) Energy Assistance Program Child Care Assistance Program WIC Program Tax Credits (EITC and WFC) 2.Relies on an online eligibility screening tool www.bridgetobenefits.org

5. What is Bridge to Benefits? 3.Addresses underutilization of programs Energy Assistance: 70% of eligible households are not enrolled Health Care: 22% of eligible persons are not enrolled in MNCare or MA Child Care Assistance: 76% of eligible children are not enrolled Food Support: 41% of eligible persons are not enrolled School Meal Program: 28% of eligible children are not enrolled WIC: 20% of eligible families are not enrolled EITC & WFC: 18% of eligible households are not claiming 4.Includes work support programs and tax credits that were created to help low-income workers meet basic needs Target families making above 100% FPG 5. Helps overcome barriers to participation: lack of awareness, complex application process, literacy, language, transportation, stigma, etc.

6. Bridge to Benefits Goals Increase awareness and participation in public work support programs Improve economic stability and well- being of working families Promote healthy child development Help families navigate program rules and discover the easiest way to apply Assist service providers by forming a “network of support,” making sure families are receiving all the help available Strengthen communities by bringing in more federal and state dollars

7. Potential Impact At the current participation rate, the EITC lifts 4 million people (including 2.4 million children) out of poverty nationally each year Millions more federal dollars would flow into the Minnesota economy (current annual amounts) Energy Assistance = $145 million EITC = $463 million Child Care Assistance = $96 million Food Support = $318 million School Meal = $109 million MinnesotaCare = $127 million

8. The Impact on One Family Consider this family of five: 2 working parents 1 child in 1st grade 1 preschooler 1 infant Their income is $31,000 a year (125% FPG in 2008) $7.45 per hour or 90¢ more per hour than 2008 minimum wage

9. SupportsBeforeAfter School Meal ProgramApproximate monthly cost of school breakfast and lunch for one child is $80 Free Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP) Approximate monthly cost of unsubsidized child care in the metro area is $1,950 With CCAP, parents pay a monthly co-pay of $72 Earned Income Tax Credit & Child Tax Credit (federal) Federal tax owed is $463EITC and CTC refunds total $4,774 Working Family CreditState tax owed is $243WFC refund was $1,082 Health Care: Medical Assistance for 3 children; MinnesotaCare for parents Private insurance: Average monthly out-of-pocket costs for insurance in Minnesota is $612 (includes premiums and co-pays for care) Monthly premium for MinnesotaCare is $49 and children’s coverage is free. Food SupportUSDA estimate of monthly food costs is $793 Monthly food support benefit is $292 Impact On The Family’s Budget NOTE: Values are approximated and may vary by family circumstances.

10. SupportsBeforeAfter School Meal ProgramApproximate monthly cost of school lunch for one child is $34 Free Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP) Approximate monthly cost of unsubsidized child care in the metro area is $1,849 With CCAP, parents pay a monthly co-pay of $72 Earned Income Tax Credit & Child Tax Credit (federal) Federal tax owed was $234EITC and CTC refunds total $4,774 Working Family CreditState tax owed was $125WFC refund was $1,082 Health Care: Medical Assistance for 3 children; MinnesotaCare for parents Private insurance: Monthly premium plus 1/12 of yearly deductible is $456 (Plus co-pays for care) Monthly premium for MinnesotaCare is $49 and children’s coverage is free Food SupportUSDA estimate of monthly food costs is $564 Monthly food support benefit is $292 NOTE: Values are approximated and may vary by family circumstances. Impact On The Family’s Budget

11. The Family Budget This family makes $2,583 each month Without any public programs/tax credits, they are more than $900 short each month trying to cover the costs of child care, health care and their food budget Does not include housing, clothing or transportation costs, much less savings After enrolling in public programs/claiming tax credits, their remaining monthly balance is $2,429 An additional $370/month can have positive impacts on children’s cognitive, social and behavioral development

12. Bridge to Benefits Outreach Plan 1.Create a screening tool (www.bridgetobenefits.org) to help families determine potential eligibility for work support programs and tax credits.www.bridgetobenefits.org 2.Recruit “Screening Organizations” that work with low-income families to use the screening tool on a regular basis to help clients. 3.Recruit “Application Assistance Organizations” that assist families with applying to public programs and accept email referrals from Screening Organizations.

13. 2009 Outreach Data January 1 - December 31, 2009 9,029 screens 26,081 family members affected 94% of families screened were potentially eligible for at least one program Families that were eligible and interested in programs: Health Care programs: 74% Energy Assistance Program: 67% Food Support: 46% Child Care Assistance: 32% School Meal Program: 26%

14. Online Screening Tool A simple and quick tool designed to help families and individuals understand if they are eligible for seven public work support programs and two income tax credits. Screens a variety of family types. Energy Assistance Health Care coverage GAMC Medical Assistance MinnesotaCare Child Care Assistance Food Support School Meals Earned Income Tax Credit Working Family Credit http://www.bridgetobenefits.org

15. So, How Does It Work?

16. C HILDREN’S D EFENSE F UND M INNESOTA 555 Park Street, Suite 410 St. Paul, MN 55103 651-227-6121 www.cdf-mn.org www.bridgetobenefits.org Elaine Cunningham, Outreach Director cunningham@cdf-mn.org / 651-855-1176 Ryan Johnson, Outreach Specialist johnson@cdf-mn.org / 651-855-1175