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Government Agencies
Simplifying the Maze of Public Programs to Broaden Access to Services
Complex eligibility rules and a patchwork system of services make it difficult for low-income individuals and households to enroll in support programs such as Medicaid and SNAP (Food Stamps) that provide health coverage and extra income. As a result, many low-income households are not accessing programs that are available to them. For example, one-half to one-third of the people eligible for Food Stamps are not enrolled in the program. Other public benefit programs such as Earned Income Tax Credit and the State Children’s Health Insurance Program are also under-enrolled.
HelpEngen is a web-based service that enables community-based service providers to connect clients to appropriate assistance programs and manage all aspects of enrollment – from initial eligibility screening through renewal. HelpEngen works with local advocacy organizations and government agencies to simplify enrollment processes and extend government services into online applications for benefit programs.
Examples of how HelpEngen is being utilized by various state-level and local agencies in a community include:
- Helpline Services – using HelpEngen, callers are enrolled into various state level programs. Call databases exchange data with HelpEngen to facilitate applications and expedite the enrollment process.
- School-Based Enrollment – public school families are enrolled into Food Stamps and family health programs using HelpEngen. Most of the work is done by “liaisons” over the phone, but also by attending school registration and outreach events.
- City Service Centers – in addition to internal use of HelpEngen, the City of Chicago granted stimulus funds to three organizations to expand their enrollment services in Food Stamps, WIC, healthcare coverage, fuel assistance, family planning and pharmacy assistance programs.
- Volunteer Programs – using HelpEngen, screening and enrollment by trained volunteers occurs at food pantries and soup kitchens throughout the Chicago area. Benefits counseling sessions using HelpEngen are also occurring onsite at employers of low-wage workers.
- Community Health Programs – community health centers are using HelpEngen to manage enrollment in family health programs and the centers’ own sliding fee programs. HelpEngen calculates the correct sliding scale level and corresponding co-payments.
Through key local and national partnerships, HelpEngen is demonstrating how governments and community-based organizations, equipped with the right tools, can simplify the maze of public programs to reach the intended beneficiaries.
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