Modernize access. Strengthen families. Grow community impact.

Since 2012, the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NC DHHS) and the Food Bank of Central & Eastern North Carolina (FBCENC) have partnered through Three Squares for CENC to connect food-insecure households with SNAP/FNS benefits. Yet many eligible families remain disconnected due to misinformation, distrust, transportation barriers, and procedural hurdles. In North Carolina, 40% of closed cases stem from missed interviews, meaning families lose benefits because of process failures—not ineligibility.

To address this, FBCENC proposes a telephonic signature and phone-based application system, modeled on Medicaid practices and integrated with NC DHHS’s E-Pass and NC FAST platforms, making enrollment more accessible, secure, and efficient. The plan has two goals: enhance access through a cloud-based call center and IVR system with compliant telephonic consent, and strengthen effectiveness by upgrading CRM systems and targeting outreach in high-need counties.

Each application would include a recorded verbal signature, legally equivalent to written consent, with copies mailed within 24 hours and recordings securely stored for DHHS review. The benefits are clear: fewer denials from missed interviews, expanded access for families facing logistical barriers, and stronger economic impact—every $1 in SNAP generating $1.79 locally. By pairing modernized systems with culturally competent outreach, this initiative advances equity, strengthens trust, and supports NC DHHS’s goals for streamlined service delivery.