The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program - 2412 Words

Purpose of Program In regards to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), the purpose of the organization could be described as insuring that eligible, low-income individuals and families have access to nutritional and economic benefits. According to the United Stated Department of Agriculture, SNAP is the largest program in the domestic hunger safety net (USDA, 2016). The Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) assists state agencies, nutrition educators, neighborhood, and faith-based organizations to ensure that those deemed eligible for nutritional assistance are able to make informed decisions in regards to applying for the program and are able to access benefits. The FNS also works with state partners and the retail community†¦show more content†¦During the Reagan administration, the Food Stamps Program would suffer severe budget cuts in the year 1981 but was later restored funding in 1988 and 1990 as a means to combat the hunger crisis in America. This led to the accessibility of the EBT card. In the 2008 Farm Bill, the Food Stamp Program would be renamed the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program or â€Å"SNAP† for short. During the year 2011, the program would become recognized as the largest federal food assistance program in the country, serving 14% of the population (more than 45 million American citizens). On the 7th day of February, 2014, President Barack Obama would sign into law the 2014 Farm Bill, which is also referred to as the Agricultural Act of 2014. In April, 2015 the USDA awarded $31.5 million in funding to local, state, and national organizations to support programs that help participants in SNAP increase their purchase of fruits and vegetables. Philosophical Base of Program When attempting to determine whether SNAP is residual or institutional, one must first be able to differentiate between the two. Residual Social Work is defined as either â€Å"reactive† or â€Å"gap-filling†. This sort of approach deals with needs as they come and attends to those that can’t be addressed by any other societal means. On the other hand, Institutional Social Work takes an