Training Sessions
Coalition Against Hunger
2901 W. Hunting Park Avenue
Philadelphia, PA 19129
Phone: 215-430-0555
Fax: 215-223-3073
E-mail: info@hungercoalition.org
Food Stamp Hotline: 215-430-0556
Attend our two-part training so that you can help those in need access their food stamp benefits.
Part I: Determining Eligibility and Benefit Amount
In the first session we teach you how to conduct outreach and compute food stamp eligibility. We offer several case studies and then help you use our Excel computation sheet or worksheet to do the math. It's really quite simple - if you can add and subtract, you'll master the process after just a few practice problems. You'll leave with a step-by-step handbook and a promise from us to be on call for additional guidance.
Duration: 2 hours (depending on class size)
Part II: Online Benefits Application Training
In the second session we teach you how to assist a client in applying for food stamps using both a paper application and for those who will have internet access at their sites, using Pennsylvania's online application system called COMPASS (Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Access to Social Services). Through COMPASS, any resident can apply for food stamps, cash assistance, medical assistance, and LIHEAP benefits.
Duration: 2 hours (depending on class size)
Training sessions are scheduled throughout the year. Contact Us for dates and locations. Upon request, we can bring our Food Stamp Advocate Training to your congregation, work place, or community organization. Note that shortened or modified trainings may be available to groups that request them.
More about COMPASS
There are two different versions of COMPASS: the "citizen" view and the "Community Partner" view. The citizen view contains over 100 screens, or pages, which can make for cumbersome navigation. Fortunately, DPW created the Community Partner view, which is a streamlined version of the citizen view and enables social service agencies and other groups to navigate through a condensed 12-screen system. To utilize this version through the Community Partner Dashboard, your group must sign a Community Partner Agreement with DPW, after which you will be given a username and password. When applying for benefits through a Community Partner, clients will be able to bypass mailing or dropping off their application and many clients will be able to request a phone interview instead of having a face-to-face interview in the welfare office.
If you would like to learn more about COMPASS, call us at 215-430-0555 or use our Contact Us link. We can help you sign up to be a Community Partner and train you to use the password-protected COMPASS site. In the meantime, check out www.compass.state.pa.us.