SNAP Policy Support and Technical Assistance
Strengthen SNAP in Your State With Westat’s Expertise
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) policy and administration can be challenging. Westat’s team of SNAP experts provides tailored policy support and technical assistance to help states implement effective, compliant, and client-centered SNAP programs.
Whether you need help implementing new rules, training staff, or improving program efficiency and accuracy, our experts bring decades of experience to help achieve your goals quickly.
Contact a Westat expert today to discuss how we can support your program.
Services
- Policy support: We help states implement federal laws and regulations, use new waivers and demonstration projects, write state plans, create policy manuals, develop policy option analyses, and conduct compliance reviews.
- Training and capacity building: We create customized training for caseworkers, managers, and policy staff on key SNAP topics, including error reduction and service delivery best practices.
- Notices and communications: Plain language and human-centered redesign of client notices, applications, and forms are our specialty. We help states improve responses, accessibility, and compliance.
- Oversight and quality improvement: Our nationally recognized quality control (QC) experts assist states in identifying SNAP QC errors, conducting root cause assessments, and developing corrective action plans.
- Process improvement: We work collaboratively with state staff to identify inefficiencies and apply tailored, sustainable strategies to improve SNAP certification and service delivery processes.
- Standard utility allowances (SUAs): In addition to the simple and free SNAP SUA calculator Westat developed, we work with states to develop SUA methodologies, provide documentation for the Food and Nutrition Service (FNS), and create customized training for staff.
Key Projects
Helping States Develop SNAP Notices for Clients
Through the SNAP Model Notice Toolkit projects, we developed a toolkit to help states improve client notices. We ensured compliance with federal requirements while making notices clearer and more actionable. The toolkit applies plain language principles to enhance notice readability, reduce confusion, and improve the client experience.
Facilitating Training on SNAP Payment Accuracy
Our experts developed and facilitated a 3-day SNAP Payment Accuracy Conference for SNAP leadership and caseworkers in the District of Columbia. The conference focused on reducing top payment error rates. We designed the training with a focus on strategies to improve accuracy and customer service and incorporated trauma-informed care principles to support positive interactions with SNAP participants.
Understanding SNAP State Options
Westat SNAP experts created the 15th and 16th SNAP State Options Report (PDF) for FNS. This report provides a comprehensive overview of state-level policy choices and supports data-driven decision-making for SNAP state agencies. The report has 3 parts: the Statutory and Regulatory Citations reference page provides statutory and regulatory citations for each policy option. The SNAP Option Profiles section describes each policy option, the choices within that option, and a map of the state agencies that have selected the option. The SNAP State Agency Profiles section provides a state-by-state summary of the options each state agency has chosen.
Providing Technical Assistance for SNAP Demonstration Projects
Westat SNAP and evaluation experts developed new templates to make it easier for states to report demonstration project data to FNS as a part of the SNAP State Waivers Project. We provided direct technical assistance to states to develop sampling plans, conduct case reviews, and report data.
Improving State Agency SNAP Policy Manuals
As a part of the Technical Assistance in SNAP Policy Analysis and Support project in the District of Columbia, our team rewrote the Economic Security Administration (ESA) Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Policy Manual (PDF) to ensure clarity, compliance, and ease of use for caseworkers and administrators.
STRENGTHENING SNAP Certification Forms
As part of the SNAP Misdirected Documents project, we supported 3 states in identifying key certification form improvements. We used a human-centered design rapid improvement approach to reduce the number of forms sent to the wrong office.
Developing SNAP Explainers for State Foundations and Community Organizations
We developed plain-language resources, including Missouri SNAP Basics and Fact Sheet (PDF), to help community organizations and SNAP applicants understand program operations and eligibility criteria. We completed this work under the SNAP Basics and SNAP Briefs projects.
QUALITY ASSURANCE OF QUALITY CONTROL
We supported FNS by conducting quality assurance activities for the SNAP Quality Control (QC) system. Our expert SNAP QC team members re-reviewed QC cases from across the country to ensure consistency and to identify areas for improvement and training.
Why Work With Us?
We bring a deep understanding of state and federal SNAP policy and operations and tailor solutions to meet each state’s unique needs—with a focus on strengthening internal capacity for long-term success.
Our team includes former SNAP state administrators, FNS policy experts, and specialists in training, human-centered design, and process improvement, all working alongside states to transfer knowledge, build skills, and embed sustainable practices.
We are committed to delivering practical, results-driven support that enhances program efficiency, accuracy, and accessibility—helping agencies not just meet today’s challenges, but continue thriving well into the future needs of each state.
Contact Us
Learn how we can help your state improve SNAP administration. Email the SNAPteam@westat.com