Enrollment and outreach pilot program for older adults, kinship families, and adults with disabilities

The Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2011 et seq.) (as amended by section 3(c)) is amended by adding at the end the following: 33. Enrollment and outreach pilot program for older adults, kinship families, and adults with disabilities (a) Definitions In this section: (1) Disability The term disability has the meaning given the term in section 3 of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12102). (2) Eligible entity The term eligible entity means— (A) a State or local government agency; (B) an Indian tribe or Tribal organization; (C) a nonprofit organization, including a public or nonprofit provider of services; (D) a community-based organization; and (E) an educational provider. (3) Kinship family The term kinship family means a family in which a child resides with, and is being raised by, a grandparent, another extended family member, or an adult with whom the child has a close family-like relationship, such as a godparent or a close family friend. (4) Older adult The term older adult has the meaning given the term older individual in section 102 of the Older Americans Act of 1965 (42 U.S.C. 3002). (5) Pilot program The term pilot program means the Enrollment and Outreach Pilot Program for Older Adults, Kinship Families, and Adults with Disabilities established under subsection (b). (b) Establishment Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this section, the Secretary shall establish a pilot program, to be known as the Enrollment and Outreach Pilot Program for Older Adults, Kinship Families, and Adults with Disabilities, under which the Secretary shall award grants to eligible entities— (1) to raise awareness among older adults, kinship families, and adults with disabilities of the availability, eligibility requirements, application procedures, and benefits of the supplemental nutrition assistance program; and (2) to support older adults, kinship families, and adults with disabilities in enrolling in the supplemental nutrition assistance program. (c) Priority In awarding grants under the pilot program, the Secretary shall give priority to— (1) eligible entities that— (A) provide services to older adults or adults with disabilities; (B) provide services to kinship families, including kinship navigator programs; (C) have experience implementing programs that receive funding under the Older Americans Act of 1965 (42 U.S.C. 3001 et seq.); (D) have experience implementing programs administered by the Food and Nutrition Service; or (E) receive, plan to receive, or demonstrate an ability to partner with a program that receives, funding under— (i) the Older Americans Act of 1965 (42 U.S.C. 3001 et seq.); (ii) the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12101 et seq.); or (iii) 1 or more nutrition programs administered by the Secretary; and (2) projects that will— (A) serve communities with high rates of food insecurity, malnutrition, or low food access; (B) serve rural communities, indigenous communities, or communities of color; (C) serve members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer community; (D) serve adults with limited English proficiency; (E) serve veterans; (F) serve residents in federally subsidized housing, including federally subsidized housing units for older adults and adults with disabilities; (G) serve residents living in housing serving kinship families; and (H) incorporate nutrition education activities that promote healthy eating and active lifestyles. (d) Eligible activities An eligible entity receiving a grant under the pilot program shall use the grant to carry out 1 or more of the following activities: (1) Application assistance, including— (A) eligibility prescreening; (B) assistance in completing an application for the supplemental nutrition assistance program; (C) assistance in obtaining application verification documents; (D) medical expense deduction counseling; and (E) translation of materials and bilingual accommodation. (2) Tailored dissemination of information relating to the supplemental nutrition assistance program, including through— (A) community-based outreach workshops and events; (B) a toll-free hotline to provide information about Federal, State, and local food resources; (C) informational websites and other social media sites; and (D) printed or digital informational content. (3) Transportation, including— (A) transportation to or from a local office of the supplemental nutrition assistance program; and (B) administration of vouchers or similar items for the transportation described in subparagraph (A). (4) Identification, implementation, analysis, and dissemination of replicable and scalable models for increasing enrollment in the supplemental nutrition assistance program among older adults, kinship families, and adults with disabilities. (e) Grants (1) Maximum amount A grant awarded under the pilot program to an eligible entity for a fiscal year shall be not less than $50,000, but not more than $250,000. (2) Duration An eligible entity may be awarded a grant under the pilot program for not more than 5 years. (f) Evaluation Not later than 2 years after the date of establishment of the pilot program, the Secretary shall conduct an evaluation of the pilot program. (g) Funding (1) In general In addition to amounts otherwise available, there is appropriated, out of any funds in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, $12,250,000, to remain available until expended, to carry out the pilot program, of which not more than $250,000 shall be used to carry out the evaluation under subsection (f). (2) Administrative costs Of the amounts made available under paragraph (1) (excluding the amount made available to carry out subsection (f)), not more than 3 percent may be used by the Secretary for administrative costs..