A policy can be defined as a course of action developed and pursued by government. Every policy has rules and guidelines that must be followed in order for the particular policy to be successful. However, these rules and guidelines can also create holes or barriers in the policy that can hinder benefits that the policy could help provide. This is the case for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). SNAP is a program created to help low income individuals and families afford nutritional foods for them. Although SNAP is a very helpful program that provides benefits for millions of people, it provides assistance for food only and no other basic items that people need. This problem is the reason for this policy change proposal that will be called the Basic Needs Program, or BNP. Every day, millions of people use a SNAP cash card to purchase food for their family and themselves. Participants in the SNAP program are low income individuals and families. To be eligible, these people must meet certain requirements. A few of these requirements are income, employment, and disabilities (fns.usda.gov, 2014). The SNAP participants will be the target population for the benefits of this policy change proposal. Policy Proposal Outline For many people on SNAP, it could be an embarrassment. Many do not want other people to know that they cannot financially support their families. Although the SNAP program is very helpful to these people, most participants want to be able to end their dependency on the program. Their desire to be able to gain financial dependency and be able to afford sufficient food for their family is one of the main strengths of them. They have a desire to provide for their family and want to use SNAP only as long as necessary until a better income is available to them. This policy change proposal will help participants by providing extra money on their SNAP card that will allow them to purchase basic need items. These items could include toothpaste, toothbrush, shampoo, soap, deodorant, toilet paper, feminine hygiene products, or laundry detergent. When the mentioned basic items are available for a person to achieve proper cleanliness, it will increase their self-esteem and confidence. This increase in their confidence could help with job interviews and job performance, which could lead to a job or promotion. Children who were previously bullied because of oily hair, dirty clothes, or body odor will now have better school days. Students will not have to worry about what others might say about them and be able to focus on their school work and increase their grades. People will have the confidence to live life to their full potential and
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Brown, personal communication, October 15, 2015). For this policy change proposal, a SNAP recipient, Dawn Brown, will be interviewed to ask her opinion and view on the change. She will be able to provide personal views on issues and how she currently gets these items. There will also be multiple sources researched and investigated to find the most useful information needed for a convincing case. It is important that proper research and investigations are completed in order for SNAP recipients to receive the best benefits possible for …show more content…
Senator Murray’s father got sick when she was a teenage which required her mother and her to rely on food stamps until her mother was able to finish school a obtain a better paying job. Having been on food stamps as a teenager, Senator Murray will be able to provide insight on the bulling that adolescents endure when being unable to have basic hygiene items.
A third key player is New Jersey Senator Barbara Buono who had to rely on food stamps as a single mother. Her time on food stamps can be used to help provide information on the hardships that parents face when they feel that they cannot provide the basic items and diapers needed for their children. Senator Buono will be crucial for the policy change because a large majority of people on food stamps are single parents.
These key players will be extremely helpful to the policy change, not only because of their personal history of using food stamps, but also their influence with the American people and the government employees that are needed for the policy changes to take
Brown, personal communication, October 15, 2015). For this policy change proposal, a SNAP recipient, Dawn Brown, will be interviewed to ask her opinion and view on the change. She will be able to provide personal views on issues and how she currently gets these items. There will also be multiple sources researched and investigated to find the most useful information needed for a convincing case. It is important that proper research and investigations are completed in order for SNAP recipients to receive the best benefits possible for …show more content…
Senator Murray’s father got sick when she was a teenage which required her mother and her to rely on food stamps until her mother was able to finish school a obtain a better paying job. Having been on food stamps as a teenager, Senator Murray will be able to provide insight on the bulling that adolescents endure when being unable to have basic hygiene items.
A third key player is New Jersey Senator Barbara Buono who had to rely on food stamps as a single mother. Her time on food stamps can be used to help provide information on the hardships that parents face when they feel that they cannot provide the basic items and diapers needed for their children. Senator Buono will be crucial for the policy change because a large majority of people on food stamps are single parents.
These key players will be extremely helpful to the policy change, not only because of their personal history of using food stamps, but also their influence with the American people and the government employees that are needed for the policy changes to take