May 30, 2009
I am writing to thank The Baltimore Sun for taking a keen interest in the plight of Maryland's poor families as our nation is in the midst of a very difficult economic environment. The poor in our country are the first to feel a recession and the last to recover from it.
The Maryland Department of Human Resources is committed to assisting those in need. Over the last four years, our food stamp caseloads have nearly doubled. And while we have consistently ensured that 85 percent of these applications are processed within the required 30 days, we know that's not good enough.
That's why - under the leadership of Gov. Martin O'Malley - we've recently taken the initiative to request the federal government give us special permission to improve the way we review applications for assistance.
First, we can now receive completed applications online, which reduces the amount of time it takes to review and process them.
Second, people on food stamps have their cases re-examined annually to ensure they still qualify for the benefit.
We can now do these reexaminations individually over the telephone or in person with larger groups of people at the same time. This reduces the time in which a person has to wait for an answer as to whether he or she qualifies.
In addition, we are using better technology to process applications online, streamlining our training program to get staff up to speed more quickly and adding a new category of trainees to reduce staff workloads. Those who need food assistance immediately can get emergency food packages from local food pantries.
While the problem of an increasing need is not at all unique to Maryland, I believe our state is doing unique things to address these important and pressing issues.
-Brenda Donald, Baltimore
The writer is secretary of the Maryland Department of Human Resources
