Social Action Linking Together, or SALT, has over 1,300 members supporting SALT’s goal to help shape social policy that advances the common good and supports human services in Virginia.
We urge your support for:
1. Lifting the Life-time Ban on Food Stamps.
SALT advocates are very grateful to Delegate Jim Dillard (R) for patroning HB 1761, “A Bill to amend the Code of Virginia by adding a section numbered 63.2-607.1, relating to food stamp, drug-related felonies for possession.” Delegate Dillard brings the initiative on prisoner reentry to center stage in Virginia, an initiative supported by the Second Chance Act.
Voting for a modified opt-out for “distribution” as well as “possession” puts Virginia with a majority of other states. The ban is an impediment to successful reintegration of former offenders back into society.
Click here to view: "Food Stamp Fact Sheet for Lifting the Ban"
Click here to view: "We are denied Food Stamps"
2. Reducing Solitary Confinement in Virginia
We are seeking to eliminate the practice of Solitary Confinement in prisons. Prolonged solitary confinement is torture. There is a strong consensus among mental health professionals, supported by scientific evidence, that isolation exceeding 15 consecutive days can permanently alter brain chemistry and cause lasting damage to mental health. It often creates illness in those who were healthy before their incarceration and exacerbates illness in those who were already ill. Most people in prison will return to society one day; they should not emerge from prison worse than when they went in because of the harmful impact of solitary confinement.
Click here to view: "Reducing Solitary Confinement in Virginia Fact Sheet"
3. School Lunch Shaming
This bill establishes requirements for the treatment of a child who is a student at a school participating in the National School Lunch Program or the School Breakfast Program and is unable to pay for a meal at the school. A school food authority (SFA) may not permit public identification or stigmatization of the child, such as by requiring a wristband or hand stamp. The child also may not be required to: (a) perform chores or activities that are not required of students generally, or (b) dispose of food after it has been served to the child. Any communication related to outstanding credit must be directed to the child's parent or guardian. A child may be required to deliver a letter regarding outstanding credit that is addressed to a parent or guardian if the letter is not distributed to the child in a manner that stigmatizes the child.
Click here to view: "School Lunch Shaming Fact Sheet"
Click here to view: "School Lunch Shaming House Bill No. 50 by Delegate Hope"
4. Video Visitation in Prisons
Although video visitation is an important option for people with physical illnesses, disabilities, and limited time and finances, in-person prison visits help incarcerated people to maintain vital relationships with their family members and loved ones on the outside.Studies show that inmates who get personal visits with family are less likely to return to prison after release. Nationwide, an estimated 2.7 million children have an incarcerated parent, but 5 million children will experience parental incarceration at some point during their childhood.
Click here to view: "Video Visitation in Prisons Fact Sheet"
Click here to view: "Video Visitation Virginia House Bill—2018 Session"
5. Another Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) Increase
A TANF increase is clearly a fairness issue. Virginia enacted only two TANF benefit increases since 1985---one 2.5% in January 2016 patroned by Sen. Favola and a second increase of 2.5% in July 2016, for a 5% total. A family of three currently receives a benefit of about one-fifth of the federal poverty level. See attached for updated Standards of Assistance.
Virginia should bring TANF benefits up to a minimum poverty line—including sufficient food, clothing and shelter for those in poverty---before TANF money can be used for any other programs. In order to achieve this objective, Virginia should increase the benefit levels for TANF, bringing Virginia, over the next two year, from its present rank of 42nd to the middle ranking among states. To move Virginia to the middle ranking among states, a 10% increase each year over the next 2 years would be required. Please consider and let us know what you are willing do.
Click here to view "The Case For a Tanf Benefit Increase Fact Sheet"
6. Medicaid Expansion
SALT supports the extension of Medicaid healthcare coverage for 400,000 low income, uninsured Virginians, and the $2 billion/year of federal funding to pay 100% of the cost for the first 3 years. In the 4th year and beyond, Virginia pays 10 percent of the cost and the Federal government continues paying 90 percent of the cost of this program. We need a Special Session of the Virginia General Assembly to Expand Medicaid and Close the Coverage Gap/
Click here to sign this petition by SALT to Governor McAuliffe and Virginia Legislators
7. Oppose Medicaid Block Grant - the Problem with All Social Services Block Grants
History shows that when social programs are merged into (or created as) broad block grants, funding typically contracts — often sharply — in subsequent years and decades, with the reductions growing over time. In the study by the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities (CBPP), a study evaluating the current and historic funding for all 13 of the major housing, health, and social services block-grant programs created in recent decades, it was found that funding for 11 of the 13 programs has shrunk since their inception.
Click here to view: "Block Grant Fact Sheet – Medicaid"
8. Virginia needs to strengthen its support for the idea that “work pays.”
Virginia is one of the few states that has an interrupted eligibility period after two years of receiving TANF. Virginia should provide for exceptions to the two-year time limit for TANF recipients who have “played by the rules” but are unable to find or retain employment through no fault of their own. Also, to advance the goal of independence, exceptions are needed for those who require more time to complete apprenticeships, unsubsidized job training programs, subsidized on- the-job training or vocational education for job entry qualifications.
Additionally, Virginia should consider eliminating the eligibility interruption. The current modus operandi is counter-productive; the elimination would expedite a family’s ability to get off the system and stay off. It’s time to make this change.
9. Virginia TANF Scholarship Pilot Project Plan
Virginia Scholarship Plan - Transfer portion of unspent TANF monies to a TANF College Savings Pilot Plan for children who are drug free and make above average grades with parents who are drug free, become employed, and are no longer collecting TANF benefits. Children must meet Department of Social Services (DSS) criteria for this tuition assistance intended to help break the generational cycle of poverty.
Click here to view "TANF Scholarship Pilot Project Plan -- Fact Sheet"
10. Kinship Guardianship Assistance Program
Enables extended family members to receive payments, if they can provide a permanent home for a relative who is in the foster care system.Research shows that foster children who are able to grow up with family have a much higher chance of flourishing.
Click here to view “Kinship Care Fact Sheet”
Click here to view “U.S. Census Reports Related to Grand Parent Caregivers”