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<p class="paragraph" style="margin:0in;vertical-align:baseline"><span class="normaltextrun"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;color:#2D2A30;position:relative;top:-.5pt;mso-text-raise:.5pt">Good Afternoon Partners,
</span></span><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="paragraph" style="margin:0in;vertical-align:baseline"><span class="normaltextrun"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;color:#2D2A30;position:relative;top:-.5pt;mso-text-raise:.5pt">We are pleased to share that Oregon has received the first of two approvals
needed to launch the new Summer EBT food benefit program for school-age children this year. Summer EBT will provide families with a total of $120 in food benefits, per child, during summer break. It will help address the summer hunger gap when many children
lose access to the free and reduced-price meals they had at school. </span></span><span class="eop"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"></span></span><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="paragraph" style="margin:0in;vertical-align:baseline;user-select: text;-webkit-user-drag: none;-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent;touch-action: pan-x pan-y;overflow-wrap: break-word">
<span class="eop"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"></span></span><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="paragraph" style="margin:0in;vertical-align:baseline;user-select: text;-webkit-user-drag: none;-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent;touch-action: pan-x pan-y;overflow-wrap: break-word">
<span class="normaltextrun"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;color:#2D2A30;position:relative;top:-.5pt;mso-text-raise:.5pt">The Oregon State Legislature approved the joint request from the Oregon Department of Education (ODE) and Oregon Department of Human Services (ODHS)
yesterday to offer Summer EBT. Oregon now needs a second approval from the USDA Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) to fully green-light the program launch, tentatively set for June. </span></span><span class="eop"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"></span></span><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="paragraph" style="margin:0in;vertical-align:baseline;user-select: text;-webkit-user-drag: none;-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent;touch-action: pan-x pan-y;overflow-wrap: break-word">
<span class="eop"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"></span></span><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="paragraph" style="margin:0in;vertical-align:baseline;user-select: text;-webkit-user-drag: none;-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent;touch-action: pan-x pan-y;overflow-wrap: break-word">
<span class="normaltextrun"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;color:#2D2A30;position:relative;top:-.5pt;mso-text-raise:.5pt">While Oregon awaits its final approval, ODE and ODHS continue to work quickly to create the systems and </span></span><span class="contextualspellingandgrammarerror"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;color:#2D2A30;position:relative;top:-.5pt;mso-text-raise:.5pt">processes,
and</span></span><span class="normaltextrun"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;color:#2D2A30;position:relative;top:-.5pt;mso-text-raise:.5pt"> bring on the staff needed to operate the program and deliver food benefits to eligible children. Many details about how
the program will operate and how we will communicate with families are being worked out.
</span></span><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="paragraph" style="margin:0in;vertical-align:baseline"><span class="normaltextrun"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;color:#2D2A30;position:relative;top:-.5pt;mso-text-raise:.5pt"> </span></span><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="paragraph" style="margin:0in;vertical-align:baseline"><span class="normaltextrun"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;color:#2D2A30;position:relative;top:-.5pt;mso-text-raise:.5pt">To learn more about Oregon’s plan to implement Summer EBT, we encourage
you to register for an upcoming webinar for community partners: </span></span><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="paragraph" style="margin:0in;vertical-align:baseline;user-select: text;-webkit-user-drag: none;-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent;touch-action: pan-x pan-y;overflow-wrap: break-word">
<span class="eop"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"></span></span><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="paragraph" style="margin:0in;vertical-align:baseline;user-select: text;-webkit-user-drag: none;-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent;touch-action: pan-x pan-y;overflow-wrap: break-word">
<span class="eop"><b><span style="font-size:14.0pt">S</span></b></span><span class="normaltextrun"><b><span style="font-size:14.0pt">ummer EBT food benefits for children</span></b></span><span class="eop"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"> </span></span><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="paragraph" style="margin:0in;vertical-align:baseline;user-select: text;-webkit-user-drag: none;-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent;overflow-wrap: break-word;white-space:pre-wrap;font-kerning: none">
<span class="normaltextrun"><b><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Informational webinar for community partners </span></b></span><span class="eop"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"> </span></span><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="paragraph" style="margin:0in;vertical-align:baseline;user-select: text;-webkit-user-drag: none;-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent;overflow-wrap: break-word;white-space:pre-wrap;font-kerning: none">
<span class="normaltextrun"><b><span style="font-size:14.0pt">hosted by the Oregon Department of Education and Oregon Department of Human Services</span></b></span><span class="normaltextrun"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"> </span></span><span class="eop"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"> </span></span><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="paragraph" style="margin:0in;vertical-align:baseline;user-select: text;-webkit-user-drag: none;-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent;overflow-wrap: break-word;white-space:pre-wrap;font-kerning: none">
<span class="normaltextrun"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"> </span></span><span class="eop"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"> </span></span><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="paragraph" style="margin:0in;vertical-align:baseline"><span class="normaltextrun"><b><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Date:</span></b></span><span class="normaltextrun"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"> Thursday, March 14, 2024</span></span><span class="eop"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"> </span></span><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="paragraph" style="margin:0in;vertical-align:baseline;user-select: text;-webkit-user-drag: none;-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent;overflow-wrap: break-word;white-space:pre-wrap;font-kerning: none">
<span class="normaltextrun"><b><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Time:</span></b></span><span class="normaltextrun"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"> 3 to 4 p.m., Pacific Time </span></span><span class="eop"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"> </span></span><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="user-select: text;-webkit-user-drag: none;-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent;overflow-wrap: break-word;white-space:pre-wrap;font-kerning: none">
<span class="normaltextrun"><b><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><a href="https://www.zoomgov.com/webinar/register/WN_noG0_GHwSVKix1qWSPkRHA#/registration">Click here</a> to register</span></b></span><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="paragraph" style="margin:0in;vertical-align:baseline"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif"> </span><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="paragraph" style="margin:0in;vertical-align:baseline;user-select: text;-webkit-user-drag: none;-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent;touch-action: pan-x pan-y;overflow-wrap: break-word">
<span class="eop"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"></span></span><span style="font-size:14.0pt">We want everyone to feel welcome and safe in this virtual meeting. We will provide free support for you to fully participate, including: <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="vertical-align:baseline"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">American Sign Language and Live Captioning. If you need other supports or languages, please call (503) 945-5600 or email
<a href="mailto:Communications.DHS@odhsoha.oregon.gov" target="_blank">Communications.DHS@odhsoha.oregon.gov</a>. Please submit your request by Monday, March 11, 2024. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="vertical-align:baseline"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="vertical-align:baseline"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">To learn more about the new Summer EBT program, go to
<a href="http://www.fns.usda.gov/sebt" target="_blank">www.fns.usda.gov/sebt</a>. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="paragraph" style="margin:0in;vertical-align:baseline"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif"> </span><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="paragraph" style="margin:0in;vertical-align:baseline;user-select: text;-webkit-user-drag: none;-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent;touch-action: pan-x pan-y;overflow-wrap: break-word">
<span class="normaltextrun"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;color:#2D2A30;position:relative;top:-.5pt;mso-text-raise:.5pt">We look forward to working with you to make this program successful for Oregon families from its start. </span></span><span class="eop"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"></span></span><span class="normaltextrun"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;color:#2D2A30;position:relative;top:-.5pt;mso-text-raise:.5pt">Thank
you for your support and partnership in ensuring Oregon’s children have year-round access to the nutritious foods they need to be healthy and thrive. </span></span><span class="eop"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"></span></span><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="paragraph" style="margin:0in;vertical-align:baseline;user-select: text;-webkit-user-drag: none;-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent;touch-action: pan-x pan-y;overflow-wrap: break-word">
<span class="eop"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"></span></span><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="paragraph" style="margin:0in;vertical-align:baseline;user-select: text;-webkit-user-drag: none;-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent;touch-action: pan-x pan-y;overflow-wrap: break-word">
<span class="normaltextrun"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;color:#2D2A30;position:relative;top:-.5pt;mso-text-raise:.5pt">Sincerely, </span></span><span class="eop"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"></span></span><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="paragraph" style="margin:0in;vertical-align:baseline;user-select: text;-webkit-user-drag: none;-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent;touch-action: pan-x pan-y;overflow-wrap: break-word">
<span class="normaltextrun"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;color:#2D2A30;position:relative;top:-.5pt;mso-text-raise:.5pt">Christine Doody, Summer EBT Program Manager, Oregon Department of Human Services</span></span><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="paragraph" style="margin:0in;vertical-align:baseline"><span class="normaltextrun"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;color:#2D2A30;position:relative;top:-.5pt;mso-text-raise:.5pt">Dustin Melton, Summer EBT Lead, Oregon Department of Education </span></span><span class="eop"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"></span></span><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:16.0pt;mso-ligatures:none">Xana McCrea
</span></b><span style="font-size:14.0pt;color:#4472C4;mso-ligatures:none">she/her</span><b><span style="font-size:16.0pt;mso-ligatures:none"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;mso-ligatures:none">Community Partnership Coordinator<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;mso-ligatures:none">Call or text: 541-321-3339<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;mso-ligatures:none"><a href="mailto:xana.mccrea@odhs.oregon.gov"><span style="color:#0563C1">xana.mccrea@odhs.oregon.gov</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;mso-ligatures:none"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;mso-ligatures:none">Oregon Department of Human Services (ODHS)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;mso-ligatures:none">Self-Sufficiency Program (SSP)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;mso-ligatures:none">Branch 2002 – West 11<sup>th</sup> Family Center<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;mso-ligatures:none">2101 W 11<sup>th</sup> Ave<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;mso-ligatures:none">Eugene, OR 97402<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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