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SD public defense duties shift from counties to state; SCOTUS appears skeptical of restricting government communications with social media companies; Trump lawyers say he can't make bond; new scholarships aim to connect class of 2024 to high-demand jobs.

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The SCOTUS weighs government influence on social media, and who groups like the NRA can do business with. Biden signs an executive order to advance women's health research and the White House tells Israel it's responsible for the Gaza humanitarian crisis.

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Midwest regenerative farmers are rethinking chicken production, Medicare Advantage is squeezing the finances of rural hospitals and California's extreme swing from floods to drought has some thinking it's time to turn rural farm parcels into floodplains.

Report: Colorado Ski-Resort Counties Struggle to Assist Families

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Wednesday, December 21, 2016   

DENVER – Ski-resort counties with some of the highest income levels per capita in the state are falling short when it comes to connecting their eligible, lower-income residents to food assistance programs. That's according to new research by the group Hunger Free Colorado. Eagle, Pitkin, Routt and Summit counties have some of the lowest rates of SNAP enrollment statewide.

Joël McClurg, the data and research manager at Hunger Free Colorado, and the report's co-author, said local economies and struggling families are missing out.

"Enrolling a few thousand more folks in food stamps, that can bring millions of dollars in revenue and economic stimulus to the local communities," he explained. "But we're finding, on average, that these people who are eligible for the program, they're not enrolling in those benefits. There are barriers there."

The study found while the state's richest counties had lower enrollment rates, poorer counties delivered services to a higher percentage of people eligible for assistance. McClurg said word-of-mouth between neighbors who know how to navigate programs is likely missing in wealthier counties, and people may experience more stigma or shame accepting public benefits in more affluent communities.

McClurg noted that one in five families with children across the U.S. is eligible for SNAP benefits. And given the lack of affordable housing in ski areas, he said people working full-time at low wages have a hard time making ends meet. The report recommends counties invest more in outreach to help residents determine their eligibility and enroll. McClurg said even small adjustments, such as making websites easier to navigate, can make a difference.

"Explaining benefits, and how much folks may be eligible for, more clearly; and maybe increasing office hours as well," he said. "That would be an opportunity to get working families in the door in a way that is convenient to them."

He said getting working families the nutrition they need helps them reach their full potential and be more focused and engaged members of their community.


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