The Pandemic Electronic Benefits Transfer (P-EBT) program was launched as an effort to address the loss of access to free and reduced-price school meals due to widespread school closures at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. As schools reopened in a shifting mix of fully virtual, hybrid, and inperson formats and families lacked consistent access to school meals, these benefits were extended through the 2020–21 school year and were highly valuable to families in buffering the full extent of food insecurity they may have faced during this uncertain time. However, the complexity of administering this program was a fundamental barrier in providing timely support to families, who ultimately went without benefits for at least half of the school year. In this report, we dive into the challenges state administrators faced in launching this new program during the 2020–21 school year and reflect on considerations for the future.
Code for America describes its work building the P-EBT online application and the consulting it provided to 10 states regarding implementing the program in a quick, effective, and human-centered way. Despite herculean efforts among human services and education agencies to get P-EBT off the ground, there were a few key technological, operational, and logistical barriers that consistently got in the way and hampered a smooth rollout of the program across the country.
Code for America highlights the importance of recognizing the effects of intergenerational trauma on communities that have been systemically marginalized when conducting research.
Code for America partnered with the CBPP, Civilla, and Nava to launch the Integrated Benefits Initiative, testing and piloting human-centered approaches to improve outcomes and learn what an optimal safety net could look like. This article describes key takeaways from short-term pilots implemented as part of this project.
Design systems are a foundational component of good government digital service delivery. This publication explores why design systems matter and includes a tracker of centralized design systems across U.S. states.
This report poses the question of whether states are prepared to meet the new Medicaid work reporting and renewal mandates introduced by HR 1, given ongoing strain from the post-pandemic “unwinding.”
This publication from the Digital Service Network (DSN) explores how state and local leaders are tackling the challenge of finding, keeping, and growing digital service talent in government. Through real-world stories and actionable strategies, it highlights how teams are making the case for digital roles, improving hiring practices, and upskilling staff to build a strong, sustainable digital workforce.
An updated guide for public sector and civic data users to embed racial equity and community voice throughout the data life cycle—from planning to dissemination.
These fact sheets provide detailed, state-specific data illustrating SNAP's role in reducing hunger and bolstering local economies across the United States
A profile on FormFest speakers Sarah Rodriguez, Emily Lippolis, and Verenice Ramirez, featuring stories about their motivations for working on public sector form innovation.
This toolkit provides resources for training and technical assistance (T/TA) providers in the Child Care Technical Assistance Network (CCTAN) to help State, Territory, and Tribal CCDF Lead Agencies be prepared to conduct equity assessments.
When people hit the moment in the HealthCare.gov sign-up process where they need in-person help, they’re likely frustrated and at risk of abandoning the process altogether. To help, Ad Hoc designers on the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Find Local Help team extensively researched user pain points and used human-centered design to create a tool that respects the stress users may experience and delivers the information they need as quickly and simply as possible.
