HASC and the Los Angeles County of Department Social Services will host a community outreach orientation for Los Angeles County HASC hospitals focusing on connecting Medi-Cal patients with access to the benefits of CalFresh, the new name for California’s Food Stamp Program (also known on the Federal level as Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program or SNAP).

CalFresh provides assistance for low income individuals and families to purchase nutritious foods. A cost-benefit analysis examining 10 common nutritional-related diseases/conditions such as colorectal cancer, heart disease, stroke hypertension, Type 2 diabetes and obesity, indicated that every $1.00 invested in an a nutrition access program produces $10.64 in benefits from reduced health care cost, according to a 2009 Year-End Report from the North Carolina Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program.

The orientations are scheduled for Wednesday, Nov. 9, 9:00 - 10:30 a.m. or Tuesday, Nov. 15, 1:00 – 2:30 p.m. The orientations will take place at Beverly Gain Region, 2910 W. Beverly Blvd., Los Angeles. Sessions are geared toward hospital staff in the following areas: admitting, business office, patient financial services, social work, case management/discharge planning, human resources, and dietitians/nutritionists.

Space is limited. To register by Nov. 2, please contact Dominique Diaz at (714) 750-0788, ext. 16 or ddiaz@hasc.org.