L&L Platform

Introduction

The Lemanu & La'apui administration is dedicated to ensuring the well-being and support of our community through the comprehensive efforts of the Department of Human and Social Services (DHSS). Between 2021 and 2022, DHSS, entirely federally funded, operated six essential divisions, including the American Samoa Nutrition Assistance Program (ASNAP), American Samoa Women, Infants, and Children (ASWIC), and the Child Care Division (CCD). With over $24 million in regular program funding and an additional $11.5 million in COVID-19 supplemental funding, DHSS has significantly expanded its reach and impact, serving over 31,000 adults and children in American Samoa.

Department Breakdown and Funding Components

The Department of Human and Social Services (DHSS) remains a completely federally funded organization. Between 2021 to 2022, DHSS was comprised of six Divisions:

• The American Samoa Nutrition Assistance Program (ASNAP)
• American Samoa Women, Infants, and Children (ASWIC)
• Child Care Division (CCD)
• Children and Family Services Division (CFSD)
• Developmental Disabilities Planning Counsel (DDPC)
• Program Integrity and Tobacco (PIT) Division

In 2021, over $24 million in regular Program funding, plus over $11.5 million in COVID-19 supplemental funding awarded specifically to DHSS Programs.

Increasing Access to Programs and Services

2021: Programs and Services administered by the various divisions organized under DHSS served over 31,000 adults and children.

Expanding/ Transforming Service Delivery

In 2021, $74.5 million in COVID-19 funds was awarded to provide individuals and families with targeted services and support in dealing with the negative impacts of the pandemic, such as: 

• Food assistance for individuals whose jobs were affected by the pandemic such as those in the travel, hospitality, and related industries.
• Food assistance for students in kindergarten to grade 12 who lost access to free School Lunch Program meals at school due to school closure or reduced school hours or days due to the pandemic
• Expansion of child care services especially for essential critical infrastructure workers and first responders who must work extended hours
• Expansion of mental health and substance use treatment and prevention services for our community
• Conversion of ASNAP benefits from food coupons to an Electronic Benefits Transfer system (EBT cards); and (6) a one-time cash benefit for needy families with young children in mixed immigration households to pay for utilities, emergency food purchases or other critical needs.

Assistance for People with Disabilities and Seniors

Reserved Seating on Public Transportation  

In building an inclusive community for persons with disabilities and seniors, for the first time in history, DHSS, through a DDPC-funded project, was successful in transforming American Samoa’s public transportation system by signing up 20 owners of 61 buses to designate the front seats of their buses as, “reserved seating for persons with disabilities and seniors” using sticker decals. Placards are also affixed to the front dashboard and/or windshield of the 61 buses, designating them as “Priority Seating Available”.

Prevent and Investigate Elder Abuse 

To safeguard and protect seniors from becoming victims of elder abuse, neglect, and exploitation, we executed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Territorial Administration on Aging on July 12, 2021, to collaborate in identifying, preventing, and investigating senior neglect, abuse, and exploitation; developing uniform data collection procedures; and promoting social change in American Samoa through education and appropriate actions. 

Restaurants to Accept ASNAP Food Coupons  

The U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service (USDA FNS) approved our request on May 31, 2021, to authorize select restaurants to accept ASNAP food coupons.  This now allows ASNAP recipients, who are low-income elderly, blind, and disabled, to enjoy a meal in our local restaurants using their ASNAP benefits.

Increased ASNAP Benefit Levels  

Close to 4,400 persons with disabilities and seniors are now receiving increased ASNAP monthly food stamp benefits, which started October 1, 2021 (see Targeted Food Assistance Programs, part “b” below).

Increase Vaccination Access for Persons with Disabilities 

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Community Living awarded DHSS’ Developmental Disabilities Planning Council (DDPC) with a grant of $13,092 to create opportunities to increase access to COVID-19 vaccinations for people with disabilities. For example, we co-sponsored the Be a Hero Vaccinate Family Fun Day, promoting vaccination for eligible residents, including individuals with disabilities, where 231 people were vaccinated. The DDPC secured two Project Move buses that transported over 60 participants.

Targeted Food Assistance Programs

Emergency Benefit Allotments  

The USDA FNS approved our proposed state plan dated March 4, 2021, to establish a short-term $2.4 million COVID SNAP program to temporarily increase monthly benefit levels to $187 per person for all ASNAP and COVID NAP recipients for the remainder of Fiscal Year 2021.  Over 4,500 recipients of the two programs received seven months of additional emergency benefit allotments from March to September 2021 as follows:

• $48 for ASNAP and COVID-19 NAP recipients receiving $139 for a total of $187 monthly
• $76 for ASNAP and COVID-19 NAP recipients receiving $111 for a total of $187 monthly
• $98 for ASNAP and COVID-19 NAP recipients receiving $89 for a total of $187 monthly
• $116 for ASNAP and COVID-19 NAP recipients receiving $71 for a total of $187 monthly
• $131 for ASNAP and COVID-19 NAP recipients receiving $56 for a total of $187 monthly

Increase in ASNAP Monthly Benefits 

The USDA FNS approved our request dated September 2, 2021, to increase monthly food stamp benefits for close to 4,400 ASNAP recipients from $59 to $94, $71 to $109, $89 to $127, $111 to $149, and $139 to $177 starting October 1, 2021.

End of Fiscal Year Benefits for ASNAP Recipients  

The USDA FNS approved our request dated August 30, 2021, to use unspent ASNAP monies from Fiscal Year 2021 to issue end-of-year benefits of $245 to close to 4,400 ASNAP recipients in September 2021.

End-of-Fiscal Year Benefits for ASNAP and COVID-NAP Recipients 

The USDA FNS approved our request dated August 30, 2021, to use unspent COVID-NAP monies from Fiscal Year 2021 to issue end-of-year benefits of $158 to over 4,500 COVID-NAP and ASNAP recipients in September 2021. 

Pandemic Electronic Benefits Transfer (P-EBT) Program 

The USDA FNS approved a joint $7,420,085 proposal from DHSS and the Department of Education dated August 12, 2021, to establish the American Samoa Pandemic Electronic Benefits Transfer Program (P-EBT) to provide food assistance for children who lost access to free meals at school from the National School Lunch Program due to school closure, or reduced attendance or hours of their schools during School Year 2020-2021 due to the pandemic.  

An estimated 11,076 students from 22 public schools, St. Theresa School and Kanana Fou School, qualify for $98 or $135, $128, and $80, respectively, for the regular school year, and an estimated 14,038 from all public and private schools qualify for $438 for the summer of 2021.  

As of the time of this report, 6,292 household applications with 13,221 children were received; 4,293 households with 9,885 children have been issued benefits; 249 household applications with 341 children were denied and 1,354 household applications with 2,249 children are pending.  A total of $5,182,236 has been issued as of November 12, 2021.

Taro, Green Bananas, Breadfruit, and Local Hydroponic Produce Added to WIC Foods

The USDA FNS approved our request dated May 5, 2021, to include taro, green bananas, breadfruit, and local hydroponic produce to the ASWIC-authorized food list.  These local foods can now be purchased using ASWIC’s Cash Value Voucher/Benefits (CVV/B).

Mobile ASWIC Clinic for Remote Villages

The USDA FNS approved our proposal of $98,000 dated June 28, 2021, to purchase a van to be used as a fully equipped mobile clinic to expand access to ASWIC services for residents in remote villages.

ASNAP’s Fiscal Year 2021 Budget Increase 

ASNAP’s Fiscal Year 2021 budget was revised and increased by $268,000 from $7,917,000 to $8,185,000 on September 9, 2021, as a result of President Biden’s revised Fiscal Year 2021 budget.

ASNAP’s Fiscal Year 2022 Budget Increase 

On August 16, 2021, the USDA FNS announced a 23% increase or $1.86 million in annual nutrition assistance for American Samoa.  As a result, the ASNAP budget for Fiscal Year 2022, which started October 1, 2021, increased from $8,185,000 to $10,047,000.  The increase was driven by a Congressionally-mandated re-evaluation of the Thrifty Food Plan (TFP), a data-driven estimate of the cost of a nutritious, practical, cost-effective diet. The bipartisan Farm Bill passed through Congress in 2018 directed USDA to modernize the TFP, which is critical in determining benefit amounts for some federal nutrition assistance programs.  

Temporary Increase in ASWIC CVV/B for May-August 2021 

The American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), enacted into law in March 2021 by President Biden, made available $404,343 to the ASWIC to temporarily increase the value of Cash Value Voucher/Benefits (CVV/B) for fruits and vegetables from $11 per month for pregnant and breastfeeding women and $9 per month for children to $35 per month. This temporary increase was issued to over 3,800 recipients from May to August 2021.

Temporary Increase in ASWIC’s CVV/B for October-December 2021 

The Continuing Resolution that President Biden signed into law on September 30, 2021, directs the USDA FNS to temporarily increase ASWIC CVV/B for fruits and vegetables for the first quarter of Fiscal Year 2022.  From October to December 2021, over 3,800 ASWIC recipients are receiving monthly CVV/B of $24 for children 1-5 years of age; $43 for pregnant and postpartum women; $47 for fully and partially breastfeeding women, and $70.50 for women fully breastfeeding multiple infants.

Closing Statement

DHSS has made tremendous strides in transforming service delivery and expanding access to critical programs. From increasing food assistance and childcare services to enhancing support for people with disabilities and seniors, the Lemanu & La'apui administration has shown unwavering commitment to the health and well-being of our community. Through innovative programs and strategic partnerships, we continue to address the diverse needs of our residents, ensuring that every individual receives the support and services they deserve. Together, we are building a more resilient, inclusive, and thriving American Samoa.