Q. What is CAN-Act?
A. We are a newly formed network of FSNE providers.
The California Association of Nutrition and Activity Programs (CAN-Act) is a network of local programs and providers who are
concerned about the USDA-funded Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Nutrition Education (SNAP-Ed, formerly FSNE)
program. Responding to growing interest in developing a membership association for contractors and others who receive SNAP-Ed
funding through the Network for a Healthy California (NHC), CAN-Act was formally established in 2006. Our purpose is to provide:
• Independent administrative advocacy;
• Peer support and grassroots leadership development;
• Training, technical assistance and improved communications with and for the State Agency; and
• Policy advocacy for the communities we serve.
Around 2004, several Network contractors approached an existing group, the California WIC Association (CWA), about organizing
CAN-Act along the lines of CWA. CWA applied for a planning grant from The California Endowment, and retained longtime CNN
contractor Melody Steeples, who also has leadership experience with the Network Steering Committee, to conduct a strategic audit of
the potential and need for CAN-Act. The following is an outline of what we’ve accomplished to date through the planning grant:
Q. What does CAN-Act intend to accomplish?
A. Primarily, we wish to be a voice for local contractors at the state and federal levels.
• Administrative Advocacy and Problem Solving: NHC and the SNAP-Ed program have undergone tremendous growth since its
inception nine years ago – from a few million dollars and a few dozen contractors in 1996; to over $80 million dollars and more than
130 contractors today. Any fast-growing and complex program will experience administrative and fiscal challenges. An independent
organization that gives local providers a stronger voice at state and federal levels will be an effective and constructive way to improve
delivery and coordination of NHC operations.
• Improved Communications and Operations: NHC is a dynamic program and there is a lot going on in the field of nutrition and
obesity prevention. Improved communication, peer networking and support, and timely sharing of information and resources can only
improve local providers’ ability to run great SNAP-Ed programs. To this end, CAN-Act was instrumental in getting the Network's
Operations Subcommittee (of the Network Steering Committee) established and is currently co-staffing this body.
• Legislative Advocacy at State and Federal Levels: Over the past year or so, CNN has been dealing with a series of challenges
from federal administrators in regards to basic SNAP-Ed program design and future directions. We believe that local program
providers need to play a more active and strategic role in preserving SNAP-Ed funding and protecting the community infrastructure
that NHC has built over the years.
Q. How will CAN-Act be different from other statewide advocacy or advisory groups like Strategic Alliance, Center for Public
Health Advocacy, the Joint Steering Committee, etc.?
A. CAN-ACT will be an independent membership association.
CAN-Act is being established as a membership association in order to look after the needs and policy objectives of local SNAP-Ed
providers. These objectives are set by the membership, and could include preserving adequate funding, monitoring federal and state
policy changes, seeking administrative improvements and encouraging local innovation. There is no other group outside the state
government that has SNAP-Ed funding, programming, and operations as a priority. Moreover, an independent organization can be
very effective lobbying Congress and the Legislature – something the Department of Health Services has to be very careful about.
In collaboration with existing organizations such as the Strategic Alliance, the California School Nutrition Association, the Center for
Public Health Advocacy, and others, an Association will take positions on broader issues involving obesity prevention and food and
nutrition policy (including federal level policy), and activate our members to support key issues. CAN-Act can thus complement, but
not duplicate, the ongoing movement to improve California’s food and activity environment.
Q. Isn’t having an organization that lobbies on behalf of government programs illegal or a conflict of interest?
A. Definitely not.
There are many government groups that have associations, and many of these associations have paid lobbyists – for example, the
California School Nutrition Association, California Welfare Directors Association, California Conference of Local Health Officers,
Association of Bay Area Governments, etc. These groups have arisen so that their members can have a collective and independent
voice in the public policy arena. They work in partnership with state and federal administrators to improve and protect public sector
programs. Organizations incorporated as non-profit, public benefit entities (501(C)(3)) can file a 501(h) election which allows them to
utilize 20% or more of their unrestricted (e.g. non-governmental) budgets on activities that influence the public policy and legislative
process without compromising their non-profit status. CAN-Act adheres to the letter and spirit of the law, abiding by the expenditure
limitations and not using any government (SNAP-Ed) funding for legislative advocacy or lobbying purposes.
Q. Can we participate in CAN-Act on Network-funded time?
A. Definitely.
Regarding allowability of spending time on CAN-Act activities related to program improvement, the following statements are from the
SNAP-Ed Guidance:
Regarding allowability of using FSNE funded travel to attend CAN-Act meetings:
CAN-Act will also be engaging in independent policy advocacy, but this will not be done by CAN-Act staff or members on SNAP-Ed-
funded time.
Q. Why is CWA the fiscal sponsor? Why isn’t Can-Act forming its own 501(C)(3)?
A. Starting a 501(C)(3) is a time and resource intensive endeavor, and fiscal sponsorship makes sense right now.
The primary reason that CWA is the fiscal sponsor is due to the fact that many of the local FSNE providers who were initially
interested in developing a provider association were also WIC providers and were familiar with CWA. CWA was able to secure a
planning grant, in part because of its reputation as an effective advocacy and membership organization. In time, if there is sufficient
interest among the membership and if the Advisory Board is willing to take on the legal and fiduciary responsibilities required of non-
profit boards, CAN-Act can choose to separate from CWA. Of course, there are costs associated with fiscal sponsorship, but these
costs would be borne by an independent 501(C)(3) as well. The other benefits of affiliating with CWA at this point is that CWA’s
executive director is a seasoned advocate who can share her experience with CAN-Act, and CWA already has relationships with the
California Department of Public Health, USDA leadership, congressional staffers, and others, which are of tremendous value to this
developing organization.
Q. Who can join CAN-Act?
A. We welcome all comers.
Programs with SNAP-Ed funding are “de facto” members, and in the autumn of 2009, we will begin invoicing for dues (as you
probably know, all providers/potential members benefit from the association’s activities regardless of whether they pay dues).
Organizations that don’t receive SNAP-Ed funding will be welcomed provided they are in complete agreement with and demonstrate
a history of services and/or advocacy that is compatible with CAN-Act’s mission and purpose.
We look forward to working with all local, state and federal partners to improve SNAP-Ed in California. Please do not hesitate to call
Melody Steeples with any questions or concerns you might have.
A. We are a newly formed network of FSNE providers.
The California Association of Nutrition and Activity Programs (CAN-Act) is a network of local programs and providers who are
concerned about the USDA-funded Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Nutrition Education (SNAP-Ed, formerly FSNE)
program. Responding to growing interest in developing a membership association for contractors and others who receive SNAP-Ed
funding through the Network for a Healthy California (NHC), CAN-Act was formally established in 2006. Our purpose is to provide:
• Independent administrative advocacy;
• Peer support and grassroots leadership development;
• Training, technical assistance and improved communications with and for the State Agency; and
• Policy advocacy for the communities we serve.
Around 2004, several Network contractors approached an existing group, the California WIC Association (CWA), about organizing
CAN-Act along the lines of CWA. CWA applied for a planning grant from The California Endowment, and retained longtime CNN
contractor Melody Steeples, who also has leadership experience with the Network Steering Committee, to conduct a strategic audit of
the potential and need for CAN-Act. The following is an outline of what we’ve accomplished to date through the planning grant:
- Testified at two farm bill hearings regarding needed FSNE (now SNAP-Ed) reforms.
- Secured a site visit from the Democratic staff to the Senate Agriculture Committee in order to persuade the people writing the
Farm Bill that FSNE provides benefit to the target population and that broader nutrition education approaches are needed - Conducted a leadership retreat and established a Board and membership list
- Surveyed and interviewed State and local staff involved in running FSNE-funded programs
- Compiled and analyzed federal and state legal, fiscal and planning documents and wrote a report with findings and
recommendations for federal and state level reforms
Q. What does CAN-Act intend to accomplish?
A. Primarily, we wish to be a voice for local contractors at the state and federal levels.
• Administrative Advocacy and Problem Solving: NHC and the SNAP-Ed program have undergone tremendous growth since its
inception nine years ago – from a few million dollars and a few dozen contractors in 1996; to over $80 million dollars and more than
130 contractors today. Any fast-growing and complex program will experience administrative and fiscal challenges. An independent
organization that gives local providers a stronger voice at state and federal levels will be an effective and constructive way to improve
delivery and coordination of NHC operations.
• Improved Communications and Operations: NHC is a dynamic program and there is a lot going on in the field of nutrition and
obesity prevention. Improved communication, peer networking and support, and timely sharing of information and resources can only
improve local providers’ ability to run great SNAP-Ed programs. To this end, CAN-Act was instrumental in getting the Network's
Operations Subcommittee (of the Network Steering Committee) established and is currently co-staffing this body.
• Legislative Advocacy at State and Federal Levels: Over the past year or so, CNN has been dealing with a series of challenges
from federal administrators in regards to basic SNAP-Ed program design and future directions. We believe that local program
providers need to play a more active and strategic role in preserving SNAP-Ed funding and protecting the community infrastructure
that NHC has built over the years.
Q. How will CAN-Act be different from other statewide advocacy or advisory groups like Strategic Alliance, Center for Public
Health Advocacy, the Joint Steering Committee, etc.?
A. CAN-ACT will be an independent membership association.
CAN-Act is being established as a membership association in order to look after the needs and policy objectives of local SNAP-Ed
providers. These objectives are set by the membership, and could include preserving adequate funding, monitoring federal and state
policy changes, seeking administrative improvements and encouraging local innovation. There is no other group outside the state
government that has SNAP-Ed funding, programming, and operations as a priority. Moreover, an independent organization can be
very effective lobbying Congress and the Legislature – something the Department of Health Services has to be very careful about.
In collaboration with existing organizations such as the Strategic Alliance, the California School Nutrition Association, the Center for
Public Health Advocacy, and others, an Association will take positions on broader issues involving obesity prevention and food and
nutrition policy (including federal level policy), and activate our members to support key issues. CAN-Act can thus complement, but
not duplicate, the ongoing movement to improve California’s food and activity environment.
Q. Isn’t having an organization that lobbies on behalf of government programs illegal or a conflict of interest?
A. Definitely not.
There are many government groups that have associations, and many of these associations have paid lobbyists – for example, the
California School Nutrition Association, California Welfare Directors Association, California Conference of Local Health Officers,
Association of Bay Area Governments, etc. These groups have arisen so that their members can have a collective and independent
voice in the public policy arena. They work in partnership with state and federal administrators to improve and protect public sector
programs. Organizations incorporated as non-profit, public benefit entities (501(C)(3)) can file a 501(h) election which allows them to
utilize 20% or more of their unrestricted (e.g. non-governmental) budgets on activities that influence the public policy and legislative
process without compromising their non-profit status. CAN-Act adheres to the letter and spirit of the law, abiding by the expenditure
limitations and not using any government (SNAP-Ed) funding for legislative advocacy or lobbying purposes.
Q. Can we participate in CAN-Act on Network-funded time?
A. Definitely.
Regarding allowability of spending time on CAN-Act activities related to program improvement, the following statements are from the
SNAP-Ed Guidance:
- Work with other State and community health providers, agencies, professional and industry groups, advocacy groups, and
organizations to coordinate and deliver behavior focused messages on healthy eating habits and active lifestyles. - Participation on relevant State and local advisory panels.
Regarding allowability of using FSNE funded travel to attend CAN-Act meetings:
- Travel expenditures are a variable cost. In order to be considered for funding, the request must provide a direct and clear link
to providing quality nutrition education for food stamp eligibles.
CAN-Act will also be engaging in independent policy advocacy, but this will not be done by CAN-Act staff or members on SNAP-Ed-
funded time.
Q. Why is CWA the fiscal sponsor? Why isn’t Can-Act forming its own 501(C)(3)?
A. Starting a 501(C)(3) is a time and resource intensive endeavor, and fiscal sponsorship makes sense right now.
The primary reason that CWA is the fiscal sponsor is due to the fact that many of the local FSNE providers who were initially
interested in developing a provider association were also WIC providers and were familiar with CWA. CWA was able to secure a
planning grant, in part because of its reputation as an effective advocacy and membership organization. In time, if there is sufficient
interest among the membership and if the Advisory Board is willing to take on the legal and fiduciary responsibilities required of non-
profit boards, CAN-Act can choose to separate from CWA. Of course, there are costs associated with fiscal sponsorship, but these
costs would be borne by an independent 501(C)(3) as well. The other benefits of affiliating with CWA at this point is that CWA’s
executive director is a seasoned advocate who can share her experience with CAN-Act, and CWA already has relationships with the
California Department of Public Health, USDA leadership, congressional staffers, and others, which are of tremendous value to this
developing organization.
Q. Who can join CAN-Act?
A. We welcome all comers.
Programs with SNAP-Ed funding are “de facto” members, and in the autumn of 2009, we will begin invoicing for dues (as you
probably know, all providers/potential members benefit from the association’s activities regardless of whether they pay dues).
Organizations that don’t receive SNAP-Ed funding will be welcomed provided they are in complete agreement with and demonstrate
a history of services and/or advocacy that is compatible with CAN-Act’s mission and purpose.
We look forward to working with all local, state and federal partners to improve SNAP-Ed in California. Please do not hesitate to call
Melody Steeples with any questions or concerns you might have.
FAQs
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