An Inquiry of Dignity

At mRelief, we talk a lot about the concept of inherent dignity, that at birth all people are endowed with worthiness. “Maintaining dignity,” wrote Premila Nadasen, author of the Welfare Warriors: The Welfare Rights Movement in the United States, “meant being treated with respect, not being stigmatized, protecting their individual civil rights, and, ultimately, deciding for themselves what was in their best interest.”

At this time of pandemic and unprecedented uprising, we are taking a beginner’s mind at understanding what dignity really means to SNAP families and the people who serve them. As we start to find some footing after a period of great and continued uncertainty, we are slowing down on adding more outcomes, and instead asking more questions. We and fellow travelers in social services pedestalize “dignity”, but how is it defined by the people who put it on the line when they trust fall into public and private safety nets?

Thus, we are in a state of inquiry about dignity. We are looking to leaders in our community to share their definitions. We consider proposals that have been top of mind for us in previous years, such as the conversion of plastic cards to mobile SNAP payments. Thus, our first proposed case study for our organizational inquiry we are doing on dignity will test the assumption that plastic cards are a pain point for families who receive SNAP and the impact if any it has on their dignity and ability to access services.

Here are some of the key questions we are asking with quantitative methods:

1. Were you approved for SNAP? Yes or No

2. How long did it take you to receive your SNAP EBT card? 1-7 days, 8-14 days, greater than 14 days, I never got my card?

3. Do you have a smartphone (can you browse the internet on your phone) ? Yes or No → What kind of smartphone do you have? A. Android B. iPhone C. Other →

4. Have you ever had to replace your SNAP EBT card? Yes or No

5. How did you cover food when you did not have your card? [Free verse]

6. On a scale of 1 to 10 - 1 being not a problem, 10 being a very serious problem; How big is the problem of not having access to your SNAP EBT card when you first receive it or when it is lost? Example, 1, 10

7. On a scale of 1 to 10 - 1 being it had no impact on me, 10 being it had a big impact on me and my sense of self worth and health; How big is the impact on you and your family when you do not have access to your SNAP EBT card when you first get approved or when it is lost? Example, 1, 10

Here are some qualitative techniques we are employing:

• In the event that 6 and 7 get more in-depth responses, we propose 2 Zoom sessions with families who respond with 9 or 10 to participate in a qualitative study with 1 Zoom session emphasis on Access and Dignity respectively. We also will inquire about what makes someone a 1, 2 vs. a 9,10?

This will be the first of several inquiries we are conducting. If this is something your state is interested in, we welcome your feedback on our initial questions. If you would like a copy of this report, e-mail us at partner@mrelief.com.

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