An Advocate's Guide
to Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) in California

Jessica Bartholow
Alameda County Community Food Bank

Debra Garcia
Consumers Union of U.S., Inc.
Consumers Union West Coast Regional Office

November 2002

Report
Acknowledgements
Glossary
List of Website & Contacts
List of Appendices

Acknowledgements

Special thanks to the advocates, recipients, Social Services Agency staff, and Board of Supervisors staff participating on the Alameda County EBT Advisory Committee for their dedication, time, and effort in pursuing a successful EBT transition process in Alameda County. The insight provided in this advocate's guide is a result of the countless hours of discussion, thought, and hard work that Committee members contributed to EBT in Alameda County.

Thank you to the Rosenberg Foundation for their commitment to making EBT work well for all public assistance recipients throughout California and for funding the production of this guide.

Thank you to the staff of the State and Alameda County EBT Projects for their commitment to successfully implementing the EBT system in Alameda County and throughout California, for allowing a process that involves advocate and community input, and for reviewing the draft of this guide.

And a very, very special thank you to the advocates and recipients on the Alameda County EBT Advisory Committee: Irene Arroyo, Bananas Child Care Referral Agency; Marianna Aue, Legal Services for Seniors; Artensia Barry, Alameda County Community Food Bank; Jacquelyn Brewer, Alameda County Community Food Bank; Barbara Dawson, Catholic Charities of the East Bay; Liam Galbreth, East Bay Community Law Center; Diana Glanternik, Women's Economic Agenda Project; Amy Lee, Bay Area Legal Aid; Cheryl Nickerson, Davis Street Community Center; Patricia Wall, Homeless Action Center; and Arthi Varma, California Reinvestment Committee. It has been our great pleasure to work with this incredibly talented and committed group of people.

Countless other advocates and recipients have also donated their valuable time and energy to the successful transition to EBT in the California pilot counties and are owed a debt of gratitude.