08/25/2026
As we wrap up Day 3 of , we reflect on today’s main stage session where we were joined by Sarah Esty, Senior Advisor for The Aspen Institute Financial Security Program, Robert G. "Bob" Anderson, Executive Director for the Mississippi Department of Human Services, Brian Jones, APHSA Consultant, and Alexis Fernández Garcia, MSW, Deputy Director, Family Engagement and Empowerment Division for the California Department of Social Services. They shared perspectives on payment accuracy, oversight, modernization, service delivery, and how agencies are aligning policy, operations, and technology strategies to support effective administration.
In her opening statement, Sarah noted, "There are a lot of comparisons being drawn between SNAP and other programs like Medicaid as to why error rates are so high in SNAP. It's worth noting that a lot of what is coming up as errors is due to the deep complexity of the SNAP program relative to other programs. We have made SNAP really hard to administer without errors...so I would love to see a much better, national conversation, and maybe start talking about simplifying the [SNAP] program."
