From La Tiendita to the Border

Millions of eligible families continue to face barriers to enrolling in and maintaining public benefits, often due to trust, accessibility, and navigation challenges. Through programs such as La Tiendita, Tejano Center has developed a model that combines food access with personalized benefits navigation and community support. This panel examines how outreach workers, community health workers, and resource navigators collaborate to help families connect with SNAP, Medicaid, CHIP, and related services. Participants will learn how trusted institutions can expand enrollment, reduce benefit churn, and successfully scale services into new regions. The discussion will provide practical insights into partnership development, outreach strategies, and community-centered approaches to service delivery.