Narrative: a. 10.

Currently, county office workers are responsible for the following duties: intake, application processing, recertification, work registration, and referring non-ABAWD work registrants to the E&T Program if these individuals are interested in participating in the program. Each household member subject to the work registration requirements will be notified by the DHS worker that he or she has been work registered via the DCO-260. In E&T counties, the work registration notice advises each household member classified as an ABAWD that he or she will be referred to the E&T Program. The notice also advises other work registrants that they may volunteer to participate in the E&T Program in E&T counties.

With a new application, recertification or periodic report, the county office worker determines the work registration status of SNAP household members and work-registers all non-exempt individuals. Each month, all newly work-registered ABAWDS are automatically referred to participating contractors by DHS. This automated referral is made in the DHS eligibility system, currently ANSWER, by the case worker. A “SNAP E and T Referral Letter” is generated in ANSWER containing the SNAP participants name, address, telephone number, SSN, case number, and certification period. The DCO Systems/Reporting unit collects the letters for the month, places them in a DCO Public folder, and emails the folder to the E&T contractors. The contractors use the information from the letters to make initial contact with the ABAWD, and to schedule an assessment.

The SNAP unit in Central Office is also provided access to monthly reports generated by the Systems/Reporting unit that contain a list of ABAWD case closures, and ABAWD referrals (should contain the same cases as the referral letters that were also sent to the Contractors). These reports are also emailed by the 10^th of each month to the E&T contractors. Work registrants not classified as an ABAWD that wish to participate in the E&T Program will be manually referred by a DHS county office worker. In E&T counties, the DHS case worker completes a DCO 205A, (SNAP - E&T Referral Form/Status Change - E&T Participation Record).

The E&T assessment will be conducted by the local E&T Contractors. They are also responsible for component assignment, monitoring compliance with component requirements, and submitting reports as specified in the contract.

The DHS DCO SNAP unit is responsible for monitoring the contractor compliance through desk reviews, invoice audits, and visits, scheduled and unscheduled.

Coordination Flow:

1. DHS DCO County Office takes SNAP Application

2. DHS DCO County Office completes work registration, auto refers ABAWDs, & manually refers non-ABAWDs to E&T participation and make referrals to contractor

3. E&T Contractor conducts assessments and assigns participant to E&T component

4. E&T Contractor monitors participation and reports monthly to DHS DCO, or as requested.

5. DHS DCO SNAP unit in Central Office monitors contractor compliance.

Inter-Agency Coordination

The Department of Human Services is the single agency responsible for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program in Arkansas. Community based partners, local adult education centers, vocational schools, and community colleges will implement all E&T services in the E&T counties through a contractual relationship with DHS.

Methods of Coordination

Newly work-registered household members classified as ABAWDs will be automatically referred to the E&T Program. The E&T Program referral (DCO-205) will be used to refer work-registered volunteers to the E&T Program as requested, or due to a case action in participating E&T counties. A copy of the DCO-205 will be given to the household.

Coordination Time Frames