Narrative: a. 1.

Louisiana intends to meet the E&T requirements through contractual agreements with the Louisiana Workforce Commission (LWC) to operate the Louisiana Job Employment Training (LaJET) Program and Expanded E&T through contracted partners.

LaJET is a mandatory participant-centered and service-oriented initiative to provide employment-focused services to targeted Mandatory Work Registrants (MWRs) who are recipients of SNAP benefits. ABAWDs who reside in a LaJET parish are exempt from mandatory participation in LaJET. ABAWDs who would be subject to the SNAP time limit if there were not a statewide ABAWD waiver are mandatory E&T participants and will be referred to LWC and will be required to participate in LWC’s various programs offered through LWC’s Business and Career Solutions Centers statewide. Louisiana currently has a statewide ABAWD waiver approved through August 31, 2018. A MWR is an individual who does not meet a federal exemption to SNAP work requirements as outlined in 7 CFR 273.7. SNAP recipients who are MWRs and reside in a LaJET parish are referred to LaJET; therefore, are mandatory E&T participants. MWRs who do not reside in a LaJET parish are not offered LaJET services nor are considered mandatory E&T Participants. The State contracts the administration of the LaJET Program with the Louisiana Workforce Commission (LWC). The LaJET Parishes are Caddo, Orleans, Ouachita, and Rapides. Although this is a mandatory program volunteers are also accepted.

In addition, Louisiana partners with LWC to offer Able-Bodied Adults Without Dependents (ABAWDs) assessment and training through LWC’s Business and Career Solutions Centers statewide (59 locations). ABAWDs in parishes without LaJET are required to participate in LWC services. Non-ABAWDs are exempt from mandatory participation. Louisiana has five contracted partners which provide Expanded E&T services to SNAP recipients. • Liberty's Kitchen serves youth in the Greater New Orleans area. • The Calcasieu Parish Police Jury (CPPJ) Human Services Department offers services for residents of Allen, Beauregard, Calcasieu, Cameron, and Jefferson Davis Parishes. • Goodwill Industries of Southeastern Louisiana (GWSELA) offers services to individuals in the Greater New Orleans Metropolitan area. • Covenant House serves youth in the Greater New Orleans Metropolitan area. • Reconcile New Orleans (Café Reconcile) serves youth in the Greater New Orleans Metropolitan area.

Recipients who choose to volunteer may take advantage of opportunities offered through the LaJET Program, LWC’s Business and Career Solutions Centers, or opportunities offered via contracts with Expanded E&T partners, where available. This includes ABAWDs and non-ABAWDs. Volunteers who do not participate will not be sanctioned for failure to cooperate with the volunteer program.

The agency utilizes partnerships and contractual agreements with the Louisiana Workforce Commission (LWC) and community partners to serve SNAP E&T participants. Voluntary E&T services are offered at Liberty’s Kitchen, Calcasieu Parish Police Jury (CPPJ) Human Services Department, Goodwill Industries of Southeastern Louisiana (GWSELA), Covenant House, and Reconcile New Orleans (Café Reconcile).

Louisiana Workforce Commission Business Career Solutions Center focuses on providing a variety of employment related labor exchange services including job search assistance, job referral and placement assistance for job seekers. Services are accessed in one of three ways including self-service, facilitated self-help services, and staff assisted service.

Services are provided to ABAWDs statewide through LWC’s Business and Career Solutions Centers by providing workforce preparation skills, labor exchange information, and referrals. LWC's Business and Career Solutions Center provides services through Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) participation. Volunteers and mandatory work registrants will be served by Expanded E&T Providers in designated areas of the state.

The following components will be offered through the E&T Program: Job Search Training, Independent Job Search, Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) Participation, Work Experience, Job Retention, and Vocational Education.

Job Search Training is designed to teach skills leading to behavior modification and foster a positive job search attitude. Participants have an opportunity to set goals, acknowledge barriers to employment, gain skills, training and experience leading to employment. The estimated monthly cost is $149,311.81. Independent Job Search allows participants to be interviewed by the provider and participate in a one hour Introduction of Job Search session. The participant will then make up to 24 job contacts. Completion of the component occurs when the participant secures a job or completes job contacts and an exit interview. The estimated monthly cost is $26,016.56. WIOA is a work experience and training component offered by LWC. By federal law, all SNAP recipients are eligible to participate in WIOA activities. Participants expressing an interest in WIOA will evaluated and referred. If referred, the participants must report to the local WIOA administrative entity or to the designated Louisiana Workforce Investment Act (LWIA) contractor or partner in order to meet compliance. Activities may include On-the-Job Training, Institution Training (class-size or individual referral), Work Experience, Educational/Motivational Training and Special Industry-specific Training Programs. Zero funding is used for administrative costs for ABAWDs at LWC. Work Experience is designed to improve the employability of participants through work experience and training that will move the participant into employment. The estimated monthly cost is $113,135.85. Job Retention is designed to assist participants in maintaining employment by assessing participant's performance, assisting the participant to resolve issues that arise and may affect their ability to maintain employment, reinforcing positive behaviors and teaching additional job retention skills. The estimated monthly cost is $60,354.65. Vocational Training is designed to provide educational programs with a direct link to job-readiness to improve basic skills and employability. The estimate monthly cost is $9,066.50. The agency’s goal is to serve as many mandatory work registrants as possible. After careful analysis of available 100% Employment & Training Funds and consideration of the prevailing environment, it has been determined that the program will best serve our clients if services are provided in a limited geographic area to non-Able-Bodied Adults Without Dependents (non-ABAWDs). The geographic limitation is expected to provide optimum opportunity to utilize available federal and state funds in a responsible, practical and productive manner.

Geographic Areas Covered and Local Variations

LWC will provide LaJET services in 4 parishes and will serve ABAWDs statewide. Liberty’s Kitchen’s services are available for participants who reside in the greater New Orleans area. CPPJ will offer services for participants who reside in Allen, Beauregard, Cameron, Jefferson Davis, or Calcasieu Parish.

GWSELA will offer services for participants in the Greater New Orleans Metropolitan area. Reconcile New Orleans (Café Reconcile) and Covenant House will offer services for participants who reside in the Greater New Orleans Metropolitan area.