Located in:
- Employment and Training Programs Under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (Programs Authorized Under Section 6(d)(4) of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2015(d)(4)))
- a. General Requirements [27]
The State agency must prepare and submit an Employment and Training (E&T) Plan to its appropriate Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) Regional Office. The E&T Plan must be available for public inspection at the State agency headquarters. A State agency may include its plan for the SNAP E&T program in a Combined Plan under WIOA but will require FNS approval prior to implementation and must continue to make a copy of the plan available for public inspection. If a State includes SNAP E&T in a Combined Plan under WIOA, the State agency will detail the following for each year covered by the Combined Plan:
[27] 7 CFR § 273.7(c)(6)
- a. General Requirements [27]
a. 2. A description of the case management services and models, how participants will be referred to case management, how the participant’s case will be managed, who will provide case management services, and how the service providers will coordinate with E&T providers, the State agency, and other community resources, as appropriate. The State plan should also discuss how the State agency will ensure E&T participants are provided with targeted case management services through an efficient administrative process;
Current Narrative:
During the applicant interview, the Eligibility Worker will explore the participant’s circumstances to identify whether the individual is appropriate for the Employment & Training (E&T) Program. A checklist will be used to ensure that the individual will be screened for possible exemptions prior to being referred to the Employment and Training (E&T) program. Based on the presented barriers and desires of the client, the EW will match the participant with an applicable E&T Provider based on location, services needed, and services provided, etc. The individuals are given the contact information for the applicable E&T provider. In the event the provider encounters an individual that is a potential E&T candidate, the E&T provider will use the States’ MIS system; SNAP Works, to determine if they are an active SNAP recipient.
If the potential candidate is a SNAP recipient, they are eligible to participate in the program and the provider can make an immediate referral electronically through SNAP Works. The provider must have the individual's social security number to verify their SNAP participation status. Because the SNAP participant has expressed an interest with a particular provider, The State Agency will review the client to ensure they are not on TEA or receiving unemployment. The SA will also review the eligibility system to review work registration status and previous case notes and make necessary updates if applicable. The eligibility worker will update the case notes in the eligibility system and complete the task in SNAP Works. Once the State Agency has determined that the individual is eligible and appropriate for the program, the provider will complete the online assessment to determine strength and skills. This assessment will determine which components are necessary and appropriate for the individual. If the individual is not a SNAP participant, they may complete an online application by logging into https://access.arkansas.gov. Once the individual determined eligible for SNAP, they can be referred through SNAP Works by the eligibility worker.
All E&T providers will provide substantial case management services by completing an assessment that includes identifying participation barriers, barrier reduction assistance, identifying the participant’s education level, work history review, completing a career assessment, establishing individualized employment plans, assigning components, determining long and short-term goals, progress monitoring, guidance, and success coaching.
All provider/client interactions are documented via the states’ MIS. If a participant expresses needs outside of the providers scope of work, that participant will be referred to an appropriate community resource. This referral to an outside resource is also communicated to the State Agency via the MIS. The State Agency will determine if the client’s E&T participation should be reassessed based on the services needed or rendered by the outside source (substance abuse treatment, battered women’ shelter, food pantry, etc.). The provider will be expected, at minimum, to follow-up with the client on a monthly basis and address any changes or progress related to those outside referrals.
As the providers complete their assessments with the participants, it is encouraged to address the client’s needs and not just barriers to the E&T program. The State Agency provides a resource guide to E&T providers that will assist them in finding resources available in their area and provides annual trainings that will include best practices, new regulations, and case management guidance in providing a holistic approach to case management.