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:
The SNAP E&T providers are required to provide case management services to all SNAP E&T participants which includes conducting assessments to identify and address barriers, developing Individualized Employment Plans for monitoring activities/components, providing continuous supportive services, and assisting with job placements. The SNAP E&T participants’ cases are managed through SNAP Works. The SNAP E&T providers provide ongoing case management services to all SNAP E&T participants. Case management includes conducting assessments to identify and address barriers, developing Individualized Employment Plans for monitoring activities/components, providing continuous supportive services, and assisting with job placements. Progress monitoring, longitudinal data, participant referrals to other entities, and outcomes are tracked in SNAP Works. In addition, the SNAP E&T providers offer wrap around services.
XII. Conciliation Process (if applicable
DCFS utilizes referrals of individuals from community based organizations and community/technical colleges, therefore, individuals are self-initiated into the SNAP E&T program through the SNAP E&T provider of choice. SNAP E&T provider schedules an appointment with the individuals to provide an overview of the specific program and to pre-screen the individuals to ensure they are an appropriate fit for the program. Once the individual is identified as an appropriate fit for the program, the SNAP E&T provider enters the social security number in SNAP Works to determine if the individual receives SNAP benefits. If the individual receives SNAP benefits, the SNAP E&T provider has the individual to sign an agreement attesting that they choose to participate in the SNAP E&T program and then completes the orientation and comprehensive assessment either the same day or an appointment is scheduled for a later date. Once the comprehensive assessment is completed, the SNAP E&T provider completes the Individualized Employment Plan (IEP) with the individual.
SNAP E&T staff utilizes emails, phone calls, Zoom meetings, site visits, and SNAP Works to communicate with the SNAP E&T providers. In addition, there is a quarterly SNAP E&T provider meeting and an annual training provided to the SNAP E&T providers. Information shared with the SNAP E&T Providers includes but not limited to policy updates, State agency changes/updates, process improvements, contracts, invoices, budgets, and best practices.
b) How is the referral communicated to participants and what information about E&T are E&T participants given when they are referred? (e.g. information about accessing E&T services, case management, dates, contact information)?
DCFS utilizes referrals of SNAP eligible participants from community based organizations and community/technical colleges, therefore, individuals are self-initiated into the SNAP E&T program. The individual initiate contact with the SNAP E&T provider of choice. The SNAP E&T provider schedules an appointment with the individual to provide an overview of the specific program and to pre-screen the individual to ensure they are an appropriate fit for the program. Once the individual is identified as an appropriate fit for the program, the SNAP E&T provider has the individual to sign an agreement attesting that they choose to participate in the SNAP E&T program. The SNAP E&T provider enters the social security number of the individual into SNAP Works to verify the SNAP case status. The SNAP E&T providers provide the same services rendered to individuals who receive SNAP benefits to an individual who does not receive SNAP benefits.The State agency informs individuals orally about the SNAP E&T program during the interview process as well in the written consolidated notice for work requirements. SNAP E&T providers has the option to send correspondence to SNAP E&T participants through SNAP Works. DCFS is currently working to brand the SNAP E&T program so that SNAP E&T materials are created and readily available to distribute. The notices available in SNAP Works are as follows: Appointment Notice, SNAP E&T Referral Closing, Employment Plan Closing, and Missed Appointment Notice.
The SNAP E&T participants take part in orientation, case management, a component, participant reimbursements, and referrals to other entities for other supportive services such as mental health counseling which are not paid with SNAP E&T funds.
DCFS utilizes referrals of SNAP eligible participants from community based organizations and community/technical colleges, therefore, individuals are self-initiated into the SNAP E&T program. SNAP Works is used to communicate within the State agency and the SNAP E&T providers.