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. 12. The relationship between the State agency and other organizations it plans to coordinate with for the provision of services, including organizations in the Statewide workforce development system, if available. Copies of contracts must be available for inspection; The State agency must document how it consulted with the State workforce development board. If the State agency consulted with private employers or employer organizations in lieu of the State workforce development board, it must document this consultation and explain the determination that doing so was more effective or efficient. The State agency must include in its E&T State plan a description of any outcomes from the consultation with the State workforce development board or private employers or employer organizations. The State agency must also address in the E&T State plan the extent to which E&T activities will be carried out in coordination with the activities under title I of WIOA;
Current Narrative:
Arkansas E&T has an agreement with the Department of Workforce Services (DWS) due to a relationship that has been built with Arkansas Career Education. Arkansas Career Education (ACE) is the only statewide E&T contractor. DWS provided the SA with information about employment trends by region. Because Arkansas is a very rural state, employment in certain occupations and areas are limited. The 65+ age group has experienced an increase which also increases the need for healthcare workers. Based on this growing trend, as well as the changes being experienced by the nation, the SA will continue to build its program by seeking providers that educate and prepare SNAP participants in healthcare and social assistance, manufacturing, and food services.
Through DWS, Arkansas can connect with services through the Workforce Investment Board (WIB) as well as the services offered under the Workforce Investment Opportunity Act (WOIA) to help those at-risk able-bodied adults maintain SNAP eligibility while gaining skills necessary for success. The State Agency has a region-by-region agreement with DWS to allow SNAP recipients to use WOIA as a qualifying activity. DWS notifies local county offices if a SNAP participant is engaged in WOIA-based job search. The state agency continues to coordinate with workforce to develop ways of connecting participants with jobs that are in high demand and develop or seek out providers that provide trainings and certifications for these demands in the workforce.
In 2019, Arkansas Legislature passed a law that will require SNAP participants between 50-59 to engage in a work activity to remain eligible for SNAP. WIOA Title 1 programs can assist this group with supervised job search activities as well as new job search trends and activities. This law is not expected to go live until SFY 2024.