Narrative: a. 1.

This plan presents Louisiana's proposal to use grant funding to meet the SNAP E&T requirements of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 and utilize 50/50 federal funds to serve participants in defined areas of the state as outlined in this plan. Policies are defined in Chapter 4 of the DCFS Policy Management System, SNAP E&T Handbook, and the Louisiana Administrative Code-Title 67, Social Services. Louisiana intends to meet the SNAP E&T requirements through contractual agreements with Community Based Organizations and Community and Technical Colleges known as SNAP E&T Providers.

Louisiana has thirty-nine SNAP E&T Providers that offer SNAP E&T services to SNAP recipients throughout the State of Louisiana that includes the following:

 The SNAP E&T provider services are aligned to industry and employer career paths. Options include high-demand careers in hospitality, construction, healthcare, information technology, and others.

The following components are offered through the SNAP E&T Program are as follows:

• Job Search Training
  • Designed to enhance the job search skills of participants by providing instruction in job seeking techniques, motivation, and self–confidence to ensure of job readiness and employment. Job Search Training activities may include, but are not limited to employability assessments, resume writing, job placement services, instruction and support related to seeking employment, workplace etiquette workshops, and career planning.
  • Job Search Training not to exceed 120 hours per month unless the participant volunteer for additional hours. To get the most out of the component, participants would need to have the ability to read.  Participants are not required to have a specific reading level however, participants are screened to determine reading level and complete an employability assessment by providers in order to determine the level of employability as well as a willingness to learn and adapt to changes in a work environment. Individuals would need to be habitually unemployed and/or difficulty maintaining employment. The estimated monthly cost is $193,223.08.

• Job Retention
  • Designed to assist participants in achieving satisfactory performance, retain employment and to increase earnings over time. Job retention services such as case management, job coaching, dependent care assistance and transportation assistance for a minimum of 30 days not to exceed 90 days to individuals who has secured employment.  The participant must have secured employment after or while receiving other employment/training services under the E&T program. Only individuals who have received other employment and training services under the E&T program are eligible for job retention services. There is no limit to the number of times an individual may receive job retention services as long as the individual has re-engaged with E&T prior to obtaining new employment. The SNAP E&T participant must have obtained employment after completion of a SNAP E&T component. The estimated monthly cost is $193,223.08.

• Education – Basic/Foundational Skills Instruction (includes High School Equivalency Programs)
  • Designed to offer academic instruction and education services below the postsecondary level that increase an individual’s ability to read, write, and speak in English and perform mathematics or other activities necessary for the attainment of a secondary school diploma or its recognized equivalent; transition to postsecondary education and training; and obtain employment. Such programs include Adult Basic Education (ABE), basic literacy, and high school equivalency (GED, HiSET).
  • Participants must be out-of-school and at least 16 years of age and be willing to participate in test preparation or instruction, take the practice test to qualify for the HiSET exam, and take the HISET exam. Basic/Foundational Skills not to exceed 120 hours per month unless the participant volunteers for additional hours. The estimate monthly cost is $161,899.83.

• Education – Career/Technical Education Program or other Vocational Training
  • Organized activities at the post-secondary level that provide individuals with the academic and technical knowledge and skills necessary to prepare for further education and for careers in current or emerging employment sectors. Programs are primarily designed for those who are beyond the age of compulsory high school attendance. Ideally, such programs should be employer-driven and lead to industry-recognized certificates or credentials.  
  • Certificates or recognized credentials may include Certified Nursing Assistance, American Hotel & Lodging Educational Institute (AHLEI) certificate, National Retail Federation (NRF) certificate, Certified Production Technician (CPT), Certified Logistics Associate (CLA), Louisiana Economic Development (LED) FastStart's Certification 4 Manufacturing (C4M), Manufacturing Skill Standards Council's (MCSC), National Center for Construction Education and Research (NCCER) Core Education.
  • Participants must be at least 18 years of age. SNAP E&T participants are assessed to determine their educational and training level and must score at an 8th grade level on the TABE. In addition, SNAP E&T participants are required to meet the prerequisites for the program of study. Career/Technical Education Programs or other Vocational Training not to exceed 120 hours per month unless the participant volunteers for additional hours. The estimated monthly cost is $193,223.08.

• Education – Work Readiness
  • Designed to include skill assessment and educational remediation services that prepare individuals for the workforce. Work readiness skills may include both foundational cognitive skills such as reading for information, applied mathematics, locating information, problem solving, and critical thinking and non-cognitive skills, or soft skills, which are defined as personal characteristics and behavioral skills that enhance an individual’s interactions, job performance, and career prospects such as adaptability, integrity, cooperation, and workplace discipline.
  • Participants are expected to engage in informational sessions with providers to get an understanding of the program. Participants are expected to be at an 8th grade reading level.  To get the most out of the component, participants would need to have the ability to, comprehend as well as a willingness to learn, ready to accept employment, and adapt to changes in a work environment. Work Readiness Training not to exceed 120 hours per month unless the participant volunteers for additional hours. The estimated monthly cost is $193,223.08.

• Work Experience – Internship
  • Designed to have sustained interactions with industry or community professionals in real world settings to the extent practicable, or simulated environments at an educational institution that provides firsthand engagement with the tasks required in a given career field, that are aligned to curriculum and instruction. Work-based learning emphasizes employer engagement, includes specific training objectives, and leads to regular employment. In addition, internships is a planned, structured learning experience that takes place in a workplace for a limited period of time. Activities will provide participants with culinary skills to place them in culinary jobs; increase academic and critical skills in construction to prepare participants for employment along with industry certifications and credentials; assist participants in navigating educational barriers to develop social and professional skills needed in healthcare, automotive, customer service and graphic arts.
  • SNAP E&T participants are required to complete the necessary education and training activities to gain skills in a real workplace environment. Successful completion of work readiness classes with is required for participants to participate in the internship component, with at least 80% attendance. The level of effort varies by providers. However, internships will not exceed 120 hours per month unless the participant volunteers for additional hours. The estimated monthly cost is $157,748.58.

• Work Experience: Apprenticeship
  • Designed to have sustained interactions with industry or community professionals in real world settings to the extent practicable or simulated environments that provides firsthand engagement with the tasks required in a given career field that are aligned to curriculum and instruction. Apprenticeship is a training activity that is conducted under the supervision of an experienced worker with related classroom instruction. The Apprenticeship Training programs offered includes HVAC (Heating, Ventilation, & Air Conditioning) Technician & Dispatcher, Medical Coding & Billing, Medical Administrative Assistant, Residential Building Coding Inspections, Software Development.
  • The SNAP E&T participate must not have any prior convictions related to any sexual offense, have a high school diploma/HiSET or be enrolled in a HiSET Program. Potential participants are expected to attend an interview with the provider prior to being accepted. The level of effort will not exceed 120 hours per month unless the participant volunteers for additional hours. The estimated monthly cost is $193,223.08.

• Work Experience: On-the-Job Training
  • Designed to have sustained interactions with industry or community professionals in real world settings to the extent practicable, or simulated environments at an educational institution that provides firsthand engagement with the tasks required in healthcare, culinary arts, construction, landscaping, computer coding and IT and are aligned to curriculum and instruction. Participants will receive in-person tutoring to meet educational goals while training to training to enter the laboratory healthcare field, culinary arts, construction, landscaping, computer coding and IT. Upon completion of the training, the employer is expected to retain the individuals as regular employees.  SNAP E&T Participants are expected to engage in informational sessions with providers to get an understanding of the program.
  • Participants are expected to be at an 8th grade reading level. Participants are required to complete the necessary education and training activities to gain skills in a real workplace environment. After completion of On-the-Job Training, the SNAP E&T participants should be willing to accept suitable employment. Level of effort varies by providers. However, On-the-Job Training not to exceed 120 hours per month unless the participant volunteers for additional hours. The estimated monthly cost is $158,695.42.

• Work Experience: Transitional Jobs – Subsidized by E&T
  • Designed to have sustained interactions with industry or community professionals in real world settings to the extent practicable, or simulated environments at an educational institution that provides firsthand engagement with the tasks required in a given career field, that are aligned to curriculum and instruction. Work-based learning emphasizes employer engagement, includes specific training objectives, and leads to regular employment. In addition, Transitional Jobs is a work based learning program with a goal to establish a work history for individuals who are otherwise unemployable. Transitional jobs allow the individual to develop specific workplace skills necessary to attain and retain employment with paid wages subsidized by SNAP E&T. Transitional employment include specific training objectives and leads to the entry into, and retention in regular unsubsidized employment in landscaping. Training objectives include, project management as it relates to time, completing multiple tasks, and expectations for the job from the employer/Transitional Jobs partner; Professional presentation; Risk management and safety; Equipment operation; Customer service; Effective communication and Digital literacy. Participants are expected to work up to 8 hours per day for 3 to 4 days per week up for three to four months before securing unsubsidized employment.
  • SNAP E&T participants are required to complete the necessary education and training activities to gain skills in a real workplace environment. SNAP E&T Participants are expected to engage in informational sessions with providers to get an understanding of the program. Participants are expected to be at an 8th grade reading level.  The SNAP E&T participants should be willing to transition to suitable unsubsidized employment. Transitional Jobs – Subsidized by E&T not to exceed 120 hours per month unless the participant volunteers for additional hours. The estimated monthly cost is $20,001.58.