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. 1. The nature of the E&T components the State agency plans to offer and the reasons for such components, including cost information. The methodology for State agency reimbursement for education components must be specifically addressed. If a State agency plans to offer supervised job search in accordance with paragraph (e)(2)(i) of this section, the State agency must also include in the E&T plan a summary of the State guidelines implementing supervised job search. This summary of the State guidelines, at a minimum, must describe: The criteria used by the State agency to approve locations for supervised job search, an explanation of why those criteria were chosen, and how the supervised job search component meets the requirements to directly supervise the activities of participants and track the timing and activities of participants;
Current Narrative:
Washington’s E&T Program, called Basic Food Employment and Training (BFET) began as a pilot in 2005 in the White Center community. BFET provides assistance to Basic Food recipients on a voluntary basis to assist in employability. Eligible individuals have the ability to receive the following services through contracted services offered at local community based organizations (CBO) and community and technical colleges (CTC):
- Adult Basic Education/English Language Acquisition includes education activities provided to participants with low reading, writing or math skills in order to raise their overall employability. High School Equivalency (formerly GED), High School Completion, Adult Basic Education (ABE), and English Language Acquisition (ELA).
- Supervised Job Search activities assist participants while looking for employment. This may include access to job listings, email, fax, telephone or assistance in preparing applications and resumes.
- Job Search Training activity is education and assistance provided to participants to secure employment. This may include education in a career setting, like Washington’s I- BEST, assistance in preparing applications, resume writing, interview skills, and general computer instruction related to seeking employment.
- Support Services are ongoing supplemental assistance to assist clients during the transition to education and/or employment approved activities. This can include: transportation, child care, housing, clothing, books, educational supplies, tools, emergency assistance, etc.
- Vocational Education is education or instruction in specific skills and abilities required in an occupational field. This may include occupational assessment, remedial and entry level job skills training, customized and institutional skill training, and upgrade training.
- Life Skills training includes gaining abilities for adaptive and positive behavior that enable individuals to deal effectively with the demands and challenges of everyday life and employment.
- Work Based Learning is an activity defined as training in the private for-profit sector, non-profit sector, or public sector. This training can be an internship (Planned, structured learning experiences that take place in a workplace for a limited period of time; a program to provide practical experience for beginners in an occupation or profession, pre-apprenticeship, apprenticeship (A program or position in which a person learns a trade by working under a certified expert, or on-the-job training. BFET WBL is based on the partnerships BFET Providers build with employers in their area.
- Integrated Education and Training is an activity that provides Basic Education and/or English Language Acquisition (instruction or education that leads to a certificate; degree or industry recognized credential for an occupational field) activities concurrently and contextually with Vocational Education activities (Instruction or education that leads to a certificate; degree or industry recognized credential for an occupational field.
- English Language Acquisition is an activity that assists individual who are English language learners improve skills in reading, writing, speaking, and comprehension of the English language that leads to attainment of a secondary school diploma or its recognized equivalent; or transition to postsecondary education and training; or employment
BFET is a 50% match reimbursement program. CBOs and CTCs are reimbursed for 50% of the approved activities as outlined in their contract. In FFY 2019, DSHS contracted and operated a 50% match reimbursement program with 43 CBO’s, 34 community and technical colleges, the Employment Security Department and the Office of Refugee and Immigrant Assistance (ORIA).
Supervised Job Search
Supervised Job Search (SJS) is must provide structured activities that help participants look for and find jobs. Case managers must review and follow up all job search logs monthly with participants. All job search activity verification must include date, type, and result of contact. SJS activity may include: Use of computer, email, fax, telephone; Search of job listings; and, Securing identification, professional license, or certifications.
SJS requires participants to search for employment by making at least three employer contacts weekly and submitting their job search activities monthly as verification. SJS verification may be noted in eJAS within the activity month capturing the date, type, and result of contact to be considered as participant’s job search activity. Participants must take any steps necessary to apply for a position for the contact to count as a job search activity. Employer Contact is any engagement with an employer regarding a job posting. This means the participant can have multiple “employer contacts” for the same employer, for example: telephone, online or in-person contact. This may also include securing documents needed to secure and maintain employment.