NC Community College Education Navigator Pilot Food and Nutrition Services Employment and Training (FNS E&T) NC Community College Education Navigator Pilot OPPORTUNITY is KNOCKING !!

FNS E&T Plan of Action Overview Presentation to NCETA Spring Conference April 19-21, 2017 Wilmington, NC Renee Smith Food and Nutrition Services Employment and Training Coordinator Division of Social Services, Economic and Family Services North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services and Teretha Bell Coordinator of Special Projects Workforce and Continuing Education North Carolina Community College System

FNS E&T Plan of Action Overview Historical Context 1987 - Congress established the Food Stamp Employment and Training WHY? To assist able-bodied food stamp recipients in obtaining employment.

FNS E&T Plan of Action Overview Historical Context Changes to program… National Name Change – Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) 2008 – Food and Nutrition Act gave a great deal of FLEXIBILITY in the design of the E&T Programs and must include one of the following… Job Search Program Job Search Training Program WorkFare Program Work Experience or Training Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act ( WIOA) Education Program Self Employment

FNS E&T Plan of Action Overview Historical Context Changes continue... 2014 - https://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/docs/skills_report.pdf

The American workforce faces serious skill level gaps

FNS E&T Plan of Action Overview 2016 Historical Context SNAP Employment, Training a USDA Priority Release No. FNS 0004.16 Contact: FNS Communications (703) 305-2281 SNAP Employment, Training a USDA Priority USDA Announces New Results-Focused Reporting Rule for Job-Driven Programs WASHINGTON, March 23, 2016 -- The U.S. Department of Agriculture has announced new steps to further strengthen the success of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Employment and Training (SNAP E&T) activities, in the latest action by the department to help more SNAP participants develop marketable skills and find jobs. "In today’s job market, it’s clear that workers who increase their education and sharpen their skills are more likely to be employed, more likely to have higher earnings and become more self-sufficient," said Under Secretary Kevin Concannon. "These are effects that are passed on to future generations, breaking the cycle of poverty that encumbers too many households." The new outcome reporting requirements, mandated by the 2014 Farm Bill, will help states, USDA, and the public understand the effectiveness of SNAP E&T programs.  States can use these data to identify best practices and identify areas for improvement. Starting next year, the rule requires states to provide annual data on employment entry, job retention, median earnings, and other education and employment-related outcomes. To foster and streamline partnerships across federal training programs, the reporting requirements are aligned closely with the measures included in the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, which governs the nation’s federal training programs. Concannon said the rule published today underscores USDA’s ongoing commitment to help states develop robust E&T programs that help low-income Americans transition off SNAP the right way: through a well-paying job.  He noted additional recent efforts: In March 2015, USDA announced the participants of $200 million in competitive awards to fund and evaluate 10 long-term pilot projects designed to help SNAP participants find jobs and work toward self-sufficiency. The pilot projects, which were funded by the 2014 Farm Bill, represent a wide array of approaches—including skills training, work-based learning, support services such as transportation and child care, and other job-driven strategies—and reflect the wide geographic diversity of the SNAP population. In October 2015, USDA announced that it will be partnering with the Seattle Jobs Initiative to elevate best practices in SNAP E&T and offer technical assistance to states on how to implement job-driven SNAP E&T programs.  USDA's Food and Nutrition Service selected the Seattle Jobs Initiative to operate this initiative, called SNAP to Skills, for the next two years. In March 2016, USDA announced 10 states that would receive extra technical assistance through SNAP to Skills to improve their E&T programs. Today’s announcement comes during National Nutrition Month.  Throughout the month, USDA is highlighting the results of our efforts to improve access to safe, healthy food for all Americans, and support the health of our next generation. USDA's Food and Nutrition Service administers 15 nutrition assistance programs. In addition to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, these programs include Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children, the National School Lunch Program, and the Summer Food Service Program which together comprise America's nutrition safety net. For more information, visit www.fns.usda.gov. ## USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer. To file a complaint of discrimination, write to USDA, Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Stop 9410, Washington, DC 20250-9410, or call toll-free at (866) 632-9992 (English) or (800) 877-8339 (TDD)or (866) 377-8642 (English federal-relay) or (800) 845-6136 (Spanish federal-relay). http://www.fns.usda.gov/pressrelease/2016/fns-000416

North Carolina FNS E&T Overview USDA provides millions of dollars annually to States to operate FNS E&T programs. FNS E&T programs provide education and skills training for FNS participants ages 18 - 59 who can be reasonably expected to work. The North Carolina FNS E&T program is voluntary. FNS E&T participants must be reimbursed for transportation and other expenses directly related FNS E&T participation components.

What Services Can Be Provided By FNS E&T ? Workfare Work Experience Case Management, Support Services Job Search Job Search Training Job Retention Education (e.g. Adult Basic Education, Vocational Training) Self Employment

FNS E&T Plan of Action Overview WHAT ARE THE NEEDS OF THE FNS POPULATON? PARTICIPANT REIMBURSEMENT EXPENSES Federal Regs require that the FNS E&T participant is reimbursed for allowable expenses that are REASONABLE, NECESSARY and DIRECTLY related to participation in an E&T component. Transportation – Public Fare, Gas, etc. Dependent Care Cost Books Uniforms Clothing for Job Interviews See page 48 Appendix B of the E&T Toolkit for more information.

FNS E&T Plan of Action Overview WHAT ARE THE NEEDS OF THE FNS POPULATON? Short-term Vocational Training Certification Vocational Degree On-the-Job Training Work Experience Basic Education Self–Employment Training Apprenticeship Program English as a Second Language Job Search Training Job Retention Services (90 days) Child-Care Transportation

FNS E&T Plan of Action Overview WHO NEEDS TO BE AT THE TABLE TO DEVELOP the E&T Plan of Action ? Workforce Dev. Boards Employers NCWorks Career Center Community College Literacy Council WIOA Ex-Offender/ReEntry Food Banks Apprenticeship Consultant Training Institutions Transportation Resources Vocational Rehab Culinary Schools Non-Profits FNS E&T Participant For Profits Homeless Shelters Faith Based Organizations Child Care Organizations Banks Hospitals Staffing Agencies

FNS E&T Plan of Action Overview Partnerships and Third Party Reimbursements USDA recommends that we maximize resources and create sustainability through third-party partnerships. A third-party partnership simply means that E&T services are provided by third parties, such as community colleges and community based organizations. Main Feature: Funds to pay for the services come from the partners rather than the state or labor agency, and can be reimbursed at 50% by federal SNAP E&T funds. This maximizes resources for services, augments the menu of services offered, expands capacity and knowledge and creates sustainability.

FNS E&T Plan of Action Overview Partnerships and Third Party Reimbursements FACT: Counties may have very limited financial resources for participant expenses. Counties may have limited staff to administer a FNS E&T program. The term “Partner” implies shared responsibility! WHO can “Partner” to help with these challenges?

How Is FNS E&T Funded? Annual Federal funding for FNS E&T streams 50-50 funds are extremely flexible 100 Percent funds are used exclusively for Administrative purposes Annual Federal funding for FNS E&T streams Federal FNS E&T Funding 50-50 Funds Participant Reimbursements Administrative Reimbursements 100 Percent Funds

FNS E&T THIRD PARTY REIMBURSEMENT State/County contracts with local employment and/or education provider to provide E&T services Provider uses non-federal funds to pay for allowable expenses, and submits a claim for reimbursement through the State FNS reimburses State for 50% allowable expenses State passes reimbursement back to partner

FNS E&T Plan of Action Overview

North Carolina FNS Employment & Training(E&T)Program The North Carolina Employment and Training Program can be clustered in 5 categories.

North Carolina Community College Education Navigator Pilot NC was selected to receive E&T Consultant Technical Assistance called the SNAP to Skills (S2S) Initiative Seattle Jobs Initiative – (SJI) assists NC to establish goals Expand the FNS E&T program Availability of resources to build robust Third Party Partnership Availability of strong, job driven workforce development programs in NC NC S2S Interagency Team established S2S - 10 State Training Meeting - Margaret Roberton proposes the Education Navigator pilot

North Carolina Community College Education Navigator Pilot Staff Coordinator of Special Projects Supervises Education Navigators Advocates for the Pilot with Dept. of Social Services Collaborates with the Community Colleges to become FNS E&T Partners Collaborates with the Division of Workforce Solutions Assists with the access of 50/50 Reimbursement Funding for the Community Colleges

North Carolina Community College Education Navigator Pilot Staff Education Navigators Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College Partnership with Buncombe County DSS and Durham Technical Community College Partnership with Orange County DSS

North Carolina Community College Education Navigator Pilot Staff Education Navigators Responsibilities Exclusively serves FNS E&T recipients with: Educational Assessments Educational Pathways Determines Educational/Employability Plans of Action Provides Some Case Management Services Coordinates with DSS Staff for participant supportive services Provides Outcome Measures Tracking

NC FNS E&T VISION Strengthen the Family Strengthen the Community Strengthen the North Carolina Workforce Strengthen FNS E&T Partnerships

IT’S A WIN/WIN FOR ALL! Partnerships create better programs & outcomes E&T participants benefit from broader support Leveraging resources means leveraging knowledge Money doesn’t get left on the table Meaningful strategies Fuller funding for more effective services

FNS E&T Plan of Action Overview Get To Know FNS E&T Policy http://www.fns.usda.gov/ET-policy-guidance

FNS E&T - Educator Navigator Pilot THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND ATTENTION Renee.Smith@dhhs.nc.gov Teretha Bell: bellt@nccommunitycolleges.edu