1. Using SNAP E&T to Support job-Driven Training Programs
Kaila Wilson, SNAP Office of Employment & Training, FNS
NCWE Conference- Keeping the Promises of Workforce Education, October 12, 2016

2. Thinking about Programs that Serve Low-Skilled and Low-Income People Differently

3. Putting it in context: Why skills matter

4. Today’s Jobs Require a Higher Level of Skills
By 2020, two-thirds of all jobs will require post-secondary education and training beyond high school
At the current rate of production, The U.S. will fall short by 5 million workers with postsecondary education by 2020
Source: Job Growth and Education Requirements Through 2020, Georgetown Center on Education and the Workforce

5. Skills of SNAP Participants
40 percent of SNAP participants are not high school graduates
More likely to participate longer-term in SNAP than their higher-educated peers
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2014 and U.S. Census Bureau Analysis of Survey of Income and Program Participation Data, 2004
Long-term = 37 months out of last 48 months

6. Job Change in Recession and Recovery
Source: America’s Divided Recovery: College Haves and Have-Nots, Georgetown Center on Education and the Workforce

7. Addressing the Skills Gap

8. Lack of skilled workforce impacting employers

9. Connecting Skills and SNAP E&T

10. SNAP E&T as Part of the Skilled Workforce Solution
We have two problems we should never have at the same time:
People who are struggling to find decent, stable employment; and
Employers who are struggling to find workers with the right skills
SNAP E&T can play an important role in addressing both of these needs
By supporting skills training programs that lead to industry recognized certificates and credentials and are linked to employment, we can move SNAP participants toward economic self-sufficiency and also help meet the skilled workforce needs of employers

11. SNAP E&T a Priority from the
High priority for Secretary Vilsack
Focused on moving people off of SNAP the right way
Understands the power of a decent job to improve people’s lives
Equally high priority for Under Secretary Concannon
Focused on expanding the core SNAP E&T program
Sees an opportunity for states to make full use of their 100 percent funds, increase use of funds
Making calls to States, talking about E&T in speeches, sending letters— sending the clearest, strongest message possible about the interest in and importance of this program to the agency
National and Regional Offices working together to implement this vision

12. Where we started…

13. Where we’re going…

14. Full Assessments and Screenings
Component Offerings Matched to Needs and Skills of Participants
Enhanced by Collaboration
Supports Flexibility
Wide Variety of Service and Supports
“If you set out to design a job training program for low-skilled, low-income workers, it would look like SNAP E&T”
Lends itself to career pathways, including supportive services
Bridge between programs and across institutions
Flexible services based on the needs of participants

15. SNAP E&T 101

16. Purpose of the E&T Program
To assist members of SNAP households in gaining skills, training, work, or experience that will increase their ability to obtain regular employment.
Section 6(d)(4) of the Food and Nutrition Act

17. What is SNAP E&T?
Right now, USDA provides ~$300 million annually to states to operate SNAP Employment and Training programs
All states are required to operate E&T programs and must submit an annual E&T plan
In FY 2015, SNAP E&T served about 1 million participants (up from about 650,000 in FY 2014)
States have considerable flexibility in designing E&T programs that meet the needs of participants and employers

18. Who is Eligible for SNAP E&T?
Are able to work upon program completion.
Do not receive TANF cash assistance; and
Are receiving SNAP in the month they participate in a component--except for job retention;
SNAP recipients who:
SNAP and SNAP E&T do not have participation time limits
States can operate mandatory or voluntary programs

19. Extremely Flexible in Design & Services
Workfare
Work Experience
Case Management,
Support Services
Job Search
Job Search Training
Job Retention
Education (e.g. Adult Basic Education, ESL, Vocational Training)
Self Employment
SNAP E&T can support an extremely wide array of activities, including:
Employment and training services (“components”)—job search, job search training, work readiness, ABE, ESL, GED®, occupational or technical training, apprenticeships or pre- apprenticeships, WIOA, postsecondary education, etc.
Administrative activities—case management, career navigators, success coaches, job developers, etc.
Support services (“participant reimbursements”)—must include transportation and dependent care assistance if necessary, may include books, tools, uniforms, licensing fees, dues, eye glasses, etc.

20. Supportive Services
Reasonably necessary and directly related to participation in E&T activities. Examples:
Transportation
Child care
Books and supplies
Equipment and supplies needed for training
Uniforms
Licensing fees
SNAP E&T participants must be provided with participant reimbursements (i.e. supportive services)

21. Unique Funding Opportunities
Federal SNAP E&T funding
100% funds ($90M)
Pledge (ABAWD) funds ($20M)
50-50 funds (uncapped)
Administrative reimbursement
Participant reimbursement
In a time of limited resources, E&T can bring new capacity to the system
States are currently leaving money on the table
Rare opportunity to leverage existing investments

22. 50-50 Reimbursement Funds Where the real potential of the program is
Covers both administrative costs and participant costs
Extremely flexible funding
Covers wide array of allowable costs
Can be aligned with other funding streams to fill in “gaps”
Right now, this is largely an untapped resource
50-50 Reimbursement Funds

23. Show Me the Money State, county, or city funds
Donations from private firms or non-profits
Foundation funds
Social venture funds (e.g. Goodwill store revenues)
*Community Development Block Grants (CDBG)
State Need Grants
State Worker Retraining Dollars
State Opportunity Grants
Tuition set-aside resources
Other state training funds (ex-offender, homeless, non-custodial parents)

24. Third-Party Partnerships

25. State SNAP Agency and Provider Partnership
Sometimes also referred to as third-party “match” programs or third-party reimbursement programs
E&T services are provided by third parties, such as community colleges and community based organizations
Partners pay for services and get reimbursed 50% through Federal funding
State contracts with provider for E&T services
Provider uses non-federal funds, submits claim for reimbursement through the State
FNS reimburses State for 50% of allowable expenses
States passes reimbursement back to partner

26. SNAP E&T and Community Colleges
Community colleges are:
An integral part of the job-driven training system, often with existing connections to career pathway program, adult basic education, apprenticeships, and integrated learning models
A point of entry for low-skilled job seekers
An important link to employers
Affordable and accessible
Ideal community college partners:
Can expand existing capacity to serve new students or provide additional services
Have administrative capacity to operate an E&T program
Have access to sources of non-federal funds
Offer additional resources to mitigate barriers and support participation (can be by partnering with CBOs)
Track outcomes and continuously evaluates and improves programs
Use of E&T funds for community colleges:
E&T funds can pay for administrative costs, tuition, books and fees, equipment and supplies, transportation, child care, other supports deemed “reasonable and necessary”
E&T funds can help SNAP recipients afford the transition into college until traditional financial aid is available
States can use 100% grant funds to purchase training slots for SNAP recipients (can create whole classes)
Colleges can use non-federal funds to pay for allowable costs and receive a 50% reimbursement

27. Co-Enrollment Non-Duplication of Services
Wrap-Around Support Provider
Education & Training Provider

28. Challenges Benefits Pros and Cons Tracking non-federal funding sources
Maximize dollars already being spent to serve SNAP recipients
Expand the types of services available without added State expenditures
Allow CBOs and colleges to expand capacity and serve more individuals
Create a new funding stream to pay for much needed participant supports
Help organizations administer program
Ideally, begins to align programs and systems
Increase employment and earning for SNAP recipients
Challenges
Must establish in advance
Must work through State (or county) SNAP agency
Can be administratively complex
Must verify SNAP eligibility
Anticipating service levels throughout the year
Tracking non-federal funding sources
Financing can be difficult, especially at start-up
Tracking non-federal funding sources
Verifying SNAP eligibility
Complex invoicing process
Anticipating service levels throughout the year
Annual budgeting process
Pros
State SNAP agency conserves funds and resources while offering new or additional E&T services
Partners who are already serving eligible population are able to expand services or the number of clients served
Cons
Not every organization has the capacity to be an E&T partner. Smaller organizations may have a hard time tracking and meeting the reporting requirements for a Federal grant.
Important questions to ask:
What services does the provider offer?
Are the services appropriate E&T activities?
What is the capacity of the third-party provider?
Who will have what responsibility?
Responsibilities of provider
Secure allowable source of non-Federal funds
Place, monitor, and support participants
Track costs and comply with Federal rules
Maintain appropriate documentation for expenses
Maintain sufficient funds to support the program in the absence of Federal reimbursement

29. Resources & Tools

30. First-ever large-scale technical assistance project to support growth in SNAP E&T
Focused on job-driven programs
Funded by FNS, led by SJI
Targeted Technical Assistance
10 States: Arkansas, Arizona, California, Massachusetts, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, North Carolina, Tennessee
Materials/Resources
Monthly newsletter about SNAP E&T
“Workbook” to help States work through steps to develop and operationalize SNAP E&T program
10 Policy briefs on best practices in SNAP E&T
Success stories
Webinars

31. Things You Can Do
Visit the FNS website guidance
Read our SNAP E&T Toolkit /ET_Toolkit_2013.pdf
Visit the recently launched SNAP to Skills website :
Read our new policy briefs on why now is the time for States to build their SNAP E&T programs and SNAP E&T and ABAWDs
Sign up to receive our new SNAP E&T newsletter
Checkout what is happening in States and read successful stories about SNAP E&T participants around the country

32. People You Can Talk To
Christine Ruggieri (NERO)
Derrick Dolphin (MARO)
Nick Espinosa (SERO)
Ray Prendergast (MWRO)
Jason Turner (SWRO)
Karla Maraccini (MPRO)
Brian Solomon (WRO)

33. Kaila Wilson
SNAP Office of Employment and Training
My Contact Information