1. Partnership Opportunity is Knocking!
The North Carolina Food and Nutrition Services Employment and Training Program and ABAWDS NC Works Partnership Conference October 5, 2016

2. FNS E&T Historical Context
Historically, most states did not provide extensive FNS E&T services.
Hampered by limited workforce knowledge.
Overshadowed by TANF work programs
Limited by a lack of adequate funding and participant supports.
States developed simple programs that could be operated at low-cost, delivered in-house and focused on basic Job Search services.

3. FNS E&T Historical Context
One size fits all E&T programs don’t work.
Focus on what is best for the individual rather than what is best for the agency.
Participant supports must be provided to mitigate barriers to success.
Labor market information must drive training programs.
Leverage expertise from multiple sources.

4. Re-FOCUS ON OUR PURPOSE
The Food and Nutrition Act of 2008
provides opportunities for FNS participants
gain employment skills
Job driven Training
education
work experience
to improve their employment prospects and reduce their reliance on FNS benefits.

5. PARADIGM SHIFT TO PARTNERSHIPS
The Need for a Collaborative Approach

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

7. FNS E&T Programs Are FLEXIBLE
FNS E&T Services can be provided by:
Dept. of Social Services Staff
State Labor Agency
WIOA Service Providers
Community & Technical Colleges
Community-Based Organizations
Employers

8. 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

9. FNS E&T THIRD PARTY REIMBURSEMENT
FNS E&T 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 the 50% reimbursement through the County DSS and then to State
USDA-FNS reimburses State for 50% allowable expenses claim
State passes 50% reimbursement for the claim to County DSS

10. North Carolina FNS Employment & Training(E&T)Program
The North Carolina Employment and Training Program Models
Fiscal Year
Brunswick
Durham
Granville
Johnston  
New Hanover
Division of Workforce Solutions delivers E&T Services
Buncombe
Contracts with Goodwill Industries deliver FNS E&T Services
Cherokee
Program has a Part-time FNS E&T Coordinator and partners with the Community College
Orange
TANF/ FNS E&T Employment Social Workers deliver FNS E&T Services and partners with community based organizations and employers
Pitt
Program has FNS E&T Social Workers and partners with community based organizations and employers
Mecklenburg
Program has a Full-time FNS E&T Coordinator
Contracts with Goodwill Industries, Urban League, Community Culinary School of Charlotte and Center for Community Transitions to deliver FNS E & T Services .

11. MECKLENBURG’S FNS E&T IMPACT
Obtain Certification in Mid-skill trades
HVAC
Fiber Optics
Microsoft Certification
Banking
Call Center
Building Construction
Highway Construction
Culinary
Hospitality
Tourism
Forklift operation

12. AND NOW…...

13. Who is an ABAWD ?
An Abled-Bodied Adult Without Dependents (ABAWD) is defined as a FNS household member who is:
Fit for employment
Age 18 through 49
Included in a Food and Nutrition Services (FNS) unit that does not contain an individual under the age 18.

14. Able-Bodied Adults without Dependents (ABAWDs)
ABAWD Background
The Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act (PRWORA) of 1996 also known as welfare reform, imposed a work requirement and time limit on Food and Nutrition Services (FNS) recipients viewed as fit to work - ABAWDS.
Able-Bodied Adults without Dependents (ABAWDs)
The goal of the ABAWD provisions is to encourage FNS
participants who are fit to work to become more self-sufficient through employment.

15. North Carolina ABAWD Waiver History
2008 – National economy collapsed and unemployment spiked: USDA waived the ABAWD regulation thus allowing ABAWDs to continue to receive FNS as they continued to look for work – USDA announced an end to the blanket ABAWD waiver except in areas where jobs are scarce and the unemployment rate was high enough to qualify for the waiver – House Bill # 318 prohibited further requests for extensions of the ABAWD waiver for all 100 counties – ABAWD implementation – 23 counties effective January 1, counties effective July 1, 2016

16. North Carolina’s 36 month period
ABAWD FNS TIME LIMITS
North Carolina’s 36 month period
January 1, 2016 – December 31, 2018
An ABAWD is restricted to receiving FNS benefits
for a period of (3) three months within a set 36 month
period UNLESS:
The individual is exempt from ABAWD OR
The individual complies with ABAWD work requirements

17. ABAWD Work Requirements
Work 20 hours weekly
Volunteer at an approved public or private agency for 20 hours weekly
Participate in a Work Program ( e.g. WIOA) for 20 hours weekly
Participate in an Employment and Training Program that
includes qualifying ABAWD activities for 20 hours weekly:
Education/Training
Volunteer/Work Experience
Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA)
Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA)
Combination of the activities listed above for 20 hours weekly

18. POWER IN PARTNERSHIPS Help ABAWDs to meet work requirements;
Provide services to FNS recipients historically reserved for TANF;
Provide participant supports;
Augment the menu of services; and
Leverage local resources for workforce services.

19. Why FNS E&T? Targeted to Low-Income Requires Support Services
Leverages Funding
Enhanced by Collaboration
Supports Flexibility
Requires Support Services

20. 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

21. N.C. FNS E&T VISION Strengthen the Family Strengthen the Community
Strengthen the North Carolina Workforce
Strengthen FNS E&T Partnerships

22. Renee Smith, NC FNS E&T Coordinator renee.smith@dhhs.nc.gov