1. Massachusetts Jobs and Workforce Summit:
Department of Transitional Assistance (DTA) SNAP Employment & Training Program
Massachusetts Jobs and Workforce Summit:
Investing in Talent
October 2016

2. Massachusetts’ E&T Program
Since 2006, DTA has partnered with Umass-Medical School to offer SNAP-only participants opportunities to enhance
employability through SNAP E&T participation.
Currently 45 community based organizations are contracted to provide SNAP E&T participants:
Assessments;
Job Search assistance;
Job Readiness Training;
Education;
Vocational Skills Training;
Job Retention Services (new for FFY’17); and
Participant Reimbursements.

3. How Does it Work for E&T Participants?
SNAP participants may voluntarily access SNAP E&T services by:
contacting the Central Office SNAP E&T staff to request a referral to a program or specific component;
directly contacting a SNAP E&T Provider; or
responding to outreach from a SNAP E&T Provider.
(888)   This line is staffed by Central Office SNAP Path to Work Specialists who can:
answer questions about General SNAP and ABAWD Work Program requirements;
refer SNAP-only clients to SNAP Path to Work components; and
helps ABAWDs locate volunteer opportunities with public and non-profit organizations.
These staff are not case managers and cannot determine SNAP eligibility or answer general SNAP questions.  Clients must call the statewide assistance line for non-E&T questions.
SNAP Path to Work Line:

4. How Does it Work for E&T Providers?
DTA/UMASS contracts with community based E&T providers that operate quality training or education programs.
These Providers are eligible for up to 50% reimbursement of
allowable costs when:
a client is enrolled in the program through the SNAP E&T Program; and
non federal funds are used to pay for the client’s participation.
This makes it possible to provide services to more people.

5. Participating SNAP E&T Providers

6. SNAP E&T Provider Reimbursements
Problems: low participation by clients, client caseload, were told by NERO that reverse referral was not allowed and that we had to impose CAPs on per client/component reimbursements, cumbersome referral and claims process not worth it to providers given low reimbursements, lack of funding for support services (transportation, child care, etc.).
Provider Reimbursement Goal for FFY’ : $6,487,500 , currently processing Q4 claims, but expect to reimburse under $1 million.
FFY’17 Goal: $3, 720,047

7. FY2017 SNAP E&T Goals Raise the profile, visibility and “brand.”
Increase the number of SNAP participants.
Increase access to E&T services statewide.
Offer a greater variety of E&T services, including partnering with community colleges.
Internal alignment among SNAP Path to Work and TAFDC Employment Services Program
External alignment with WIOA Partners and One- Stop Career Centers.
Offer more qualifying E&T components to help ABAWDs meet the work requirement.
Simplified referral and enrollment process (Less back and forth between Provider and DTA)
Checking client eligibility monthly rather than quarterly (Will be able to help clients who fall off get back on SNAP more quickly = Providers eligible for reimbursement for more participation months)
Removal of participant and component caps on reimbursement (Providers reimbursed 50% of all allowable costs based on actual dollars spent rather than predetermined participant rate)
Increased Central Office E&T Specialist presence in TAOs
Mid year Provider recruitment

8. New Name & New Logo

9. SNAP to Skills Massachusetts was selected as one of ten states to
take part in SNAP to Skills, a first-of-its-kind,
peer-to-peer effort to help state agencies design and
improve employment and training programs.
Until September 2017, DTA will receive intensive technical assistance to help build a better, stronger E&T program.
States were selected to participate based on:
their existing level of commitment and interest in expanding the SNAP E&T program;
their ability to build effective partnerships with local training providers; and
the availability of strong, job-driven workforce development programs in the state.

10. SNAP Path to Work Brochures
Available in TAOs
Mailed to SNAP Only households

11. SNAP Path to Work Website
Provider content = info about the program and becoming a provider

12. SNAP Path to Work Website

13. SNAP Path to Work Website
Clients can locate SNAP Path to Work programming and potential ABAWD volunteer sites independently or with case manager assistance