In Rhode Island, the Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) is under contract with the State Department of Human Services (DHS) to administer the statewide SNAP E&T program. lISC partners with Rhode Island adult education and workforce development agencies and organizations which are subcontracted to provide approved services to eligible individuals – lISC does not provide direct services. LISC manages the subcontracts, monitors subcontractor compliance with SNAP E&T rules and provides technical assistance and support to subcontractors. lISC also collects program outcome data from the subcontractors, analyzes it, and reports it to the Rhode Island DHS. There are nine subcontractors on in Rhode Island, each offering some or all of the following employment training services:
• English as a Second language • Adult Basic Education
• GED
• vocational Training • Job Readiness Training • Job Search Assistance • Financial Coaching
• Employment and Internship Opportunities
• Transportation and dependent care reimbursements
Rhode Island has had to revise its strategy for finding eligible recipients of subcontractor services. During the program pilot phase, the state used a referral process whereby organizations would identify individuals interested in enrolling in an E&T component and do a preliminary assessment to determine if they were likely eligible to enroll. Subcontractors sent the names of these individuals to LISC, who sent them to DHS for eligibility determination. The Food and Nutrition Service has since directed that this type of process is not allowable. All referrals have to come from DHS directly. As a result, DHS recently revised the referral policy as per FNS guidance, and assigned a staff exclusively to E&T to manage referrals. LISC, DHS and the subcontractors have been able to get everything off the ground and running, and are now hoping to get enough participation.
Given Rhode Island has one of the worst unemployment rates in the country, outcomes have been positive with a 24 percent participant employment rate. Rhode Island’s budget was $1.4M in FFY 2013 and in FFY 2014 it is $700,000.
MINNESOTA
Greater Twin Cities United Way (GTCUW) is collaborating with the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) to implement a pilot project that leverages SNAP E&T 50 percent reimbursement funding to establish a sustainable funding model for workforce development providers using the Minnesota Adult Career Pathways training framework. In order to meet the growing need for skilled workers over the next 15 years, the state’s workforce will need to attain higher levels of education (beyond high school) and gain additional training. These skilled jobs pay well and offer opportunities for advancement throughout one’s career. By focusing on high-demand fields, Minnesota Adult Career Pathways meets the needs of businesses while ensuring that participants find well-paying jobs with room for advancement through an emphasis on industry-credentialed skills training.
The pilot project builds upon learning from and success of the Minnesota FastTRAC program, specifically seeking to expand the availability of wrap-around “Navigator” services. Navigators are case managers currently working at the designated workforce development providers. Navigators are responsible for assessment, placement, counseling, and day-to-day case management. Navigators work with participants from enrollment through education and to employment placement and retention. While Minnesota Adult Career Pathways serves individuals at or below 165 percent of poverty, this pilot focuses on service to SNAP E&T recipients within the target population.
Using its own philanthropic dollars, in addition to funds provided through a third-party match, GTCUW provides reimbursement to the contracted agencies at a pre-established rate for serving participants to three key milestones: credential attainment, employment placement, and employment retention; these organizations are not reimbursed for services but rather receive performance-based payments. All activities related to the attainment of the key milestones are documented in the state workforce database, Workforce One (WF1). At the end of each quarter, DEED determines which individuals in each program are SNAP eligible. GTCUW is then reimbursed for 50 percent of the expenditures provided to the programs for the SNAP eligible participants. In order to create a sustainable model, GTCUW puts the 50 percent reimbursements back into each organization’s grant pool.
Outcomes for the pilot project have been successful so far. They are as follows:
• Credential attainment: 81 projected, 55 actual to date • Job Placement: 92 projected, 69 actual to date
• Job Retention: 70 projected, 48 actual to date
Two quarters remain in the pilot project to meet the projected numbers, so they are hopeful.
TEXAS
Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) is the state agency charged with overseeing and providing workforce development services to employers and job seekers of Texas. The Commission is the governing body of the Texas Workforce Commission comprised of three commissioners appointed by the Governor, one each representing employers, labor and the public. The Agency is presided over by the Commission and administered by the Executive Director to operate an integrated workforce development system and administer the unemployment benefits program in Texas.
TWC is part of Texas Workforce Solutions, a local and statewide network comprised of the agency, 28 workforce development boards, and their contracted service providers and community partners.
This network gives customers local access to workforce solutions and statewide services at numerous Workforce Solutions offices. TWC provides unemployment benefits services through six Telecenters and administers unemployment tax through numerous local tax offices.
Most of the TWC budget is funded through federal sources, including Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Employment and Training (SNAP E&T). At least 80 percent of the SNAP E&T funds available to the Commission are allocated to the workforce areas using a need-based formula. The Commission is allocated a supplement to be used as SNAP E&T 50/50 funds. In fiscal year 2013 the commission’s 50/50 supplementation was $805,000 and in fiscal year 2014 it is $576,930.
Texas has recorded positive outcomes for SNAP E&T programs. They are close to their 75 percent target for participants entering employment and retention of employment is at 87.6 percent. According to Larry Temple, Executive Director of TWC, recipients of SNAP services in Texas do not generally require training to be placed in employment.