Cherokee Nation
Good News! SUN Bucks is Available in Your Location
- Website: Summer EBT Program
- Hotline: 539-234-3265 or 800-256-0671 ext. 5275
- Email: wicsebtc@cherokee.org
DATE: | Nov. 20, 2019 |
SUBJECT: | Employment and Training Resources Available to States |
TO: | Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program All State Agency Directors |
Together the Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) and state agencies, in their partnership to administer the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), have an opportunity to address challenges and provide support to program participants as they move toward and into employment.
The SNAP Employment and Training (E&T) program, administered by all 53 state agencies, helps participants gain the skills, training, or work experience they need to enter, reenter, or remain in the workforce. The program is flexible. State agencies can tailor services and supports to the needs of SNAP participants and the communities in which they live. State agencies can, and should partner with other state and federal workforce programs to offer a continuum of services that help low-income Americans work toward self-sufficiency.
On Dec. 20, 2018, the President signed the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 (2018 Farm Bill), which gives state agencies significant new opportunities to work across the workforce system to serve individuals and employers. State agencies must now consult with state workforce development boards when designing their SNAP E&T programs in order to meet state or local workforce needs. The 2018 Farm Bill also requires state agencies to do more to engage and support individuals as they progress through SNAP E&T by requiring state agencies to provide all participants with case management services. While many state agencies are already engaging participants using these approaches to the extent allowable, there is still more progress to be made. FNS encourages all state agencies to do more to serve the range of SNAP work registrants on a path to employment.
The 2018 Farm Bill also provides more resources for state agencies, such as an increase in the 100 percent federal funding for SNAP E&T. Furthermore, in the last several years, FNS has redoubled its efforts to help state agencies build high quality, effective SNAP E&T programs. The following tools and resources can help state agencies improve and expand their SNAP E&T programs:
In addition, FNS is preparing to host the first-ever SNAP E&T National Forum. This 3-day conference in St Louis, Missouri will bring together SNAP E&T stakeholders from across the country to:
FNS will share more information about the National Forum in the coming weeks, including the date and a call for presenters.
States should consider SNAP E&T programs as a means to help all SNAP work registrants, including ABAWDs, meet their employment goals. FNS encourages all states to strengthen their efforts to serve ABAWDs using all available means, not just SNAP E&T, including through available federal, state, and local work, workfare, and volunteer programs, and to partner with federal, state, and local entities to identify existing opportunities.
FNS encourages state agencies to work with FNS regional and national offices as they expand their programs to meet the dual needs of SNAP participants and employers.
Jessica Shahin
Associate Administrator
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program
The contents of this guidance document do not have the force and effect of law and are not meant to bind the public in any way. This document is intended only to provide clarity to the public regarding existing requirements under the law or agency policies.