Orient participants to the SNAP E&T program. This is an opportunity to explain the benefits of participation, program expectations, and to ensure the participant is aware of their enrollment in the program.

Assess the participant’s literacy level and refer the participant to local literacy programs when appropriate.

Complete an employability assessment and an Employment Plan (EP) for each participant.

Identify Able-Bodied Adults Without Dependents (ABAWDs) who have time-limited SNAP eligibility, so that potential work or work program activities can be quickly developed to help them earn additional months of SNAP benefits.

Identify the need for and coordinate support services such as transportation, purchase of equipment or tools.

Implement the participant’s EP, whether through direct service provision or referral to other agencies for services that are needed, so that the participant can successfully complete the plan and find employment.

Monitor participant performance and participation.

Modify the participant’s EP as necessary.

Provide the county agency with information that may affect a participant’s program eligibility, or benefit amount. The ESP must notify the county agency anytime a participant’s employment status changes.

If either the county agency or ESP becomes aware of circumstances that indicate a participant’s exemption status has changed, inform the other of the change. The county agency should then review the participant’s exemption status. If the participant has become exempt, the county must notify the participant and the ESP, update the MAXIS exemption code on the WREG panel and redetermine if the ABAWD months were counted properly.

PROVIDER DETERMINATION

A provider determination is a notification issued when a provider has decided that they are unable to serve a person in their program. This occurs when a person wishes to participate, but the provider is unable to support them.

A provider determination must be issued when both of the following are true:

A participant elects not to participate in SNAP E&T either by notifying staff or through loss of contact.

A participant is initially interested in SNAP E&T, but the provider is able to offer another employment and training program (such as a Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act program) that the participant is willing to engage in and in which the participant may be successful.

New barriers are discovered that require the provider to make a change to a participant’s employment plan, which can still be addressed through SNAP E&T or another employment and training program offered by that provider. (Note: The Department of Human Services will require information about these participants from providers and intermediaries quarterly via the quarterly report).

A participant completes participation, or is enrolled with one provider and is referred to another provider for another service (co-enrollment).

If a participant is enrolled with another SNAP E&T provider, refer to Workforce One (WF1) regarding program activities and outcomes, expenditures, individual participant services and progress.

Maintain needed program files and documentation, and record relevant participant data on the WF1 system as necessary. When a participant moves to a different county or there is a change in service provider, the former county or service provider that initially provided services must make program documents and information available to the new county or the new provider.

The records retention policy for SNAP E&T is available on the Minnesota Department of Human Services web site by searching “County Human Services General Records Retention Schedule”. Agencies may choose an electronic or paper format. This includes the WF1 Electronic Document Storage (EDS), which meets the minimum requirement, or an agency specific electronic storage system.

The ESP must have ongoing contact with the participant to determine progress, compliance, and any counseling or service needs. The ESP must have, at minimum, 1 monthly contact with each participant for these purposes, and this contact must be case noted.

Exit the person’s SNAP E&T record in WF1 within 30 days of SNAP closure (or as soon as the benefit end date is known if beyond 30 days), unless they are open in the job retention activity. The exit date must be backdated to the last day of the month SNAP benefits were received. For example, a November closure would have an exit date of October 31.

Exit the person’s SNAP E&T record in WF1 within 30 days of non-engagement. The record should be exited within 30 days of failed contact and a corresponding exit date entered. If the participant is time-limited or is a SNAP eligible student based on enrollment in SNAP E&T, the employment counselor must also communicate this with the county or tribal point of contact.