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WORK EXPERIENCE COMPONENT: CUSTOMIZED TRAINING Description of the component. Provide a summary of the activities and services. Customized training may be performed at any private or public employer with which the CalFresh E&T provider has entered an acceptable agreement. Employers must provide actual training and a plan to move participants into unsubsidized employment as a result of the experience. Customized training is one type of work-based learning that can be used to target specific job seeker and employer needs. It is an effective strategy that provides additional opportunities for participants and employers in both finding quality work and developing a quality workforce. As defined in the 20 CFR 618.110, customized training is designed to meet the specific requirements of an employer (including a group of employers); is conducted with a commitment by the employer to employ an individual upon successful completion of the training; and requires that the employer pay a significant portion (but no less than 50 percent) of the cost of such training. The success of the San Francisco SWBL program is evident, based on the long-term (3-year) employment outcomes, which currently stand at 65%. This means that participants who complete the training are still employed three (3) years later, and the data shows that they all have increased their wages. Services provided to the participant vary, but below is an example of what the participant can receive: - San Francisco's JobsNOW! program provides CalFresh E&T participants with transitional Public Service Trainee (PST) jobs at City & County of San Francisco agencies for up to 6 months. Jobs will vary dependent on the city department the client is placed with; however, typical work assignments include clerical, labor and gardening, community ambassadorship and customer service to the public. Approved City Agencies will provide work experience and work with clients to develop their job skills. SFHSA staff will conduct regular check-ins with the employer and CalFresh E&T participants to ensure progress and improvement of job skills. JobsNOW! Public Service Trainee (PST) program is an evidence-based program that combines training with in-depth hands-on work experience for eligible participants. The PST program and curriculum are designed to align with employer needs, helping participants develop the skills necessary for careers in various industries. Participants are matched with openings at City & County of San Francisco agencies, allowing them to engage with career civil servants and gain experience working within local government. Our 9910 classification PSTs are placed in office settings, while our 9916 classification PSTs are placed in outdoor settings (such as gardening or labor). CalFresh E&T PST participants are required to be actively engaged during the PST assignment to build their job skills, education, job search, career advancement and retention activities with the support of their Host Site Supervisor and Public Service Trainee Liaison (PSTL) to attain and secure unsubsidized employment and work alongside full-time employees up to 4 days a week. JobsNOW! employees assist each participant in assembling all documents necessary for employment and eligible benefits. Our employment specialists also assist with job development for our participants and San Francisco employers, cultivating relationships with employers throughout the city so that we have a pipeline of available occupations in various industries. We currently work with 23 city departments which we call “Host Sites”. These host sites must attend a 2-hour host site training course prior to working with our participants. The training covers communication, barrier remediation, case management, setting expectations, scheduling, conflict resolution and more. Host sites also have direct access to our PST liaisons who help to support them as well as our participants. To reduce barriers to the program, JobsNOW! also provides participants with support services such as transportation, work clothing and additional job readiness training. 1/28/26, 11:04 AM State Plan CA FY26 - Original Submission https://dam-fns.usda.gov/sites/default/files/microsite/snapet-cafy26stateplan//index.html 106/286