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and/or department plays a vital role in California’s workforce development system. CDSS’ relationship with LWDA and the CWDB keep CalFresh E&T participants connected to broader service strategies. In particular, the CDSS partners with the CWDB to ensure LWDBs and CWDs are given coordinated guidance and opportunities shared across organizations to enhance local economies through increased employment of CalFresh recipients. Similar to the CalFresh E&T Plan, LWDBs submit local plans to the CWDB for inclusion in California’s Unified Strategic Workforce Development Plan (WIOA State Plan). The CDSS is a partner in the plan and contributes to the development of public policy, fiscal investment, and operation of the state workforce and education system. Through this partnership, the CDSS promotes service delivery strategies that leverage LWDB resources. The LWDBs must use local businesses and labor market information to develop career pathway programs and inform the selection of in- demand occupations. The LWDBs must also prioritize CalFresh E&T participants as a target population. The CDSS actively takes part in the review process for LWDB plans to ensure the needs of CalFresh E&T recipients are being met. Local and Regional Coordination: In addition to efforts at the state level, counties, and state partners coordinate with their local and regional workforce development boards. This coordination ranges from light-touch, such as consulting with local WIOA providers in program design, to full partnerships with local boards to provide E&T services to CalFresh E&T participants. In California, counties consult with their LWDBs and WIOA providers to develop, coordinate, and 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 11/286