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submitted through the annual EF PO Plan. Counties may receive 100% Administrative funding, 50/50 Administrative funding, 50/50 Participant Reimbursement funding, and 80/20 funding.

TPPs will continue to receive 50/50 Administrative funding and 50/50 Participant Reimbursement funding EF funding through the budgets submitted with annual EF PO plans and, when appropriate, the competitive bid process.

Employment First Partnerships

The EF program funds 16 county DHS and 22 TPPs that generate local partnerships among workforce centers, community colleges, foundations, employers, etc. The focus of each partnership is to enhance wrap-around services and increase the employability upskilling of EF clients.

Partnership with Local SNAP Eligibility Teams

EF POs are required to develop and maintain working relationships with county SNAP eligibility teams. This can be accomplished informally through email, phone calls, or in-person meetings. However, the communication between the EF PO and the county SNAP eligibility team must be documented through detailed case comments in CBMS (date of the communication, communication method, and the result of the communication).

Required communication that must be documented in CBMS includes screening and referrals, regain, and provider determination actions.

Who Is an EF Client?

An EF client is a SNAP applicant or recipient who has been screened by a SNAP eligibility technician to participate in the program, has an active program plan, is enrolled in a program activity, and has been offered supportive payments. An EF client may or may not be subject to the SNAP work requirement. Individuals who are exempt from the SNAP work requirement may still participate in EF if they fall within the populations served by an EF PO.

Colorado’s EF program prioritizes serving Able-Bodied Adults without Dependents (ABAWDs). However, EF clients may include other priority populations such as single parents, veterans, and individuals experiencing homelessness. For more information on student eligibility criteria, reference the SNAP Students and Employment First Memo.

To be enrolled and remain engaged in the program, EF clients must be able to participate in program activities for a minimum of 12 hours per month, engage in ongoing case management, and maintain at least monthly contact with their EF worker to report progress toward their employment and self-sufficiency goals.

Last updated: July 9, 2026

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