Page 6

Describe any special State initiatives (i.e. Governor-initiated or through State legislation) that include SNAP E&T. Describe any efforts taken by the State agency to coordinate these programs, services, partners, and/or activities with the State's E&T program. Governor Lamont established the Governor’s Workforce Council (GWC) through the Office of Workforce Strategy (OWS). The GWC is the principal advisor on workforce development issues in Connecticut. DSS’ E&T team meets with the GWC virtually on a quarterly basis to collaborate. DSS is now also a part of a small work group that was created with CT DOL WIOA and Adult Education representatives. DSS' E&T Team meets in this work group every other month to share policy and program updates, collaborate and share ideas. Describe the extent to which the State agency is carrying out SNAP E&T programs in coordination with title I programs under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA). DSS continues to coordinate efforts with the State Department of Labor (DOL), including their American Jobs Centers (AJC), a few of which are co-located at E&T partner locations. We require SNAP E&T partners to provide current Labor Market Information (LMI) to inform which programs to support. All participants who complete vocational training are referred to an AJC to register in the database called CTHires. Once registered, participants can receive job seeking services. Is SNAP E&T included as a partner in the State's WIOA Combined Plan? Yes No Describe how the State agency is coordinating with TANF/GA programs, services, partners, and/or activities. Describe any TANF/GA special initiatives targeting specific populations and any actions taken to coordinate with these efforts. DSS E&T staff members along with the DSS Wilson-Fish TANF Coordination (WFTC) policy consultants have teamed up with local refugee resettlement agencies (including Integrated Refugee & Immigrant Services (IRIS), and Jewish Family Services (JFS) of Greenwich) and the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) to triage eligible SNAP refugees, and state funded TFA refugees who do not choose to participate in CTHires, into CTPathways programs offered throughout the state. The purpose of the collaboration is to serve this targeted group of refugees to support employment with E&T programs that will compliment available services and provide the best pipeline to gainful employment. Describe how the State agency is coordinating its SNAP E&T program with any other Federal or State employment program (e.g. HUD, child support, re-entry, refugee services). SNAP E&T staff collaborate with the DSS staff involved in the Wilson-Fish TANF Coordination (WFTC) Grant and associated agencies to provide enhanced opportunities for eligible WFTC refugees. DSS also partners with the Capital Workforce Partners (CWP) specifically working with citizens re-entering the community after incarceration. 1/28/26, 11:04 AM State Plan CT FY26 - Original Submission https://dam-fns.usda.gov/sites/default/files/microsite/snapet-ctfy26stateplan//index.html 6/96