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PROVIDER DETERMINATIONS In accordance with 7 CFR 273.7(c)(18) a State agency must ensure that E&T providers are informed of their authority and responsibility to determine if an individual is ill-suited for a particular E&T component. Describe the process used by E&T providers to communicate provider determinations to the State agency. The District’s SNAP E&T program currently partners with 18 third-party partners to offer E&T services, work with providers, and host regular monthly provider meetings and trainings to better understand the skills and qualifications needed for E&T participants to be successful in their programs. DHS informs providers of their authority and responsibility to determine participant suitability during provider onboarding; this information is also documented in DHS’s SNAP E&T Grantee Manual that is shared with each provider. All SNAP E&T providers are required to assess an individual’s suitability prior to enrolling them into their program for E&T services and monitor component suitability on an ongoing basis thereafter. In the case of reverse referrals, providers must forward suitability justification for each prospective participant to the District eligibility worker for approval prior to making a determination. SNAP E&T providers are required to enter enrollment information into the SNAP E&T system detailing their program operations including provider determinations, the enrollment of new SNAP E&T participants, details on participant involvement in ongoing services and E&T activities, participant case management and assessment status, and component outcomes. Should a SNAP E&T provider determine that an E&T participant is not a good fit for a particular E&T component, they are encouraged to reassess the participant and enroll them in a more suitable component if appropriate, or refer the participant to the State agency within 10 days for reassessment and reassignment to another provider and/or component that is a better fit. Providers must convey the reason for the determination and appropriate next steps in writing to the state agency, and also document the participant’s case notes in the SNAP E&T system. Participants are notified by both the provider and the SNAP E&T program eligibility worker either verbally or in writing within 10 days of a provider determination. The following information is conveyed to the participant following determination: · Explanation of provider determination, if applicable; · Next steps the SNAP E&T program will take as a result of the determination; · Contact information for the SNAP E&T program. Since the District operates a voluntary program, any SNAP recipient that wishes to participate in the program is allowed to participate. However, in the case of a provider determination, the SNAP E&T program elects to employ one of the following options: Re-assess the participant’s suitability for the program (including physical and mental fitness); · Refer the individual to an appropriate SNAP E&T program component; · Refer the individual to an appropriate workforce partnership in that case that the District’s SNAP E&T program is no longer a good fit for the participant; · Coordinate with other workforce or assistance programs to identify alternative work opportunities or assistance for the participant. Describe how the State agency notifies clients of a provider determination. DHS communicates with customers in various ways including telephone, email, virtual appointments, and in- person to notify customers of provider determination within 3 business days of a decision being made. For 1/28/26, 11:03 AM State Plan DC FY26 - Original Submission https://dam-fns.usda.gov/sites/default/files/microsite/snapet-dcfy26stateplan//index.html 41/179