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ORGANIZATIONAL RELATIONSHIPS State agencies are required to include information on the organizational relationship between the units responsible for certification and the units operating the E&T components, including units of the statewide workforce development system, if available. For the purposes of the questions below, E&T providers are considered to include units of the statewide workforce development system. FNS is specifically interested in ensuring that the lines of communication are efficient and that, if applicable, noncompliance with mandatory E&T is reported to the certification unit within 10 working days after the noncompliance occurs, per 7 CFR 273.7(c)(4). State agencies must also include information on the relationship between the State agency and other organizations it plans to coordinate with for the provision of services. The following questions are about how the E&T program is structured in your State agency. Indicate which division within the SNAP State agency is responsible for the E&T program. (i.e. establishes E&T policy, contracts for E&T services, monitors providers). For example, explain if the E&T program unit is separate from the SNAP certification unit, and if there are separate E&T units at the county level. The SNAP Employment and Training (E&T) program is administered by the E&T Program Evaluation Manager within the Division of Welfare. Program oversight is conducted in coordination with the SNAP Program Manager and the Bureau Chief, with additional support provided by an E&T Program Specialist. E&T program staff operate independently from SNAP certification staff. E&T staff fall under the Policy and Division Support unit, while SNAP certification staff are part of Benefit Field Operations. How does the E&T unit coordinate and communicate on an ongoing basis with the units responsible for certification policy? Ongoing coordination and communication between the E&T unit and the units responsible for certification are maintained through established processes and shared system functionality. Eligibility workers (Self-Reliance Specialists) determine who is mandatory and appropriate to participate in the E&T program by gathering information at application, re-evaluation, or when a change is reported. This information is keyed into IBES, Idaho’s eligibility system, which uses programmed logic based on E&T policy to determine whether an individual is subject to mandatory participation. When all required information is entered, IBES generates the eligibility outcome and, if applicable, automatically refers the individual to the E&T contractor. E&T policies that impact certification are developed and communicated by the E&T Program Evaluation Manager, SNAP Program Manager, and SNAP Bureau Chief. These policies are shared with field staff through standard notification and training methods. Certification processes are built to align with these policies and are consistently applied by all eligibility workers. When situations arise that fall outside of standard procedures, eligibility staff follow an established escalation process outlined in published program standards. This process connects eligibility workers with E&T or SNAP program staff, who provide case-specific guidance consistent with federal and state policy. Additionally, when federal regulations change, the E&T and SNAP program units collaborate to review existing certification policies, system automation, and business processes. Any necessary updates are jointly developed and implemented to maintain alignment and compliance. 1/28/26, 11:54 AM State Plan ID FY26 - Amendment 1 https://dam-fns.usda.gov/sites/default/files/microsite/snapet-idfy26stateplan//index.html 20/100