Page 16
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 Divisions of Economic Programs, Division of Workforce Development and Partnership Management (DWDPM) and Division of Economic Assistance Eligibility (EAE) administer the SNAP E&T Program statewide. DWDPM is responsible for establishing and issuing standard operating procedures, FNS compliance related to SNAP E&T (including the E&T state plan), implementation of E&T policy statewide, identifying potential SNAP E&T partners, and managing the onboarding and contractual relationships with Skills2Work (S2W) and non-S2W partners. E&T policy changes are implemented at the state level and communicated to EAE specialists and E&T partners via bulletin(s), memorandum(s), and training(s), as appropriate. DWDPM E&T field staff are assigned to the four workforce districts within the state, operating and servicing all 82 counties. Designated staff are responsible for identifying and recruiting E&T sponsors and Skills2Work partners. Skills2Work partner onboarding is executed by DWDPM’s director and appointed state office staff. The staff is responsible for maintaining partnership relations in their respective districts, providing technical assistance and training to EAE staff, Skills2Work partners, and prospective E&T partners. The E&T staff works collaboratively to monitor E&T program operations including ABAWD compliance, Skills2Work participation, billing rosters, communications between the eligibility staff and S2W partners, identifying error trends, and provide assistance as needed. Economic Assistance Eligibility (EAE) staff is responsible for SNAP eligibility determination and SNAP program general operations. EAE County Office Directors and/or designated supervisors provide overall supervision of EAE staff in the designated county. Responsibilities include but are not limited to conducting review of SNAP cases to ensure accuracy in policy application, eligibility determination, screening for referrals and exemptions, proper coding, and benefit issuance. Economic Assistance’s Eligibility Specialists are responsible for determining initial/ongoing SNAP eligibility, screening for work registration status and applicable exemption(s), screening for appropriateness of referral to E&T, completing E&T referral, conducting E&T orientation/assessment, and providing case management which includes but is not limited to E&T activity assignment/placement, monitoring and tracking participation and slot availability. Each specialist is assigned a distinct role and responsibility in the processing SNAP applications and role in SNAP E&T program. Role assignment(s) may be adjusted based on caseloads and/or staffing needs. How does the E&T unit coordinate and communicate on an ongoing basis with the units responsible for certification policy? 1/29/26, 8:18 AM State Plan MS FY26 - Original Submission https://dam-fns.usda.gov/sites/default/files/microsite/snapet-msfy26stateplan//index.html 16/104