340:50-5-106 Oklahoma Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Works (OK SNAP WORKS)

Oklahoma Human Services (OKDHS) operates a voluntary employment and training program, OK SNAP Works, per Section 273.7(e)(5) of Title 7 of the Code of Federal Regulations (7 C.F.R. § 273.7(e)(5)). OK SNAP Works assists food benefit recipients, especially able-bodied adults without dependents (ABAWD), become involved in meaningful, work-related activities that lead to paid employment and enable them to achieve or maintain economic self-support. (1) Participant information. OK SNAP Works is available to ABAWD and non-ABAWD participants age 16 or older who receive SNAP benefits, do not receive Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, and live in an area served by an OKDHS contracted service provider. (2) Worker responsibilities for OK SNAP Works information, screening and referral. It is the worker's responsibility to: (A) inform the applicant or recipient that participation in OK SNAP Works is voluntary; (B) ask if any household member age 16 or older wants to voluntarily participate in OK SNAP Works regardless of ABAWD status; (C) screen and, if appropriate, refer: (i) non-exempt ABAWDs who are not complying with ABAWD work requirements, per Oklahoma Administrative Code (OAC) 340:50-5-100; and (ii) other SNAP recipients who express an interest in participating in OK SNAP Works. (3) Intake and case management services. The OK SNAP Works coordinator sends a referral to the contracted service provider to initiate the intake process and case management services. (A) Case management services and activities must be provided to all participants and must directly support their participation in OK SNAP Works. Case management services may include, but are not limited to: (i) comprehensive intake assessments; (ii) individualized service plans; (iii) progress monitoring; and (iv) coordination with service providers. (B) After receiving a referral, the provider's staff schedules referred participants for an orientation and comprehensive assessment. (C) Following orientation and assessment, each participant has an assessment interview to explore the participant's: (i) employment and training needs and barriers; (ii) communication and employment-related skills; (iii) education and employment history; and (iv) career interests. (D) The provider enrolls each participant in at least one component, per (4) of this Section, and continues to provide case management services to address employment barriers. (4) OK SNAP Works component assignments. OK SNAP Works components include supervised job search, job search training, educational services, vocational training, Workfare for non-exempt ABAWDs only, work experience, and job retention services. (A) Supervised job search component. Supervised job search is a component that provides structured activities to help participants seek and obtain suitable employment. These activities occur at approved locations where the participant is supervised and timeliness is tracked, per 7 C.F.R. § 273.7(e)(2)(i). (B) Job search training component. Job search training is a component that enhances the participant's job readiness and may include employability assessment, training in techniques to increase employability, job placement services, or other direct training or support activities, per 7 C.F.R. § 273.7(e)(2)(ii). (C) Educational services component. A participant is placed in an educational services component when the participant: (i) does not have a high school diploma or equivalency certificate; (ii) has literacy issues; or (iii) needs to learn or improve English language skills. (D) Vocational training component . Participants may receive vocational training when assessments indicate training is needed to enhance employability or when industry-specific training is needed as part of a job placement program. (E) Workfare component. Workfare is a work component only available to non-exempt ABAWDs. Participants work in a public service or a private, non-profit agency to obtain skills necessary to enhance employability or develop skills required for job placement. (F) Work experience. The work experience component is designed to improve participant employability through actual work experience and training. The goal of work experience is to enable participants to move into regular employment. Work experience is a planned, structured learning experience that takes place in a workplace for a limited time period. A work experience program may include a work activity or a work-based learning program. (i) A work activity gives the participant the opportunity to acquire the general skills, knowledge, and work habits necessary to obtain employment. (ii) A work-based learning program may include internships, pre-apprenticeships, apprenticeships, customized training, transitional jobs, incumbent worker training, and on-the job training as defined by the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act. (G) Job retention component. The job retention component helps participants who secured employment after or while receiving OK SNAP Works services to achieve satisfactory performance, retain employment, and increase earnings over time. A participant may receive case management, job coaching, dependent care assistance, and transportation assistance, per 7 C.F.R. § 273.7(e)(2)(viii). This component must last for at least 30-calendar days but no more than 90-calendar days. There is no limit to the number of times a person may receive job retention services as long as the person re-engages with OK SNAP Works prior to obtaining new employment. (5) Supportive services. Supportive services are provided to a participant when necessary and directly related to the participant's ability to participate in the assigned OK SNAP Works component. OKDHS authorizes payments for supportive services that may include, but are not limited to, covering the cost of: (A) child care under special circumstances. When child care is needed after assessment, the contracted service provider assists the client in completing a child care application. The application is sent to the OK SNAP Works coordinator to determine eligibility, per OAC 340:40; (B) clothing; (C) uniforms; (D) tools; (E) personal safety items; (F) books or training manuals; (G) transportation, such as bus tickets, public transportation passes, taxi cabs, sharing rides, or gas vouchers; or (H) other equipment deemed necessary for participation. (6) Contracted service provider responsibility. The contracted service provider tracks participation and informs the OK SNAP Works coordinator of all potential participants' participation status, outcome performance measures, and when the provider determines that an assigned component is ill-suited for potential participant. (A) When a potential participant fails to participate in OK SNAP Works following a referral or the provider determines that a potential participant is ill-suited for a component, contracted staff notifies the OK SNAP Works coordinator within 10-calendar days of the non-participation or the provider determination. In a provider determination notification, the contracted provider must include the former participant's name, case number, and reason for the provider determination and may offer input on the most appropriate next step for the participant. (B) When the contracted provider finds a component is ill-suited for a participant, but determines the participant may be suitable for another component the provider offers, the provider may switch the participant to the suitable component. The provider informs the OK SNAP Works coordinator of the new component without the need for the coordinator to act further on the provider determination. (7) OK SNAP Works coordinator responsibilities. The OK SNAP Works coordinator: (A) monitors the contracted service provider's performance in operating the OK SNAP Works Program; (B) initiates provider referrals; (C) determines participants' child care subsidy eligibility; (D) at the household or worker's request, OK SNAP coordinator provides verification of a participant's monthly hours spent in the program ; and (E) upon receipt of a provider determination, reviews the reason for, and notifies field staff about, the provider's determination. (8) Worker responsibilities for provider determinations. A provider determination occurs when a service provider concludes the assigned component is ill-suited for a participant. (A) Within 10-calendar days of when the contracted service provider notifies OKDHS, the worker must inform the former OK SNAP Works participant of (i) through (vii) of this subparagraph and document the exchange in case notes. (i) A provider determination concluded the component is ill-suited for the assigned OK SNAP Works participant. (ii) The former participant's OK SNAP Works assignment has ended. (iii) The former participant may immediately pursue the options in (B) of this paragraph. (iv) OKDHS will pursue the steps in (B) of this paragraph at the certification renewal when the former participant declines to pursue these options immediately. (v) When the former participant is an ABAWD, per OAC 340:50-5-100, the former participant starts accruing countable months towards the three-month participation time limit. The countable months begin with the next full month following the notification month, unless the participant: (I) fulfills the work requirement, per OAC 340:50-5-100(a); (II) has good cause, per OAC 340:50-5-100(c); or (III) is otherwise exempt from the ABAWD requirements, per OAC 340:50-5-100(d). (vi) The worker provides contact information the former participant may use to reach OKDHS. (vii) The provider determination does not cause an OK SNAP Works sanction. (B) In response to a provider determination, the worker takes the most suitable action from options (i) through (iii) of this subparagraph as soon as possible when the former participant requests, but no later than the next certification renewal. The worker: (i) reassesses whether the former participant is physically and mentally capable of participating, per OAC 340:50-5-86(4); (ii) refers the former participant back to OK SNAP Works, per (C) of paragraph (1) as long as the former participant is physically and mentally capable, per OAC 340:50-5-86(4); or (iii) identifies work opportunities or assistance for the participant by coordinating with other federal, state, and local workforce or assistance programs.