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West Virginia Income Maintenance Manual Chapter 17

West Virginia Income Maintenance Manual Page 20 Chapter 17 Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Employment and Training (SNAP E&T)

Upon receipt of test results, the SNAP E&T Worker must record the information in the eligibility system. An interview is scheduled with the participant, as soon as possible, to discuss the test results. Participants who indicate substance abuse problems should be referred for evaluation and counseling prior to scheduling vocational testing. Determination of a substance abuse problem is based on statements made by the participant, not by the SNAP E&T Worker. 17.4.3 DEVELOPMENT OF THE SELF-SUFFICIENCY PLAN (SSP) The SSP is the product of negotiations between the participant and the SNAP E&T Worker. It is subject to renegotiation throughout the participant's receipt of SNAP. Initial and ongoing assessments aid the SNAP E&T Worker in providing reasonable guidance to the participant to attain his goals as part of the SSP. The SNAP E&T Worker must explore family situations, education, work history, skills, aptitudes, and attitude toward work, employment potential, possible social services, and/or other support systems. Individual circumstances may require more or less exploration. When developing the SSP, measurable benchmarks should include indicators that align with federal reporting measures, such as attainment of a credential, documented skill gains, or progression toward milestones. These benchmarks should be recorded so they can be tracked for both program accountability and participant progress. The following assessments are mandatory and must be documented in the case management system: • Education and Testing Assessment • Job Readiness Assessment • Employment History Assessment The SNAP E&T Worker must explore all of the aptitudes, interests, and work goals presented by the participant to determine which are pertinent. The SNAP E&T Worker must determine what Note: As part of the assessment process, the Worker must also evaluate whether participation in an education or training activity can be tracked using federal educational reporting measures, including Measurable Skill Gains (MSG) and Credential Attainment. This ensures that progress toward educational and vocational goals is documented and reportable under SNAP E&T and aligns with WIOA practices.