SkillUP for Food Stamp Recipients: Employment Opportunities

2. Food & Nutrition Services (FNS) Funding (S20)

3. SkillUP - FNS • Opportunities for Food Stamp Recipients to become employed through training and skill building activities • Provides funding for skills training

4. OUTREACH MATERIALS • To request outreach materials email SkillUP.Missouri@dss.mo.gov and include: • Type of material needed (e.g. postcard, brochure) • Number of each item needed • Name of your organization or contact person • Complete address including zip code

5. SkillUP Participants: • Must be receiving Food Stamp benefits • Cannot be receiving Temporary Assistance (cash benefits) Missouri Works Assistance is the employment and training program for TA recipients. TA recipients must participate with MWA and cannot participate in SkillUP.

6. Able Bodied Adult without Dependents (ABAWD) • An active Food Stamp recipient between the ages of 18-49 with no dependents and does not meet an exemption from work requirements. • ABAWDs must participate in work or a qualified training program 80 hours per month to maintain benefits • ABAWDs who lose benefits may regain eligibility by completing 80 hours of work or training in a 30 day period MoJobs!! Verifies ABAWD participation

7. ABAWD EXEMPTIONS • Receiving Unemployment (from any state) • Needed in home to care for ill or incapacitated person • Pregnant (any trimester) • Temporary or permanent disability • Attending Drug and Alcohol treatment program FSD will always make the determination on ABAWD/Volunteer Status

8. Volunteers • An active Food Stamp recipients ages of 16+ who elects to participate in work or training activitieseven though not required • Volunteers are NOT required to meet the 80 hours training/work requirement

9. IDENTIFYING A FOOD STAMP CUSTOMER

10. MoJobs Referral Process FSD sends customer information to MoJobs: • Volunteers receiving Food Stamp benefits starting May 1, 2018 • Able Bodied Adults Without Dependents (ABAWD) • Volunteers already in MoJobs

13. What if the individual is not in MoJobs? • Send the SkillUP Eligibility and DCN Verification Form to DSS.FSD.Agreements@dss.mo.gov • Form can be found at: • https://jobs.mo.gov/dwdprograms

17. REGAINING SERVICES • Food Stamp eligibility can be regained by completing 80 hours of work and/or training in a 30 day period. • Individuals trying to regain eligibility should complete all forms and activities • They should not be enrolled in SkillUP • An FS-5 should be completed for ABAWDS trying to complete eligibility • The DWD-PO-609 is used to report the following AFTER an FS-5 (DWD PO 608)has been completed for ABAWDs trying to regain eligibility for Food Stamps: • WIOA services • Volunteer work • In-kind work • Employment or training that began in the past 30 days

18. ABAWD ALLOWABLE COMPONENTS • Job Center Staff Assisted Services, including jobs.mo.gov • Employment (as authorized by FSD) – paid or volunteer • Post-Secondary Training and Education (WIOA or Trade approved) • Job Center workshops and services • Self-Directed Job Search • DESE Approved: AEL Classes* / Adult Basic Education (ABE)* • (* do not use verbiage “HiSET” nor “GED”. For time to count towards the ABAWD’s required hours, it must say “AEL or ABE”).

19. EngagementOutreach Effectiveness Survey • Quick Survey – 3 questions • What program - MWA, SkillUP, HITE • How did they hear about the program? • What is their zip code? • https://riskanalysisunit.wufoo.com/forms/et-engagement-effectiveness-survey/

20. PROCESS-Enrollment • Wagner Peyser enrollment, SNAP enrollment & WIOA enrollment • Complete a DWD-PO-608/FS5 (shows participants status @ time of enrollment) This form is e-mailed to FSD at ABAWD1@ip.sp.mo.gov & uploaded in the participant’s record in MoJobs. The original form is given to the participant. • Complete an assessment and develop an employment plan with the participant • Enter the initial case note

21. SkillUp Pathways to Employment • Engagement • Assessment and Employability Planning • Participation • Employment and Transition

22. SkillUP • Complete a Wagner-Peyser application and a SNAP application; • Complete an initial skills assessment (213); • Receive an orientation to Job Center services(101); • Be provided Labor Market Information (107); • Begin an Employment Plan (205); and • Enroll in other activities • Initial Case note • For ABAWDS – Report the necessary information to FSD Starting Out

23. S20 Services • Staff Assisted Services • Job Center Workshops • Training & Education

24. Engagement -Informational Sessions • Provide an overview of the SkillUP program; • Provide orientation of Job Center services to include self services and staff assisted services; • Review Job Center Workshops • Discuss the benefits of self-sufficiency with the participant;

25. EngagementInformational Sessions • Provide Labor Market Information (LMI) in the area/region of the participant • Provide an overview of other services available to the participant and how to access these services (e.g. Child Care, Low Income Home Energy Program, Rehabilitation Services for the Blind, and CBOs).

26. Assessment and Employability Planning Participant Assessment • Does the participant have skills and qualifications to be successful? • Does the participant have the necessary supportive services? • Will the activity assist the participant in gainful employment in their area? • Are there any other sources of financial assistance available to the participant?

27. Where the participant wants to gain employment Detailed description of employment type Expected salary or hourly wage Training/Education required for the position Steps to remove employment barriers Timeframes for completion Services/components must be connected to expected outcomes Gainful employment should be the final outcome Employment Plan

28. Setting Goals Specific Measurable Achievable Relevant Time Based

29. When should the Employment Plan be Updated? • Completed goals and/or objectives • Outdated goals and/or objectives • New goals and/or objectives • Information can be added, but should never be deleted

30. Goals and Objectives • Objectives – the steps the participant need to take to achieve their goals • Job search • Workshop • Complete OJT • Research Training Opportunities Short Term Goals – typically one year or less Long Term Goals – takes more time and planning to achieve

31. Post Secondary Training & Education • short-term training • completed within one year or less • aligns with the EP

32. ParticipationEligible Training Provider System All training providers used for SkillUP must be in Missouri’s Eligible Training Provider System (ETPS). Eligible providers must: • Offer education/training programs that lead to a certification, degree, or skill • Programs accredited by the Federal Office of Apprenticeship • Provide staff as Equal Employment Opportunity and follow application elements ETPS

33. FNS Training Request Forms PO – 606A & B – SkillUp training facility letter (A) and training form (B) – all ABAWDS/volunteers entering into an FNS-funded training program complete this form. Ensure staff, school and client sign where required. Client signs at top of page 1 & 2. School signs middle of page 1. Job Center staff sign at the bottom of page 1 & 2. PO-606B p. 1-2 here

34. FNS Training Invoice Process Local staff signs PO-606-B as approved after ensuring form is completed correctly and school/program is listed in ETPS. Scan all documents (PO-606B, ETPS verification, LMI info, eligibility verification form (if not in MoJobs)) to FSD and DWD. Once training begins, verify attendance and case note it in MoJobs. Submit training invoice to jan.miller@ded.mo.gov for payment. Upon training completion, school completes page 3 of PO-606B and returns to Job Center. 1-2 staff from each region have read-only access to the FNS training spreadsheet (below) to see if the client’s invoice has been received or payment has been processed. This is maintained by DWD Central Office. Any new additions to the spreadsheet need to be emailed to traci.Albertson@ded.mo.gov for entry.

35. SkillUP ABAWD Closure • Only FSD can close SkillUP ABAWD enrollments; they can also close a volunteer record. The enrollment outcome may say: “Inactive due to FSD”; “Closed due to employment”; “Closed due to not meeting requirements”; “Closed”; “Closed • Soft exited”. Participant will not be enrolled in any additional SkillUP components. They can continue with WIOA and Job Center/WP services.

36. EMPLOYMENT INFORMATION • All employment information must be entered into MoJobs regardless if the provider placed the participant with the employer. If the participant obtains employment and still receives benefits, the provider should continue to assist them in obtaining promotions or additional employment to achieve self-sufficiency.

37. When should a case note be entered? • Initial Case Note • After Assessment • After participant -employer contacts • After follow up dates • After documents are submitted • After Employment Plan is created or updated • After problem solving measures • Addressing barriers

38. When should a case note be entered? • Funding Approvals or Denials • Job Development • Case Record Corrections • Progress Evaluations or Skill Reviews • Referrals • When Activities or Services start and end • When TRE or WRE is provided

39. Case Notes • Fact based description of participant interaction with MoJobs • Must be entered on the date services were provided • Do not need note for automatic entries • If a note is entered incorrectly use the change request form to request deletion

40. Appropriate Case Notes • Refer to specific dates • Contain all necessary information • Be detailed enough for anyone authorized to access the file to understand • Include justifications for TRE and WRE • Identify funding sources and timeframes covered with eligibility determinations.

41. Inappropriate Case Notes Notes with confidential/sensitive information about Chemical Dependency, Mental Health, Family Violence, or any medical condition or diagnosis must neverbe entered in MoJobs.

42. Inappropriate Case Notes • Irrelevant details • Medical procedure or examination appointments • Pregnancy • Discussions of the participant’s situation with third parties • Hearsay speculations from the participant’s family or household

43. Inappropriate Case Notes cont. • Notes about drug treatment, rehabilitation or substance abuse • Notes about child custody, or legal actions • Background information or details about individuals other than the participant • Subjective, draws conclusions, make judgments, or otherwise express opinions • Unnecessary comments about the performance, nature, or duration of programs and services.

44. Collaboration & Referrals Provides participants with comprehensive services For more information on local resources go to • Encourage community support for the SkillUP program • Educate the local community about SkillUP www.mo.servicesnavigator.org

45. OTHER SERVICES AVAILABLE

46. Child Care Assistance • Child Care services are available for those participating in SkillUP. • The Department of Social Services (DSS) provides financial assistance for child care services through the payment of full or partial child care costs. • FSD determines Child Care Subsidy eligibility and is based on income. Tell your participants to apply at FSD when first enrolled.

47. Child Care Resource Information Resources and referrals: http://mo.childcareaware.org/ Licensed and licensed-exempt child care providers at: https://webapp01.dhss.mo.gov/childcaresearch/searchengine.aspx

48. Employment and TransitionBenefits Effected • For every $3.00 earned Food Stamp benefits reduce by $1.00. • Childcare benefits may not end due to employment – benefits may continue for up to 1 year after obtaining employment or they may be eligible for reduced child care costs. • If client received MO HealthNet for 3 of the last 6 months and are employed they may qualify for transitional benefits.

49. Employment and TransitionBenefits Effected • If client is receiving Rehabilitation Services for the Blind they may still be eligible after obtaining employment. • Additional tax benefits may be available after obtaining employment

50. CONTACT FSD • Participants with questions on eligibility or requirements to receive benefits should be directed to http://mydss.mo.gov/, the FSD Call Center at 1-855-FSD-INFO (855-373-4636) or local FSD Resource Center. • Resource Centers can be found at: http://dss.mo.gov/offices.htm