Washington’s Employment & Training Pilot

Agriculture Act of 2014 also knows as the 2014 Farm Bill authorized 10 grants for pilot sites to test innovative SNAP E&T strategies

Farm Bill also provided funding for a rigorous evaluation, which will be conducted by Mathematica.

The Beginning

Increase the engagement of SNAP work registrants in the following:◦ unsubsidized employment;◦ Increasing participants earnings; and◦ Reducing reliance on public assistance

Pilot Goals

What areas can we improve in BFET? BFET has a current employment rate of

61.2%. Successful completion rate of 70%. What happens to the other 30% of the BFET

population who are not successful?

Concepts

Emphasis of barrier reduction through a standardized approach to case management leading to self-sufficiency

Provide opportunities to sharpen personal skills through strategies of success

The opportunity for employment and training to offer SNAP recipients work-based learning activities

Focus

To fill the gap currently experienced by BFET participants who face multiple barriers and lack the needed work experience to obtain employment resulting in self-sufficiency

RISE Goal

14,000 participants will be served in the pilot

7,000 assigned to the treatment group (RISE)

7,000 assigned to the control group (BFET) Enrollment Period:

◦ 12 months: 4,200 ◦ 18 months: 6,800◦ 24 months: 3,000

Sample Size

Control Group (BFET) vs Treatment Group (RISE)

BFET RISE

◦ Basic Education◦ Job Search◦ Job Search Training◦ Retention Services◦ Vocational Education◦ Light Touch Case

management (varies)

◦ Basic Education◦ Comprehensive Case

management (standardized)

◦ Job Search◦ Job Search Training◦ Retention Services◦ Strategies of Success

Training◦ Vocational Education◦ Work-Based Learning

King County Pierce County Spokane County Yakima County

Areas Offering RISE Services

Work Registrants who are:◦ Homeless;◦ Limited English Proficiency;◦ Long-term unemployed (12 months or longer);◦ Non-custodial parents owing arrears; and ◦ Veterans

Target Population

25,412

65,789

1,0728,066 8,804 Ho m e le s s

Lo ng- te r m Une m plo y e d

V e te r a n

LEP

NC P

3 or more standalone barriers◦ Housing◦ Lacking resources (i.e. transportation, childcare,

etc).◦ Skill deficiency◦ Learning disability◦ Child welfare◦ Negative or lack of employment history

Identification of Barriers

1 critical barrier◦ Mental/physical health◦ Domestic violence◦ Chemical dependency◦ Criminal history affecting employability

Identification of Barriers

◦ Construction;◦ Manufacturing;◦ Healthcare;◦ Hospitality/Food Service;◦ Professional & Business Services;◦ Logistics;◦ Social/Human Service;◦ Information Technology;◦ Agriculture; and ◦ Clean Technology & Renewable Energy

Targeted Industries

RISE Providers

Indirect Service Providers

Direct Service Providers

Work Force Development Council’s in pilot counties

Seattle Jobs Initiative

Community Based Organizations

Community and Technical Colleges

Employment Security Department

Division of Child Support

For More InformationShavana Howard, RISE Project Manager (360) 725-4338 or RISE@dshs.wa.gov