SNAP Employment & Training National Partnership Announces Second Cohort
The Network is pleased to announce the launch this month of the second year (cohort 2) of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Employment and Training (SNAP E&T) National Partnership. Funded by the US Department of Agriculture (USDA), Food and Nutrition Service (FNS), the purpose of this grant is to support Network member agencies in becoming third-party providers for SNAP E&T.
The second cohort includes JFCS Minneapolis; JFS Atlantic Cape May New Jersey; JVS MetroWest New Jersey; JFCS Pittsburgh; Alexander Jewish Family Service, formerly known as JFS Houston; and an external affiliate in Syracuse, New York, CenterState CEO.
“It’s exciting to help our member agencies access additional national funding to increase workforce program capacity and better meet the needs of job seekers who are also experiencing food insecurity. Right now, JVS Boston is the only Network member agency accessing these dollars as a third-party provider. We are hopeful that more member agencies will get the opportunity to expand their programming and increase their impact in the near future,” said Sarah Welch, The Network’s VP of Workforce Development Services.
Our first cohort brought together five agencies, including, JVS SoCal, Gulf Coast JFCS, JFS Columbus, JEVS Philadelphia and JFS Dallas. While the cohort trainings ended in September, the teams continue to receive individualized technical assistance from JVS Boston and the Network.
The grant funding supplies participating agencies with a stipend to offset staff time involved in participating in the training and travel expenses associated with attending the Network’s annual conference, PowerNET, in Dallas, TX in May 2023.
SNAP E&T is a federally funded, state-administered program that assists program participants in gaining the skills, training and/or work experience needed to move into employment. The program also helps reduce barriers to work by providing individuals with support services, such as transportation and childcare assistance to obtain and maintain employment.
The Network received three years of funding to support a total of 15 member agencies in cohorts of five per year. The grant funds will also support new organizational capacity to provide Network members or affiliates with training and other technical assistance required, so they may become third-party SNAP E&T providers within their state.
The Network is excited to work with this second cohort of agencies in partnership with JVS Boston acting as lead consultant. JVS Boston has been a third-party SNAP E&T provider since 2007 and operates a successful program model.
If you have questions about this project or you are interested in learning about participating in the next cohort, please reach out to Lizzie Harrington, Network Workforce Program Director at lharrington@networkjhsa.org.
