SNAP Employment & Training Pilot Program

The EleVAte SNAP Employment & Training pilot program could help you:

• Receive training for growing jobs in your area
• Gain skills employers are looking for
• Work toward your GED

This training and employment program is a research study. You may volunteer to be in the study. You cannot lose your SNAP benefits based on what you decide about the study. There are no penalties if you choose not to participate.

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Find Participating DSS Offices Near you

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Perks of the Pilot

You will be recommended for a Component based on your TABE Reading Survey results

EleVAte Virginia Online – Component 1

• 6 – 8 weeks of education and training (or longer if needed)
• Adult Basic Education instruction through the new EleVAte Virginia Online portal – A self-paced program to help you improve your math and reading skills.
• Digital Literacy / Basic Computer Skills – Learn computer basics and how to use the Internet.
• Soft Skills and Job Readiness Training – Learn what skills employers are looking for to help you get ahead: working in a team, communication, work ethic, critical thinking and problem solving.
• On-going Coaching and Counseling – You will have your own Career Coach who will guide you through this program and help you get the services you need.
• Resume Writing – Get help creating our resume, saving it, and sharing it with employers.
• Interview Preparation – Learn how to ace an interview and showcase your skills.
• Job Search Assistance – Get assistance finding and landing a job.
• Access to Supportive Services – Your Career Coach will help you identify your needs and access the resources you need (such as transportation, glasses, or uniforms) to be successful in this program.
• Access to a Job Retention Incentive – Money is paid to you after you get and keep a job for 90-days.

Job Skills Training Program – Component 2

• 8 – 12 weeks of training
• Occupational Training – Attend training and gain an industry-recognized credential.
• Career Readiness Certificate (CRC)– Earn an employer-recognized credential.
• Moral Reconation Therapy (MRT) – This program empowers you to establish and achieve your goals.
• Digital Literacy / Computer Skills – Learn computer basics and how to use the Internet.
• Soft Skills and Job Readiness Training – Learn what skills employers are looking for to help you get ahead: working in a team, communication, work ethic, critical thinking and problem solving.
• On-going Coaching and Counseling – You will have your own Career Coach who will guide you through this program and help you get the services you need.
• Resume Writing – Get help creating our resume, saving it, and sharing it with employers.
• Interview Preparation – Learn how to ace an interview and showcase your skills.
• Job Search Assistance – Get assistance finding and landing a job.
• Access to Supportive Services – Your Career Coach will help you identify your needs and access the resources you need (such as transportation, glasses, or uniforms) to be successful in this program.
• Access to a Job Retention Incentive – Money is paid to you after you get and keep a job for 90-days.

Plugged In Virginia – Component 3

• 6 – 8 months of education and training
• Occupational Training – Attend training and gain an industry-recognized credential.
• Adult Education – If you are not a high school graduate, prepare for your GED with activities connected to your occupational training program.
• Capstone Project – Work as a team on a project that you can showcase to employers and your community.
• Career Readiness Certificate (CRC)– Earn an employer-recognized credential.
• Digital Literacy / Computer Skills – Learn computer basics and how to use the Internet.
• Soft Skills and Job Readiness Training – Learn what skills employers are looking for to help you get ahead: working in a team, communication, work ethic, critical thinking and problem solving.
• On-going Coaching and Counseling – You will have your own Career Coach who will guide you through this program and help you get the services you need.
• Resume Writing – Get help creating our resume, saving it, and sharing it with employers.
• Interview Preparation – Learn how to ace an interview and showcase your skills.
• Job Search Assistance – Get assistance finding and landing a job.
• Access to Supportive Services – Your Career Coach will help you identify your needs and access the resources you need (such as transportation, glasses, or uniforms) to be successful in this program.
• Access to a Job Retention Incentive – Money is paid to you after you get and keep a job for 90-days.

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Funding for the Pilot

Funding for this project was provided by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). The eleVAte SNAP E&T program is administered through the Virginia Department of Social Services. The USDA and VDSS are equal opportunity employers and providers.

VDSS IRB 2016-06

Pilot participants will have education, training, and other services paid for through the grant and are not obligated to pay any costs back if they do not complete the program.

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Research

SCOPE:

The EleVAte SNAP E&T Pilot program is a three (3) year grant from the United Stated Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) awarded to ten states nationwide. The intent is to create a pilot program for SNAP E&T recipients with a focus on 18-to-59 year old “Able Bodied Adults Without Dependents,” known as ABAWDs, followed by work registrants. The agencies partnering on this pilot will deliver training and employment services to approximately 2,693 SNAP E&T participants over the life of the pilot.

RESEARCH COMPONENT:

As a pilot for a new approach to serving this population, this grant involves a Research Study necessitating Random Assignment (RA) for participants. Half of the referred SNAP E&T recipients (2,693) will be chosen to be an active part of the study, and half (2,693) will not receive any “treatment” meaning enhanced Pilot services. Those recipients not receiving pilot services will be referred back to the Department of Social Services (DSS) as the “control” group; they are expected to receive typical or ‘business as usual’ services. Those individuals selected to be active participants in the Pilot will be assigned to the “treatment” group, and will receive all of the wrap-around services provided in the pilot. Data will be collected on the outcomes for both the “treatment” and “control” groups. Those results will be evaluated by outside agencies (Mathematica and MDRC), two external research organizations who are also evaluating the other six state grant awardees. The external evaluators will also conduct site interviews with SNAP E&T participates and the partners of the project.

In Virginia, the designated grant recipient is VDSS – the Virginia Department of Social Services; Virginia Community College System (VCCS) is the primary official sub-recipient. Partners include VA Department of Education (VDOE) and the VA Adult Learning Resource Center (VALRC) organized through Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU).

Statewide, seven community colleges have elected to take part in this project: Tidewater (TCC – Norfolk), Thomas Nelson (TNCC – Hampton), Piedmont (PVCC – Charlottesville), Southside (SVCC – Emporia), Danville (DCC – Danville), Patrick Henry (PHCC – Martinsville) and VA Highlands (VHCC – Abingdon). Within the service regions of the seven colleges there are 25 participating DSS offices.

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Partners – who is involved and what do they do?

Virginia Department of Social Services (VDSS) – Grant recipient and oversight for 23 participating DSS and Human Services offices in Virginia

Virginia Community College System (VCCS) – Subrecipient of VDSS and oversight for seven community colleges participating in the Pilot in Virginia. Participating Community colleges include:

• Danville Community College
• Patrick Henry Community College
• Piedmont Virginia Community College
• Southside Virginia Community College
• Thomas Nelson Community College
• Tidewater Community College
• Virginia Highlands Community College

Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) – Provide technical assistance and guidance on serving Adult Learners

Virginia Adult Career Education (VaACE) – Provider of the EleVAte Virginia Online program for Component 1

Virginia Adult Learning Resource Center (VALRC) – Oversight of the PluggedIn Virginia (PIVA) model for Component 3 and provider of technical assistance and guidance on serving Adult Learners

Mathematica & MDRC – Provide evaluation technical assistance on the pilot and evaluation designs and guidance on providing necessary data for the evaluation

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