Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Career Advancement Network (SNAP CAN)
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This section describes the function and services the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Career Advancement Network (SNAP CAN) provides to help NA participants gain employment and training.
This policy is effective for all eligibility determinations completed on or after 12/23/2024. For eligibility determinations completed before 12/23/2024 see the prior policy.
Policy
Quick Access Menu:
●SNAP CAN Screening and Referral
SNAP CAN
The purpose of employment and training services for NA participants is to help participants gain all of the following:
●Job skills and employment.
●Self-sufficiency to move forward.
●Independence and to reduce dependence on public benefits.
In Arizona, the Department of Economic Security (DES), Division of Employment and Rehabilitation Services (DERS), and Workforce Development Administration (WDA) administer employment and training services through third-party providers called the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Career Advancement Network (SNAP CAN).
All of the following information applies to SNAP CAN:
●Participation in the SNAP CAN is not required to receive NA benefits.
●SNAP CAN participation is voluntary. SNAP CAN providers have the NA participants complete a Participant Agreement that states participating is voluntary.
●SNAP CAN is a community-based, federal and state-funded voluntary work program.
●SNAP CAN participation is available only to NA participants 16 years of age or older.
SNAP CAN Screening and Referral
FAA is required to screen each NA participant for a SNAP CAN referral at all of the following:
●New NA applications at the time of the interview.
●Renewal NA applications at the time of the interview.
●NA change reports when the change is completed.
NOTE FAA attempts to contact the participant to complete the SNAP CAN screening and referral when a change report causes a participant to no longer be eligible for a work requirement exemption. When the participant cannot be contacted, the screening and referral is completed at the next renewal.
At every interview, FAA is required to explain the services SNAP CAN provides for the employment and training needs of NA participants, including all of the following:
●A comprehensive initial assessment that collects information to help develop a plan for success, including all of the following:
Career and education history and goals
Skills – interpersonal, critical thinking, and communication
Abilities and interests
Family obligations
Other job-related issues
●An Employment Plan developed by the participants and SNAP CAN case managers.
●Case Management to help NA participants navigate and identify barriers and challenges to obtaining and retaining employment. SNAP CAN case managers guide, motivate, and support participants by monitoring the participant’s needs and progress.
●Financial assistance for, and not limited to, all of the following:
Childcare
Tools, uniforms, and safety apparel
Books
Test fees, and Internet access
At every interview, FAA explains all of the following types of employment and training services including, and not limited to all of the following:
●Supervised job search
Identifying employment opportunities
Applying for employment
Attending job fairs
●Job readiness
Career exploration and planning
Job search techniques
Resume preparation
●Education
Adult Basic Education (ABE)
English as a Second Language (ESL)
High school equivalency (GED)
●Community Service
●Work Experience
●Support to maintain a job
●Vocational Training, to earn a Certification Diploma or Academic Degree in, and not limited to all of the following:
Culinary
Cosmetology
Medical Assistant
Forklift
Information Technology
Emergency Medical Technology
Medical Billing & Coding
Construction
Automotive Repair
Welding
SNAP CAN Referral
FAA screens all NA participants for a SNAP CAN referral during the application and interview process. FAA discovers reasons for appropriate referrals on the NA application and case file and in a conversation with the participant about the SNAP CAN training and employment opportunities.
When a participant is in one of the following programs, FAA does not refer the participant to SNAP CAN:
●CA Jobs
●Tribal Native Employment Works (NEW)
●Tribal TANF Employment Program
●Refugee Resettlement
NA participants who meet any of the following are not eligible to participate in SNAP CAN:
●Disqualified NA participants. (See Disqualified Participants to see who is considered disqualified from benefits and the reasons why.)
●NA nonparticipants unless the person is receiving NA in another case.
For NA participants who meet one or more of the following circumstances, a referral to voluntarily participate in SNAP CAN is appropriate:
●Is a Work registrant.
●Exempt from the NA work requirements
●Subject to the ABAWD time limit
●Exempt from the ABAWD time limit
FAA completes an appropriate SNAP CAN referral for voluntary participation in employment and training components when an NA participant meets one or more of the following circumstances:
●Ready and able to work.
●Unemployed or underemployed.
●Needs to enhance skills to secure unsubsidized employment.
●Interested in participating in a SNAP CAN employment and training component.
●Could use support to obtain employment.
●Needs work experience.
●Has not completed high school.
●Has limited English Proficiency
●Needs vocational training.
FAA informs NA participants during the screening process that an appropriate referral to voluntarily participate in SNAP CAN is made unless a participant objects to the referral.
During the interview, FAA provides all of the following information to the participant:
●The SNAP CAN provider network website. (See https://des.az.gov/snapcan-training)
●Once determined eligible for benefits, NA participants can contact any SNAP CAN provider to request employment and training services.
NOTE FAA can assist the participant in locating a SNAP CAN provider near the participant. See Find a SNAP CAN Provider for a complete list of SNAP CAN providers and contact information.
●DERS and WDA may send the participant outreach material for job fairs and employment resources.
●To receive employment and training services, a participant needs to contact a SNAP CAN provider.
●A participant can find SNAP CAN providers on the DES Website. See Becoming a SNAP CAN Participant for complete information, a list of SNAP CAN providers, locations, and contact information.
●A referral for SNAP CAN participation is required before participation can begin.
For all NA participants not referred to SNAP CAN, FAA provides contact information to ARIZONA@WORK, an employment organization offering resources and services to job seekers. For more information, see the ARIZONA@WORK website for contact information.
When the participant objects and a referral is not completed, the participant can change their mind after the interview by contacting FAA and speaking with an FAA Benefits Eligibility Specialist to complete a referral to voluntarily participate in SNAP CAN.
An NA participant can voluntarily participate in a SNAP CAN employment and training component anytime while receiving NA benefits. FAA has to complete a referral before an NA participant can receive employment and training services from SNAP CAN. When a participant or SNAP CAN provider contacts FAA for a referral to participate in SNAP CAN, the participant is considered an appropriate referral. FAA completes the SNAP CAN referral within one workday(g).
SNAP CAN Reimbursements
All SNAP CAN participants are entitled to a participant allowance. A reimbursement can be for past or future costs incurred by the participant for expenses necessary to participate in SNAP CAN.
SNAP CAN providers are responsible for authorizing and paying participant allowances based on all of the following:
●Allowances are for transportation and other expenses.
●The allowance amount is paid for each employment and training participation period of four weeks.
●SNAP CAN providers determine eligibility for the allowance based on the type of services available from the SNAP CAN provider.
NOTE The allowances are not countable as income for NA eligibility.
SNAP CAN Provider Determination
The SNAP CAN providers have the responsibility to ensure NA participants meet their employment and training goals. When the provider determines that the participant is enrolled in an employment and training component that is not suitable for the participant, the SNAP CAN provider completes one of the following actions:
●Enrolls the participant in a more suitable employment and training component offered by the provider.
●Refers the participant to another SNAP CAN provider with more suitable employment and training components for the participant.
When a SNAP CAN provider decides that the participant is not a good fit for the services offered in their program, it is considered a provider determination. Then the SNAP CAN provider completes a provider determination form and sends that form to FAA and the Division of Employment and Rehabilitation Services (DERS) within 10 calendar days(g).
The provider uses that form to document all of the following information:
●The reason the employment and training component or the SNAP CAN provider was not suitable for the participant.
●The information or documentation that led to or supported the decision.
●The recommended next steps for the participant.
DERS sends a notification to the NA participant within 10 calendar days of receiving a provider determination form with all of the following information:
●An explanation of the provider determination.
●The next steps the agency can take as a result of the provider determination.
●Contact information for FAA.
●A provider determination does not impact NA eligibility or the benefit amount.
●For ABAWD participants, countable months toward the three-month time limit start with the next full benefit month after the month DERS sends a notification to the participant of the provider determination.
When FAA receives a provider determination form and the participant contacts FAA before their renewal interview or at the time of their renewal, FAA takes all of the following actions:
●Reviews the participant’s circumstances for an ABAWD and NA work requirement exemption.
●Completes the SNAP CAN screening and referral process with the participant.
●Helps locate another SNAP CAN provider near the participant. (For SNAP CAN providers' contact information, see Becoming a SNAP CAN Participant.
●Explains ARIZONA@WORK is another no-cost employment and training service and refers the participant to ARIZONA@WORK by providing them with the ARIZONA@WORK website address at https://arizonaatwork.com/ for current events, available employment and training services, and locations and contact information.
Legal Authorities
7 CFR 273.7(c)(iii)(4) and (5)
7 CFR 273.7
7 CFR 273.7(c)(6)(iii)
7 CFR 273.7(c)(i)(ii) and (iii)
7 CFR 273.7(c)(iii)(2)
last revised 12/09/2024 effective 12/23/2024