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June 26, 2018 <br /> <br />Recommended Action: <br /> <br /> Adoption of the ordinance. <br /> <br />Next Steps Following Council Action: <br /> <br /> The Finance Department will make the appropriate budget adjustments. <br /> <br />Motion by Mr. Smith, and seconded by Ms. Lucas-Burke, to adopt the following <br />ordinance, and was adopted by the following vote: <br /> <br />“ORDINANCE ACCEPTING FUNDING IN THE AMOUNT OF $220 FROM THE <br />VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES AND APPROPRIATING SAID <br />AMOUNT IN THE FY 2018 SOCIAL SERVICES FUND FOR USE BY THE <br />DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES FOR RESPITE CARE.” <br /> <br /> <br />Ayes: Clark, Lucas-Burke, Moody, Psimas, Smith, Whitaker, Rowe <br />Nays: None <br /> <br />18 - 245 - Adoption of an ordinance accepting funding from the United States <br />Department of Agriculture through the Virginia Department of Social Services in <br />the amount of $12,000 and appropriating said amount in the FY 2018 Social <br />Services Fund for the EleVAte SNAP Employment and Training Pilot Project. <br /> <br />Background: <br /> <br /> In 2014, the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced that up to $200 million will <br />be allotted for the development, implementation, and evaluation of up to 10 pilot projects <br />designed to reduce dependency and increase work effort under the Supplemental <br />Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) under the 2014 Farm Bill. <br /> <br /> The EleVAte SNAP E&T (SNAP Employment and Training) Pilot program is a three <br />(3) year grant from the United Stated Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food and <br />Nutrition Service (FNS) awarded to ten states nationwide. The intent is to create a pilot <br />program for SNAP E&T recipients with a focus on 18-to-59 year old “Able Bodied Adults <br />Without Dependents,” known as ABAWDs, followed by work registrants. The agencies <br />partnering on this pilot will deliver training and employment services to approximately <br />2,693 SNAP E&T participants over the life of the pilot. <br /> <br /> On April 1, 2015, the Virginia Department of Social Services (VDSS) was awarded <br />the SNAP Employment and Training Grant Project to pilot an effort to test existing and <br />new employment training initiatives to increase the number of SNAP work registrants who <br />obtain unsubsidized employment, increase earned income, and reduce reliance on public <br />assistance. <br /> <br /> As part of the state’s “Building Career Pathways to Success” and “Expansion of <br />the PluggedInVA” programs, VDSS selected up to thirty Local Departments of Social <br />Services to work with and seven community colleges. These funds will offer 3,760 <br />participants the opportunity to earn industry-recognized credentials. <br /> <br /> The Portsmouth Department of Social Services (PDSS) was selected as an <br /> <br />agency to participate in this program. <br /> <br />Discussion: <br /> <br /> The EleVAte SNAP E&T Pilot Program provides assistance with job-readiness, <br />industry certifications, GED or High School Equivalency credentials and help with <br />industry-specific job skills training. Grant funds can also be utilized to assist program <br />participants with transportation, via the use of gas cards. <br /> <br /> DSS would like to utilize the program funds to purchase gas cards for program <br />participants in order to provide them with the assistance needed in accessing their <br />programs. <br /> <br />Financial Impact: <br /> <br /> No local match required <br /> <br />Recommended Action: <br /> <br /> Adoption of the ordinance <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />