SFY20-21 Grants
DEED has completed the process of modifying SFY20 contracts to reflect new end dates due to the COVID-19 crisis. As of July 20, contracting for the SFY21 ACP grants is completed with an effective date of July 1, 2020. Providers were offered three month extensions through September 30, 2021 to help make up for time left reconfiguring services in response to COVID-19 and the stay at home order.
SFY18-19 P2P Grants
The SFY18-19 Pathways to Prosperity Grants expired June 30, 2020. The Adult Career Pathways team is in the process of receiving final invoices and reports to evaluate the success of the program.
Displaced Homemaker Program
Effective August 1, 2020, the Displaced Homemaker Program will officially be known as the Minnesota Family Resiliency Program.
SNAP E&T 50/50
Three of the SFY20 SNAP E&T 50% Reimbursement providers have re-applied and have contracted to continue offering SNAP E&T support for SFY21, ending 9/30/2021.
SFY21 SNAP E&T 50% Reimbursement applications were sent to all ACP competitive Grantees on Aug 24th. An informational webinar will be held Friday Sept 4th at 10:00am with an application due date of Friday Sept 18th, 2020 by 4:00pm. Our goal is to add as many as seven providers.
With so many community members hurting due to layoffs, this is an excellent way to connect job training participants with more resources. We encourage providers to apply.
A reminder that Participants receiving Diversionary Work Program (DWP) benefits are required to work with DWP E & T. These participants may be co-enrolled in SNAP E & T, if appropriate.
Workforce One Tip – Individual Development Plan (IDP)
Individual Development Plans/Employment Plans/Action Plans are an important and necessary part of case management for ACP program participants. Each plan must be captured within Workforce One and updated at least once per year, when a change is made to the participants long or short-term objectives, barriers or support service plans or when an objective listed within the plan is completed or the date has passed. Navigators must keep the participants’ IDP current to ensure that all parties involved are accountable for their responsibilities. Training, support services, and intensive services cannot be incurred, obligated, or distributed until after the participant is enrolled AND the participant and Navigator have signed and dated the IDP.
ACP Grantees have the option to utilize their own paper plan or utilize a plan template within the Workforce One system.
- On the left-side navigation pane, chose Plan. Chose the Paper drop-down option if utilizing a provider written plan and follow the prompts.
- Chose Online if utilizing a Workforce One template and complete all areas to include all required elements of a plan.
A copy of the IDP must be maintained in the participant’s file, case noted, and signed by the participant and Navigator.
The Workforce One system also allows providers to create their own plan template to ensure all Navigators enter consistent information. That option is available under Manage Program on the top navigation pane under Plan Template.
More information about IDPs may be found within the ACP Operations Guide or at https://apps.deed.state.mn.us/ddp/PolicyDetail.aspx?pol=411.
ACP Operations Guide
ACP’s Operations Guide is now available from the ACP home page. The Guide documents current practices for ACP. The ACP Team meets monthly to discuss suggested additions, updates, modifications, and other changes to the guide and update as necessary. he Guide is intended to be a living document and will be updated as procedures evolve. It does NOT include measures implemented in response to COVID-19, which are listed separately.
ACP Communication
Two emails were sent to all ACP Grantees in August with a few reminders:
On August 14th:
In order to ensure timely processing of Requests for Payment Reimbursements (RPRs) and Funds Status Reports (FSR) for SFY20 and SFY 21 grants, all Grantees ‘including those with Direct Appropriation grants, and Competitive grants (Pathways to Prosperity, Support Services, WESA, and SE Asian)’ must submit an RPR/FSR for each grant year each month beginning July 2020, until the end of the SFY20 grant. You must submit an RPR/FSR even if you did not spend any funds.
As always, send your RPRs/ FSRs to DEED.FSR@state.mn.us, (copy your grants coordinator) by the 20th of the month following the month of expenditure.
On August 18th:
All SFY20-21 Grantees who included wrap-around support services within their budget are required to have a Support Service policy in place to determine appropriate amounts of financial support available to participants actively engaged in programming. These services must enhance participants’ planning and informed decision-making, and increase success in participants achieving both education and employment goals. Further information is available in the Adult Career Pathways Operations Guide found at https://mn.gov/deed/programs-services/adult-career-pathways/ and in the Cost Category Guidance. Please submit to your Grant Coordinator a copy of your program/agency’s Support Service policy by August 31, 2020.
Preliminary case notes are required to be entered in to WF1 when it has been determined a participant has met all eligibility requirements and is enrolling in your program/WF1. More information about case notes is available in the Adult Career Pathways Operations Guide found at https://mn.gov/deed/programs-services/adult-career-pathways/. A preliminary case note must include:
Organizations who applied for and received a Paycheck Protection Plan (PPP) loan during the COVID-19 crisis and are utilizing the funds for staff salaries must ensure that PPP does not “double-dip,” i.e. use grant/PPP funds for the same purpose. However, there is nothing that requires one to be used before the other.
Please continue to review your approved contract Workplan and Budget as any adjustments to either sections of your contract will require a modification/amendment. Contact your Grant Coordinator immediately if you have any questions or would like to request an adjustment prior to implementing those changes.
Heads-up!
Watch for a very small RFP for ACP programs to be published soon.
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