Adult Career Pathways Updates
Legislative Direct Appropriation Grants/ Competitive Grants SFY20/21
- Updated quarterly report templates were sent to Grantees in October with an updated procedure for pulling outcome measurements from WF1. The reports are due the 30th of the month following the end of the quarter.
- The Documentation Needed to Support Participant Eligibility form for the Pathways to Prosperity program has been updated at: https://mn.gov/deed/programs-services/adult-career-pathways/pathways-prosperity/.
- Sessions are full for the ACP grant specific WF1 trainings in Nov and Dec. The next WF1 ETP Programs Case Management Training is open for February 11, 2021.
SNAP E&T 50/50
DEED has now executed SNAP E&T 50% Reimbursement contracts for SFY21 for 8 Grantees; 3 previous Grantees and 5 new Grantees. One-on-one onboarding sessions for new Grantees have been completed with the hope to reimburse these organizations up to $200,000 in additional funds to grow capacity or support for participants.
Mn Family Resiliency Partnership (formerly known as Displaced Homemaker Program)
Providers meet quarterly to review program progress. This quarter providers shared best practices and the impact of COVID on ensuring services are still being provided to the community. Some best practices shared included inserting program flyers at local food shelves and included in the distribution bags.
Workforce One Tips –
- When enrolling a participant in WF1, it is essential that all fields within the Enrollment page, required or not, are completed. A participant’s eligibility criteria are often defined within the options chosen in the enrollment page. If it is found that the options chosen within the enrollment page are inconsistent with the participant’s eligibility criteria, the monitor will look to the preliminary case note to explain the inconsistency.
If you have questions about what a field within the Enrollment page means, simply click the help button on the top Navigation Pane of WF1 and the definitions for all fields window will appear.
- If a participant has gained employment and will no longer receive services from your organization, please make sure to choose the appropriate Exit reason AND Labor Force Status.
- If the job is through a temporary agency, chose Temporary Employment.
- If the job is permanent and meets the employer definition of full-time chose Employed Full Time
- If the job is permanent and meets the employer definition of part-time chose Employed Part Time
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. The 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 Team Message to Grantees
In light of the COVID pandemic, more providers have requested an amendment to their current contracts to include the use of grant funds to purchase computers/laptops or internet access for participants to start or continue participating in training activities. This is an allowable use of grant funds. An Amendment/Modification of the work plan narrative may be needed indicating the specific training program the computers/laptops will be required for successful completion, if it is not already addressed. A reminder that providers must submit the following prior to utilizing funds for these purchases:
- Providers must develop a policy for purchasing and distributing laptops.
- Eligibility requirements a participant must meet in order to receive a laptop/computer,
- A maximum amount of how much will be reimbursed, including documentation required from the participant for proof of receipt of support service.
We encourage you to do your best to ensure that a participant will be engaged with your program before giving out technology. While support services, such as computer support, are an important component of all our grant programs, support service purchases should be used to enable a participant to successfully engage with your program, complete training, and obtain employment- not just to receive a computer. We recommend only purchasing computers for participants who are active participants in your program, such as those being enrolled in credentialed/certificate training and have demonstrated their commitment to keeping engaged.
As a reminder, all information about a computer distribution directly to a participant needs to be specifically case noted in Workforce One and entered in the support service section. Please contact your DEED Grant Coordinator with any questions.
ACP Grantee Spotlight
During this State of Emergency due to COVID-19, the ACP Team has been overwhelmed with the dedication our Grantees have demonstrated in maintaining opportunities for individuals to continue working towards self-sufficiency. We know there are many examples of providers across the state adjusting programming and taking their projects online. Your ability to pivot continues to have a profound effect on the people of Minnesota.
One example comes to us from our partner at Southwest Minnesota Private Industry Council who were able to complete their Community Interpreter training with all 17 students successfully completing and obtaining a Certified Interpreter credential amidst COVID 19. Of those, 65% received the highest interpreter testing level of Superior or Advanced skills. They were also able to complete their CNA training and TMA training during the same difficult time. They were happy to share a note of gratitude from one of the participants. See note from Carolina.
To Whom It May Concern:
My name is Carolina, I am 38 years old and a mother of two beautiful children. The reason I am writing this letter is to just express how thankful I am for the opportunity of this program that was granted to me. Because it opens up a new door for me and allowed to explain why this opportunity helped me economically.
When I was 36 years old, I got carpal tunnel in my hands, in a certain way I felt that my life changed, my hands were not the same and also, I got fired from my job during that time. It was a wakeup call for me, so I decided to go back to college and now I just finished my Liberal Arts, and right now I am pursuing a double major in Computer Science. I am currently working in a Gas Station and I have to be on my feet all day. Now with the Community Interpreter Grant I was able to obtain my certificate and now I choose my hours and days to work with a good rate, now I can focus on my family and school.
Thank you for the opportunity and most importantly for this grant, people like me would have more chances to be trained in this type of programs. And have the chance to open up new doors.
