Job training is essential to promoting family economic success, and finding the resources to provide this training is a major challenge for state workforce development systems. A select group of states have begun leveraging a valuable but underused funding source called SNAP E&T, and one state -- Washington State -- has developed an innovative approach that is showing promising results for helping low-wage workers along the path to family economic success.

Washington State did not have an active SNAP E&T program until a new effort was launched between state agencies, not-for-profit organizations, and the Annie E. Casey Foundation's Making Connection project in the White Center community within King County. Through this effort, the county developed a pilot project through which five community agencies became eligible to provide employment and training under the E&T program, and began receiving federal matching funds for their investment in these services. By partnering with these community organizations, Washington State established the first third-party match program in the nation. In 2005 this partnership began with five non-governmental organizations: Seattle Goodwill Industries; YWCA of Seattle-King County-Snohomish County; Seattle Jobs Initiative; South Seattle Community College; and, PortJobs. One year later, four additional organizations joined this partnership: Refugee Federation Service Center; Refugee Women’s Alliance; Bellevue Community College; and, Green River Community College. By engaging these partners, this initiative expands the programs reach and potential for identifying individuals eligible for the food stamps, coordinating client eligibility and participation in employment training, and ensuring that federal matching funds are accessed for community-based services.