B.2. Research Objectives and Questions by Data Source

Appendix B.2. Research Objectives and Questions by Data Source

OMB No. 0584-[NEW]

Assessment of Mandatory E&T Programs

Month XX, 2018

Project Officer: Jordan Younes

Office of Policy Support

Food and Nutrition Service

U.S. Department of Agriculture

3101 Park Center Drive

Alexandria, VA 22303

703-305-2935

Jordan.younes@fns.usda.gov

Research Objectives and Questions by Data Source

Research Objectives and Questions	Data Sources
	Document Review		Site Visits						Administrative Dataa
			Interviews With State and Local SNAP Staff			Interviews With E&T Providers
Objective 1: Conduct a process evaluation to understand the process for notifying participants and enrolling them in mandatory E&T programs
What reasons do States give for instituting mandatory over voluntary programs?				
Who is subject to mandatory E&T in the mandatory State programs? Do States exempt certain groups of individuals or geographic areas from mandatory participation in E&T? If so, why?				
How do mandatory States differ from one another in their intake procedures, referral procedures, orientations, and notification processes for mandatory participants?				
How do screening mechanisms work in regard to Federal exemptions from work registration and any State-selected exemptions from mandatory E&T? How often are SNAP participants referred to E&T when they should not be? Generally, how and when are incorrect referrals to E&T discovered, and how are they corrected?							
What activities are required for mandatory E&T compliance?							
Do mandatory E&T States have the resources to serve the entire eligible population should participation reach 100 percent? If not, what percentage of the eligible population can the States serve?							
How frequently do mandatory E&T participants leave the program for the following reasons? Participant is sanctioned for failure to comply with requirements. Participant does not meet deadline to recertify. Participant begins earning wages that are above the threshold to qualify for SNAP benefits.									
Objective 2: Determine the main reasons why mandatory E&T participants are sanctioned, with particular attention to program dropoff points that result in sanctions
What State E&T policies and administrative practices may affect a mandatory E&T participant’s likelihood of participating in E&T services and the participant’s likelihood of being sanctioned? Features examined may include— Group(s) targeted Screening process used to identify Federal exemptions from work registration and any State-selected exemptions from mandatory E&T, particularly in States that rely primarily on telephone interviews Intake process, including assessment and assignment to individual E&T components Referral process, including systems of communication and collaboration between SNAP agencies and E&T partner organizations Number of locations visited and referrals needed to obtain services Participant reporting requirements Notification process Type of sanction imposed Length of compliance period before being considered noncompliant Opportunities for appeal, including formal and informal channels									
At which points in the process are participants more likely to be sanctioned?									
How clear are the NOAAs, which inform participants they are at risk of being sanctioned? Is due process followed for those who fail to meet program requirements?				
How frequently do participants who receive a sanction notice comply before the sanction is imposed?									
To the extent the information is available, what percentage of sanctioned participants return to SNAP and E&T? How quickly do sanctioned individuals return to SNAP, if at all (e.g., never return, short-term absences, long-term absences)? How long do mandatory participants typically participate in E&T (if data are available)?									
Objective 2 (continued): Determine the main reasons why mandatory E&T participants are sanctioned, with particular attention to program dropoff points that result in sanctions
What are the challenges or obstacles mandatory SNAP E&T participants face in sustaining participation? What are the primary barriers clients report to SNAP agencies for not being able to comply upfront (never enter E&T)? How do reasons differ for those that begin an E&T program but struggle to comply?							
What kinds of training do SNAP staff receive on practices for implementing mandatory E&T and sanctions for noncompliance? Features examined may include— Who receives training Frequency of training Any printed materials Format of the training (in person, web, required/optional) Whether retraining is offered/required periodically							
Does the frequency of sanctioning differ in States with light-touch programs versus intensive programs?									
How are sanction policies/procedures monitored and tracked by the State/local supervisors? Are case reviews conducted on sanctioned cases to determine if they were sanctioned accurately? Does the level of noncompliance remain fairly consistent annually and across the State? If not, how has it changed? Why? Has the State made any changes to its sanction policies over time to account for high sanction rates identified?				
Objective 3: Assess how well mandatory programs help SNAP E&T participants gain skills, certificates and credentials; gain stable, well-paying employment; and move toward economic self-sufficiency
How do the services included in State E&T plans compare with the services that participants are offered or actually receive (e.g., job search, job search training, supportive services)? Services examined may include— Light-touch services such as job search or job search training Intensive services such as adult basic education, on-the-job training, or occupational or technical skills training Case management, success coaching, or career navigation Support services such as transportation or child care									
How do the services providers offer to E&T participants compare to what participants most frequently receive? How do staff determine what services to offer participants? Are participants told about all services or only a limited amount based on assessments?								
To what extent are mandatory E&T services specifically designed to prepare participants for in-demand jobs in the local job market?								
What metrics do States have in place to determine how well E&T services are moving participants toward economic self-sufficiency? Which organizations are tracking and monitoring those metrics?								

^a Research questions addressed by the administrative data analysis may be limited by the data available from SNAP case records, E&T providers, and other State records. The study team will assess the extent to which available administrative data can provide information needed to address research questions during preliminary discussions with States.