Food and Nutrition Services Employment and Training Program (FNS E&T)

The Food and Nutrition Services Employment and Training (FNS E&T) Program is committed to strengthening families by providing job-driven, skills-based training that leads to meaningful employment for FNS recipients. North Carolina’s FNS E&T Program is voluntary; there are no mandatory participation requirements for FNS recipients.

FNS E&T Participation Criteria

An individual is eligible to receive FNS E&T services if he/she:

  • Is a member of an active FNS unit;
  • At least 16 years of age;
  • A resident of a county operating an E&T Program;
  • Able to work upon program completion;
  • Has the physical and mental ability to work at least 20 hours per week. For clients with a verified disability, such as an active SSI recipient, you will use the client’s statement or client-provided documentation to determine FNS E&T eligibility; and

An individual CANNOT receive FNS E&T services if he/she:

  • Is an applicant or recipient of Work First Family Assistance (WFFA) required to participate in employment services. FNS recipients who are a part of WFFA Child-Only cases may receive E&T services.
  • Is a refugee subject to work requirement s imposed by a Refugee Resettlement Program (RRP).

Contractual Partners

This program, funded by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), delivers services to contracted partners through a reimbursement model. This model consists of partnerships between the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS), North Carolina Community College Systems (NCCCS) Office, local county departments of social services and several community-based organizations (CBO). Contracted community colleges and CBOs provide direct E&T services to participants. FNS E&T operates on the Federal Fiscal Year (FFY) which is October 1 through September 30. 

The Division of Social Services/Food and Nutrition Services/Employment and Training Program posts an annual Request for Application (RFA) on its website under the working title Food and Nutrition Services – Employment and Training Program. 

County Partners

NC develops the FNS E&T State Plan for approval by USDA-FNS annually. NCDHHS functions in a state-supervised, county-administered format. Therefore, each partnering county is required to provide a Plan of Action (POA) to the State office annually by April 30. Each county's Plan of Action is formatted to contain the following information:

  • County E&T Program, Operations and Policy Overview
  • Estimate Participant Levels
  • Component Details
  • Summary of County Partnerships/Contracts
  • Contractor Detail Addendum
  • Operating Budget
  • Budget Narrative

Resources

Quarterly Meetings

For more information contact the FNS E&T Program Coordinator at 919-527-6300.