This section is dedicated to sharing information about lesser-known innovative programs and initiatives that the Bureau for Family Assistance and its grantees offer.
Did you know that the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Education and Training (E&T) program has teamed up with Coalfield Development, Goodwill Industries of Kanawha Valley, Blenko Glass Company, and West Virginia Women Work to promote various career pathways?
The Bureau for Family Assistance (BFA) SNAP E&T Unit is currently working with partners Coalfield Development, Goodwill Industries of Kanawha Valley, Blenko Glass Company, and West Virginia Women Work to provide SNAP participants with contemporary career pathways and workforce skills training. These organizations work every day to facilitate learning, training, and employment opportunities for SNAP E&T participants. They ensure that their training is relevant to each participant's needs so that, once a participant completes training, they may quickly find gainful employment and local businesses can have an effective workforce they need to operate and thrive in their communities.
If you are interested in participating in SNAP E&T, please contact your local DoHS county office or DoHS Customer Service at 1-877-716-1212 and ask to be referred to SNAP E&T.
Click here to learn more about BFA programs and partnerships like this.
Did you know that, by shopping at participating farmers markets, you can make your SNAP dollars stretch further?
The SNAP Stretch program allows customers using SNAP benefits to double or triple their spending power at 42 farmers markets and farm stands across West Virginia. For every dollar purchased with a SNAP/EBT card, you receive another dollar to spend on locally grown produce. If you are over the age of 60 or have your child with you, you will receive an additional $2 for every dollar spent. For more information, visit
https://www.snapstretch.com/.
Did you know that the DHHR Bureau for Family Asssistance Division of Professional Development provides statewide training designed to target West Virginia homeless service providers?
The DHHR Bureau for Family Assistance (BFA) Division of Professional Development recently conducted a statewide training for service agencies on the assistance programs of the Bureau for Family Assistance. This training was designed to target WV homeless service providers, including but not limited to, emergency shelter staff, street outreach workers, and housing stabilization case managers to connect persons experiencing homelessness with safe and stable housing. This training increased the knowledge of assistance programs available to persons who are at-risk and/or experiencing homelessness.
“This training offered a wonderful overview for how to assist severe service needs populations with accessing and maintaining resources,” said Lauren Frederick, Continuum of Care Director for the WV Coalition to End Homelessness. “We hope this can become an annual training for our frontline staff.”
This training of more than 65 attendees was provided by Bill Funk, Tony Bohrer, and Tyler Coleman of the BFA Division of Professional Development. It covered all of the assistance programs available for the public including SNAP, Medicaid, WV WORKS (TANF), LIEAP, School Clothing Allowance, and Emergency Assistance and is just a part of the community outreach that DHHR provides.
Did you know the TRAILS (Traveling Resource and Information Library Service) program lends a wide range of toys, games, books, and professional resources to child care providers in counties across the state?
TRAILS is a mobile resource program designed to improve the quality and availability of child care services in West Virginia. TRAILS offers:
- Developmentally appropriate toys, games and books for the use of children in family child care homes, centers, and facilities.
- A wide range of professional resources to enhance program quality. They are available to all active providers receiving subsidized payment.
- Assistive technology items for providers who care for children with special needs.
You can check out resources for approximately a month at a time, or longer by special arrangement. We all know how expensive quality child care resources are - TRAILS is a great way to try it before you buy it. TRAILS is staffed by people with experience in the early childhood field who can advise you on which toys are best for what age group, how to use the resources on the TRAILS Van, and can provide training on various topics. Click
here for more information about TRAILS program services.