In order to comply with USDA Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) rules, the Community Services Division has implemented additional functionalities in the BFET eJAS model. These changes, as of July 1, 2024, meet requirements in the BFET Referral process and Provider Determination process.
USDA FNS requires that states are able to track referrals to SNAP Employment & Training programs, BFET here in Washington State, and have a process for a referral to be accepted by a BFET provider, or in some cases reject referrals for clients that are not a good fit for BFET activities.
Desk aids for the BFET Referral and the Provider Determination are located on the BFET Provider Resources tab / eJAS Training Guides page / Desk Aids section.
The eJAS enhancement includes the following BFET functions:
•New BFET Referral
o BFET Providers will receive a Referral via eJAS and have seven (7) to either accept or reject the referral.
•Referral is a New Component
o Providers will receive an eJAS Emessage in their contractor message center; and a BI component which will show up on the BFET Contractor Caseload report.
o BFET provider must contact the client within seven (7) days to determine if they are a good fit for the BFET program.
From the Contractor Caseload Report, the BFET provider has the option to accept or reject the referral within seven (7) days of referral date.
•If client is a good fit, the provider will accept the referral and enroll the client in BFET by opening a BFET component per procedure. The BI component will automatically close.
•If the client is not a good fit, the provider will reject the referral, and the provider must provide a reason that the client and provider agree upon, from the following options:
o Provider could not get in contact with the client.
o Provider cannot meet the client’s needs. Document in the text box describing what the client needs.
o Provider does not have capacity.
o Client withdrew the referral.
o Client is not able to participate timely. Document in the text box describing why the client is not able to participate timely. Timely is defined by the provider agency.
o Client is not willing to accept at least part time employment.
o Please allow a referral to auto close if you aren’t able to accept or reject the referral within the 7-day time limit due to internal procedures.
•If rejecting referral for any reason, except client withdrawal, the provider must explain to the client that the client would be contacted by DSHS for possible future referral, or client can contact DSHS as soon as possible.
•ABAWD rules apply when an ABAWD receives a provider determination. The month a provider determination occurs is not a countable month, though the provider should encourage ABAWD client to engage in accessing services to meet ABAWD requirements.
Pausing BFET Referrals
BFET Providers may request a 30 day pause in receiving BFET referrals. The criteria for requesting a pause:
•BFET Provider is meeting (unduplicated new clients) Performance Goals and expenditures based on BFET contract, considered at capacity.
The request should be sent via email to SWBFETPolicy@dshs.wa.gov. The BFET Policy Team will review the request to pause referrals in relation to their Performance Goals and expenditures status. A confirmation of the pause will be sent to the provider within 72hrs.
BFET Providers will have the ability to request another 30 days pause, as needed.