Food Stamp Employment and Training Program: Better Data Needed To Understand Who Is Served and What the Program Achieves. Report to Congressional Requesters.

The General Accounting Office (GAO) was asked to determine who is being served by the Food Stamp Employment and Training Program (FSE&T program), what services are being provided through the program, and what is known about the program's outcomes and effectiveness. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) does not collect nationwide data on the number and characteristics of FSE&T program participants. However, program officials in 15 states contacted by GAO described the program's participants as generally hard to employ because they have little education and limited work experience. USDA data show that, in fiscal year 2001, job search accounted for approximately half of all participant activities and work experience whereby participants receive food stamp benefits in exchange for work accounted for approximately 25%. FSE&T program services were being delivered through a variety of local entities such as welfare offices and one stop centers. No nationwide data exist regarding whether the FSE&T program helps participants get jobs. The existing state-level outcome data do not specify whether program outcomes were the result of program participation. The study's authors emphasized that better data are needed to understand whom the program is serving and what it is achieving. (Appendixes present information on program participants' ages, program activities, and program expenditures and allocations.) (MN)