Wisconsin Works (W-2)
Community Steering Committee
Community Steering Committees (CSCs) are required by state statute and are public/private partnerships established by each Wisconsin Works (W-2) agency to provide ties to local communities with strong leadership from the business sector. It is important to note that a W-2 agency may be a single W-2 public or private organization or a consortium of W-2 public and/or private organizations.
The W-2 agency shall recommend committee members to the chief executive officer (CEO) of each county that is provided service. The CEO of each county shall appoint CSC members by proportion of that county’s population to each other county served by the W-2 agency.
A CSC includes representatives of local business interests, the director/designee of each county served, plus one other county department representative when the county is not the W-2 agency. However, CSC membership should be held between 12 to 15 members and meet no less than on a quarterly basis. Also, the CSC chairperson appointed by the CSC members must be a person who represents business interests. Wisconsin Statute 49.143 (2) provides more detailed requirements and information for establishing CSCs.
The CSC will help the W-2 agency identify unsubsidized employment opportunities, as well as create wage-subsidized and community service jobs for those individuals who are not ready for private employment. CSCs reinforce the role employers have in providing employment opportunities for W-2 participants.
Major Responsibilities of the Community Steering Committees:
- Establish strong ties to local employers.
- Create and identify job opportunities.
- Develop employment strategies.
- Promote entrepreneurship.
- Provide mentoring.
- Help Identify Child Care Needs
Community Steering Committees (CSCs) also serve in improving access to and expanding availability of child care, collaborating with the Children’s Services Network, and ensuring that training and education programs are relevant to the community’s business needs.
CSCs help to promote the understanding and use of the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) among both employers and their employees. The EITC is specifically designed to help low-income working families with children achieve an income above the poverty level.
CSCs collaborate with other local/regional boards charged with employment-related responsibilities such as Workforce Investment Councils, Workforce Development Boards (WDB), the Wisconsin Technical College System (WTCS) and others to ensure compatibility of purpose and prevent duplication of effort.
CSCs are a key element in demonstrating that community involvement is a major key to success in moving low-income individuals from public assistance to self-sufficiency.