7.1  Introduction

When determining the initial placement for W-2Wisconsin Works applicants, FEPFinancial and Employment Planners must use all of the information gathered from the:

·        Informal assessment (see 5.2);

·        Educational Needs Assessment Educational needs assessments determine if the individual needs, or would benefit from, education or training activities, including a course of study for the granting of a declaration of equivalency of high school graduation. In making this determination, the FEP must consider the following: • The information gathered on the applicant/participant’s current educational levels; • The level of education and training necessary to obtain full-time employment in the local labor market; and • The applicant/participant’s personal employment goals. (see 5.3);

·        Any Career Assessment A broad spectrum of assessment tools that W-2 agencies, applicants, and participants use to obtain greater awareness about how an individual’s work styles, skills, and interests can be used to define a career path, assign meaningful activities, highlight strengths, identify training needs, and match the individual to employment opportunities results that identify work styles, skills, and interests (see 5.4);

·        Progress made in up-front job search, if assigned (see 2.9.2); and

·        Results of any other Vocational Evaluation/Assessment Assessments which are conducted to help individuals living with a disability establish realistic vocational goals and a plan to achieve them. The vocational evaluation process is designed to assess the unique strengths, resources, and experiences of an individual in order to match that person’s abilities and preferences to appropriate work placements, jobs, or training programs. The process is interactive; the intent is for staff to learn about the participant and the participant to learn about themselves or formal assessments (see 5.1.1).

When making initial placements, FEP must also:

·        Discuss and review the factors impacting the placement decision with the applicant;

·        Never delay placement because a formal assessment is pending (see 5.1.1.2), and

·        Document the reasons for the placement decision in PIN comments.

FEPs are required to provide ongoing case management which includes periodic reassessment of the current placement. Depending on circumstances at the time, the individual’s appropriateness for a particular placement may change. Participants must always be placed at the highest level of participation possible. 

The W-2 program has the placement options described in this chapter. Some placements are specifically for applicants and others are specifically for ongoing participants. 

History: Release 20-03; Release 19-07; Release 19-02; Release 17-01.