1.2.3 Financial and Employment Planner

State statute requires that each W-2W-2Wisconsin Works agency have at least one FEPFEPFinancial and Employment Planner.

The FEP must provide individualized case management services and supportive services for participants in W-2 Employment PositionCommunity Service Job, Trial Employment Match Program, and W-2 Transitions.

The FEP must:

Be the primary case manager and hold the ultimate responsibility for the case, including correct eligibility determination for W-2;
Coordinate with other agencies to facilitate needed services such as mental health or substance abuse treatment, education, training, educational needs assessmentEducational 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., career assessmentA 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, vocational evaluation/assessmentAssessments 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, and other formal assessments;
Meet with the applicant within five working days after the date the W-2 agency receives a signed Application Registration form; (See 1.4.2.1)
Use the information gathered at the first meeting to determine eligibility and make a placement determination within seven working days of the first meeting.

The main functions of the FEP include:

Eligibility determination;
Assessment;
Employability planning;
Service referral; and
Ongoing case management.

The FEP must:

Determine eligibility for W-2 and JALJALJob Access Loans, including:
1. Verifying information necessary to process the W-2 application;
2. Scanning verification timely into ECFECFElectronic Case File;
3. Ensuring that all data is entered into CWWCWWCARES Worker Web, CARESCARESClient Assistance for Reemployment and Economic Support, and WWPWWPWisconsin Work Programs accurately and timely; and
4. Ensuring that correct payments are issued in a timely manner.
Provide information on financial literacy, life skills, and workplace bests practices.
Complete an informal assessment (See 5.2.1), assessing for both strengths and barriers, including reviewing and updating information gathered by the RSRSResource Specialist using the WWP Informal Assessment Driver Flow.
Determine whether a Formal AssessmentThe process of establishing: •The extent and severity of any disabilities or other conditions (e.g., domestic violence, learning needs, need to care for disabled child) that may interfere with normal functioning in an employment setting or with a persons’ ability to meet W-2 program requirements; • The effect of a disability or other potential barrier on the person’s capacity to obtain and maintain unsubsidized employment, participate in employment-related activities (e.g., employment training or education) or otherwise meet W-2 program requirements; •The need for supportive services, accommodations, auxiliary aids or communication assistance; •The conditions under which the person is capable of employment or employment related activities; •The need to make reasonable modifications to policies, practices and procedures when necessary to ensure equal opportunity for people with disabilities; and •The appropriateness of specific assignments in the W-2 program. by a qualified assessing agency is needed using the:
1. WWP Informal AssessmentA process to gather information about an individual and his or her family to determine the: •Individual's ability to become employed and remain employed; •Services and activities necessary for the individual to become employed and remain employed; •Appropriate placement of a participant on the W-2 employment ladder; •Need for further career assessment and planning; •Need for vocational evaluation; and •Need for a formal assessment of any disabilities or other employment barriers by a qualified assessing agency or individual. information;
2. Educational Needs AssessmentEducational 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.;
3. Career AssessmentA 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; and
4. Any other information provided by the participant. (See 5.5.2)
Consider barriers to employment in determining the level of employability, making placement decisions, and referrals to other services. Provide accommodations and modifications as needed to support full engagement in work activities or employment. (See 1.3.1)
Assign reasonable job search activities prior to, or after, the determination of W-2 eligibility.
Determine placement in a W-2 employment position and the need for an Family Stabilization Payment. (See 19.3.1)
Work with the participants to develop a W-2 EPEPEmployability Plan based on their goals and assessment results, including an educational needs assessment, and career assessment.
Design a plan to move the participant to unsubsidized employment as quickly as possible and within the time limits of the W-2 program. Documenting requirements for assigned W-2 activities and incorporating Learnfare activity requirements as necessary. (See Chapter 6)
Ensure applicants and participants have the necessary supportive services, accommodations, service aids, and communication assistance required to participate to the fullest extent possible upon program entry. (See the Job Accommodation Network webpage)
Assess participants' progress in their assigned activities and determine whether they have the hard and soft skills necessary to obtain and retain unsubsidized employment as quickly as possible after application.
Work with the participants to update the EPEPEmployability Plan as needed based on the assessment progress and remaining months of eligibility.
Identify nonparticipation; determine good cause; and record participation, good cause, and make-up hours in WWP.
Explain policies governing eligibility, including the responsibilities and requirements outlined in the PAPAParticipation Agreement. Secure the applicant’s signature on the PA prior to beginning a W-2 Employment PositionCommunity Service Job, Trial Employment Match Program, and W-2 Transition. These policies include, but are not limited to:
1. Explaining that failure to cooperate during the application phase may result in ineligibility;
2. Providing information on the Fact Finding Process;
3. Emphasizing that W-2 is a time-limited program (See 2.10); and
4. Explaining the W-2 agency’s discrimination complaint process (See 1.4.6).
Refer applicants who supply questionable information for front-end verification. (See 13.2.1)
Refer participants suspected of fraudulent activity for fraud investigation. (See 13.4.1)
When necessary, refer individuals to other community services such as:
1. Food pantries;
2. Domestic abuse services;
3. Homeless shelters;
4. Literacy councils;
5. Child welfare agencies;
6. DVRDVRDivision of Vocational Rehabilitation; and
7. AODAAODAAlcohol and Other Drug Abuse / mental health services.
Assure that final eligibility information for W-2 is transmitted to the child support agency, and that participants cooperate with their child support agency. The FEP must also review with the participant their child support assignment during eligibility reviews.
Explain and assess the Learnfare status for Dependent ChildA person who resides with a parent and who is under the age of 18 or, if the person is a full-time student at a secondary school or a vocational or technical equivalent and is reasonably expected to complete the program before attaining the age of 19, is under the age of 19(ren) in a W-2 GroupAn adult custodial parent, all dependent children with respect to whom the individual is a legal custodial parent and all minor children with respect to whom the adult individual’s dependent child is a custodial parent. W-2 Group includes any non-marital co-parent or any spouse of the individual who resides in the same household as the individual and any minor children with respect to whom the spouse or non-marital co-parent is a custodial parent. W-2 Group does not include any person who is receiving cash benefits under a county relief block grant program. This is also referred to as the W-2 Assistance Group (W-2 AG) and provide or arrange for Learnfare case management. Ensure enrollment and attendance for dependent child(ren) subject to Learnfare requirements. (See Chapter 16)
Provide follow-up case management services for 12 months to participants who progress from a W-2 employment position to an unsubsidized position to encourage and support job retention and advancement. A participant may continue to receive follow-up case management services beyond the 12-month follow-up period when requested. (See 7.2.3)
Maintain a working relationship with the Job Center partners and other agencies that provide workforce development programs.
Explain the W-2 lifetime limit and placement time limit policies. (See 2.10)
Position participants to achieve the best outcomes possible within the time limits of the program by providing early access to barrier remediation and employment supports.
Communicate the importance of full engagement in activities and careful transition planning to maintain independence.
Ensure participants with long-term barriers to work are referred to alternative programming for services able to meet their individual needs.

All FEPs must be trained in accordance with state law and administrative rule. (See Wisconsin Administrative Rules, Chapter DCF 103)

Public assistance workers, including financial and employment planners, are required by Wis. Stat. ss. 48.981(2)(a) and 48.981(2)(a)13 to report suspected child abuse and neglect.

Suspected child abuse and neglect includes suspicion of child abuse of an unborn child and includes the belief that abuse or neglect will occur.

To report suspected child abuse or neglect, a public assistance worker must contact either by phone or personally the local Child Welfare agency, the local sheriff, or local police department and provide the facts and circumstances contributing to the suspicion. Additional information regarding how to make a report of suspected child abuse or neglect can be found in Wis. Stat. s. 48.981(3).