Division of Family and Economic Security, Bureau of Working Families Wisconsin Works (W-2) Manual

1.2.4 Coordinating with Partner Agencies

W-2W-2Wisconsin Works applicants and participants are often connected to other services within their community.

The W-2 agency is responsible for ensuring integration of services across programs and providers to reduce duplication of effort and improve employment opportunities and outcome for each participant and W-2 group.

To do this, the W-2 agency must establish and maintain effective relationships with the following partner agencies:

1. Public Workforce System;
2. Wisconsin Job Centers;
3. Public and Community Based Supportive Services;
4. Child Welfare; and
5. Income Maintenance (IM).

1.2.4.1 Public Workforce System

W-2 agencies must establish and maintain effective relationships with the following workforce providers and programs:

1. Job Service programs;
2. FSETFSETFoodShare Employment and Training programs;
3. Refugee Employment and Training providers, and other services provided by VOLAGVOLAGVoluntary Resettlement Agencies and MAAMAAMutual Assistance Associations;
4. Workforce Development Boards and services provided through WIOAWIOAWorkforce Innovation and Opportunity Act programs, including Youth, Adult and Dislocated Worker programs;
5. Adult literacy providers;
6. Adult job training administered by the Wisconsin Technical Colleges;
7. RISE Partnership for Wisconsin;
8. DVRDVRDivision of Vocational Rehabilitation;
9. Veteran’s Employment Relations Teams;
10. CAPCAPCommunity Action Program Agencies; and
11. Other local regional business associations, community-based organizations, and economic development programs.

1.2.4.2 Wisconsin Job Centers  

The Wisconsin Job Center system is part of the workforce system led by Wisconsin's eleven independently operated, regional Workforce Development Boards.

Job Center partners include:

• Job Service;
• DVRDVRDivision of Vocational Rehabilitation;
• Technical colleges;
• County human service agencies; and
• Other community organizations.

JobCenterOfWisconsin.com, operated by the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development and the Wisconsin Job Center system, is an online Wisconsin-centered employment exchange, linking employers across Wisconsin and bordering states with anyone looking for a job.

To find the closest Job Center or talk with a customer service representative, visit the JobCenterOfWisconsin.com contact page. JobCenterOfWisconsin.com is a free resource available 24/7 to both employers and job seekers.

1.2.4.3 Public and Community Based Supportive Services

W-2 participants are often connected to other local supportive services, many of which continue to be available to support participants after they move into unsubsidized employment.

W-2 agencies must establish, maintain, and coordinate effective relationships with the following community-based supportive services:

1. County and tribal programs, including FoodShare, BadgerCare Plus, Medicaid, CSCSChild Support, and Child Care Administration. (See 1.4.1)
2. Community-based supportive services including, but not limited to:
   • CAPCAPCommunity Action Program agencies;
   • Transportation services;
   • Housing services;
   • Domestic violence services;
   • Mental health services;
   • AODAAODAAlcohol and Other Drug Abuse services;
   • Emergency services; and
   • Other services including volunteer organizations.

1.2.4.4  Child Welfare

W-2 agencies must have a process for identifying families currently receiving services from both W-2 and Child Welfare programs to coordinate services across programs.

When a participant is involved in a Child Welfare family case plan, the W-2 EPEPEmployability Plan should take those activities into consideration and ensure there is no conflict or overlap of services or assigned activities.  

When the child(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) are temporarily absent due to child welfare issues, W-2 agencies must meet the specific Child Welfare agency coordination requirements outlined in section 2.8.2.2.