Division of Family and Economic Security, Bureau of Working Families

Wisconsin Works (W-2) Manual

5.1.2 Assessment as Part of Ongoing Case Management

Prior to making a change in W-2W-2Wisconsin Works placement, the W-2 agency must work with the participant to:

  • Complete and submit the WWPWWPWisconsin Work Programs Informal Assessment Driver Flow (see 5.2); and
  • Complete an educational needs assessment (see 5.3).

The following assessments are considered an ongoing activity, are part of general W-2 case management, and can be completed throughout ongoing case management as a participant's needs change:

  1. 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.: Standardized educational needs assessment tools, such as TABETABETest of Adult Basic Education or BESTBESTBasic English Skills Test, should be used to determine a participant’s educational levels. (See 5.3.1)
  2. Career Assessment : The Career Assessment page in WWP is a stand-alone page that is designed to identify a participant's work styles, skills, and interests. Completing the Career Assessment page will ensure that workers have sufficient detail to develop EPs and assign meaningful activities.
  3. Job Readiness Assessment: The Job Readiness page in WWP is a stand-alone page with questions that are designed to guide conversation to complete a thorough job readiness assessment. Completing the Job Readiness page will ensure workers have sufficient detail on work preferences, history, applications, interviews, and contacts to develop EPs and assign meaningful activities.
  4. WWP Informal Assessment: The FEP may also choose to complete or edit the WWP Informal Assessment when there is reason to believe that reviewing the WWP Informal Assessment questions or specific pages may help initiate conversation about a potential barrier that is affecting the participant’s ability to work or participate in assigned activities.
  5. Additional Approaches to Informal Assessment: The W-2 agency may also use alternative approaches to supplement the information gathered through the WWP Informal Assessment Driver Flow. (See 5.2.1)