5.1.2  Assessment as Part of Ongoing Case Management

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

·        Must work with the participant to complete and submit the WWPWisconsin Work Programs Informal Assessment Driver Flow (see 5.2); and

·        Must work with the participant to complete an educational needs assessment (see 5.3).

The following assessments are considered an ongoing activity and are part of general W-2 case management: 

1.             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.: Educational needs assessment can be completed throughout ongoing case management as the participant's education and training needs may change.

Standardized educational needs assessment  tools should be used to determine a participant’s educational levels. Educational needs assessment tools, like the TABETest of Adult Basic Education or BESTBasic English Skills Test, test skills and aptitudes in reading, language, math computation, and applied math in order to identify current math and reading comprehension levels and any literacy or numeracy deficiencies. (See 5.3.1)  

2.             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: Career assessments can be administered throughout ongoing case management as the participant's skill levels and work-readiness may change.

The Career Assessment page in WWP is a stand-alone page that is designed to identify work styles, skills, and interests. Completing the Career Assessment page will ensure that workers have sufficient detail to develop EPs and assign meaningful activities that allow participants to reach their goals.

·        Work styles – Refers to the participant’s patterns of action or conduct, such as attendance, punctuality, appropriate appearance, ability to work with others, obeying rules, following directions, and completing tasks. Work style-focused career assessments can demonstrate the participant’s attitudes and job readiness.

·        Skills – Refers to the participant’s skills or understanding of specific tasks related to employment, like cooking or computer programming. Skills-focused career assessments can include knowledge, aptitude, and ability. Skills can relate to a particular occupation, as typically listed in a job announcement to describe the tasks of a position.

·        Interests – Refers to the participant’s likes of particular objects, activities, and personalities using the theory that individuals with the same career tend to have the same interests. Interest-focused career assessments help participants identify work-related interests and find the types of careers that match. The results can be used to help participants learn which careers they are most likely to enjoy, including careers they may not have had knowledge of.

Do not use educational needs assessment tools in place of career assessment tools. Use educational needs assessment tools in tandem with career assessment tools to identify the education and training needed to allow individuals to obtain employment that fits their work styles, skills, and interests. The results of both assessments complement each other and inform the EP development and assignment of meaningful activities.

3.             Job Readiness Assessment: Job readiness assessments can be administered throughout ongoing case management as the participant's skill levels and work readiness may change.  

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 that workers have sufficient detail on work preferences, history, applications, interviews, and contacts to develop EPs and assign meaningful activities that allow participants to reach their goals.

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)

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