6.1.1  Parts of the Employability Plan

6.1.1.1 Goals

6.1.1.2 Employments

6.1.1.3 Activities

6.1.1.4 Supportive Services

The EPEmployability Plan consists of four parts:

1.             Goals (see 6.1.1.1);

2.             Employments (see 6.1.1.2);

3.             Activities (see 6.1.1.3); and

4.             Supportive Services (see 6.1.1.4).

6.1.1.1 Goals

This section of the EP lists goals developed jointly between the FEPFinancial and Employment Planner and the applicant or participant using assessment results. For each goal added to the EP, goal steps document smaller, specific actions the applicant or participant can take to reach the goal.

The types of goals available on the EP are:

1.             Primary and Secondary Employment Goals:

Shorter term employment goals that can be achieved through participation in the W-2 program. The Primary and Secondary Employment Goals should be based on:

a.             The applicant’s or participant’s strengths, skills, work styles, interests, and needs. Consideration should be given to the individuals’ prior work experience, prior education and training, and assessments (e.g., 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., 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 opportunitiess, 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 themselvess, or other formal assessments).

b.             What can realistically be achieved through participation in the W-2 program. Consideration must be given to all types of activities that may enable the applicant or participant to achieve his or her goal including, but not limited to, job search/job readiness activities, work experience, educational activities, job skills training and technical college participation. (See W-2 Manual Appendix - Activity Codes)

c.              Industry and employment opportunities in the local labor market. The FEP must review relevant labor market data to determine if employment goals are in line with the local labor market. Wisconsin’s WisConomy and the Job Centers of Wisconsin are excellent resources for labor market information. Skill Explorer may be used to align participants' skills, interests, and needs with occupations.

d.             Length of time remaining in the W-2 program. Immediate engagement in meaningful activities positions participants to achieve the best outcomes possible within the time limits of the W-2 program. If the applicant or participant is nearing a time limit, types of activities must reflect an increased focus on transitioning from the W-2 program.

If the applicant or participant is not ready to identify a specific occupation when the goals are initially developed, the focus of the goal may be broadened to a field of interest or an industry sector. Career assessments and career exploration tools should be used to help identify sectors, career pathways, training needs, and family-sustaining employment goals that may match the results of the assessed work styles, skills, and interests.

2.             Other Program Goal:

Concrete short-term goals or outcomes the applicant or participant must achieve through W-2 participation in order to move in the direction of his or her employment goal. This may involve completing education or training courses or acquiring work experience in his or her field of interest. It may also involve overcoming a barrier to employment through assigned activities such as physical rehabilitation, treatment or counseling.

3.             Long-Term Career Goal:

Goals that are part of the individual's longer-term career plan. As the EP is developed, it is important to consider how the program employment goals and Other Program Goals fit into the applicant’s or participant’s longer-term career plan. Many industries have career pathways that enable employees to start in lower-skilled jobs and progress into increasingly higher paying jobs through training.

4.             Personal Goals

The applicant’s or participant’s personal goals are additional goals that are not required for W-2 program participation. They are goals set by the individual that will strengthen the family and empower the individual to achieve their employment goals. Examples of personal goals include:

·        Addressing child and family relationship problems;

·        Involvement in support groups;

·        Moving to a safer neighborhood;

·        Weight-loss and exercise regimens; and

·        Purchasing a home.

6.1.1.2 Employments

This section of the EP lists the applicant or participant’s current employment(s) added from the Work History page in WWP, including average weekly hours. Average weekly hours and an individual’s work schedule must be considered when scheduling other activities to include in the EP.

For Federal Work Participation, hours count as "Core."

6.1.1.3 Activities

The applicant’s or participant’s program activity plan portion of the EP includes the specific program activities the individual will undertake to achieve the primary employment goal. The full list of activities that may be assigned under W-2 are found in the W-2 Manual Appendix - Activity Codes.  

The activity portion of the EP, must include the following detail for each assigned activity:

1.             The activity to be completed.

2.             An activity description to ensure that the applicant or participant fully understands what the activity involves.

3.             The provider of service and activity location.

4.             The activity schedule(s). This includes a planned begin and end date, the specific days of the week, and the specific number of hours on each day that the activity is assigned.

5.             Any additional remarks to assist the applicant or participant.

6.1.1.4 Supportive Services

This section of the EP includes the supportive services the W-2 agency will provide the applicant or participant to assist in completing the W-2 activities included in the EP.

Examples of supportive services include:

·        Onsite Child Care;

·        Education/Training Funding;

·        Transportation Funding;

·        Work-Related Clothing;

·        Work-Related Equipment; and

·        Gift Cards

·        Other

History: Release 22-06; Release 21-07; Release 17-02; Release 17-01.