9.2.3 Developing the W-2 Supportive Service Plan

Because circumstances vary greatly from one family to another, it is essential for agency workers to develop Supportive Service Plans that reflect the unique needs of each family. Areas of need that should be addressed include, but are not limited to :

Emergency needs;

Housing;

Access to economic supports;

Household budgeting/money management;

Education and training (participant and other family members);

Legal assistance;

Employment support (i.e. work connection and retention services);

Child care (for job search and work);

Transportation;

Work equipment (e.g., uniform, work shoes or boots, safety equipment);

Personal and family health care; and

Other needs identified by the participant.

The Supportive Service Plan must include, at a minimum, the following elements for each identified need:

A short-term plan of action to help the participant address emergency or short-term needs;

A long-term plan of action that includes incremental steps to help the participant address long- term goals such as completing an education or training program or securing permanent housing;

Resource and referral information for any known government and community resources that may help to address the need, including an explanation of the purpose of each resource and how it addresses or relates to the identified need; and

W-2 Wisconsin Works agency contact information.

Workers must never enter confidential information in the W-2 Supportive Service Plan in WWP Wisconsin Work Programs . See 4.2.2.1 for a list of confidential information that must never be entered on WWP pages without the additional security protections.

EXAMPLE : Susan is in a CSJ placement. Susan has never had a driver’s license and rode the bus to her work site and back. However, her new job requires a much longer bus ride making it difficult for her to return home from work before her children arrive home from school. During her Supportive Service Plan meeting, Susan shared that she is considering quitting her job because of the long commute.

Together, the FEP and Susan updated her Supportive Service Plan. Her new short-term plan of action is to locate an after-school program for her children to attend so Susan will not have to quit her job. Her new long-term plan of action is to get her driver’s license and purchase a car.

The FEP identified five community resources that Susan may benefit from, including:

A referral to Wisconsin Shares to help cover child care costs;

A community driver's education program;

Two different after school programs near Susan's home; and

A community bank that offers low-interest car loans to income-eligible individuals.