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PY26 WHEAP Manual

125 Revised: August 2025 Chapter 9 | Administration 9.1 Local Administration The Division contracts with counties, nonprofit organizations, and tribes for local administration and delivery of WHEAP.

County departments of social/human services, nonprofit organizations, or designated tribal offices are responsible for the local operation of WHEAP. Each agency must provide eligible households living within the agency’s jurisdiction with available WHEAP benefits and services.

Tribes contracted to provide WHEAP services are responsible for local program administration to applicants living within the borders of the reservation. Contracted tribes may send applicants living within the reservation borders to other WHEAP agencies contracted to serve tribal reservation lands within their general boundaries to provide services to households residing within the reservation boundaries.

9.2 Program Operations Each local agency must administer WHEAP within the guidelines, policies, and regulations set forth in the current year WHEAP Manual, the current year WHEAP contract with the WI DOA, DEHCR, relevant State of Wisconsin Statutes, and appropriate federal regulations.

9.2.1 General Local agencies shall: 1. Provide access to the HE+ TTA website to all WHEAP intake staff. 2. Require WHEAP online learning: a. Intake workers are required to complete WHEAP Basic and WHEAP 2.0 and must attain an 80% successful score prior to creating an HE+ System User profile and granting intake workers access to the HE+ System.

NOTE: Fiscal staff, directors, and clerical staff are not required to complete WHEAP Basic and WHEAP 2.0 training unless they are processing WHEAP application(s). 3. Agencies shall send at least one representative to any trainings or meetings identified by the Division as “required.” The Division may require agencies that serve multiple counties/territories to send additional representatives to select trainings and meetings.

If a WHEAP agency is unable to provide representation at the required meeting, training, or conference, a written explanation from the WHEAP Director shall be submitted a minimum of twenty-four hours before the start of the meeting, training, or conference.

Unexcused absences or agencies with a history of non-participation are subject to penalties as outlined in the WHEAP contract. 4. WHEAP agencies shall notify the Division on the same business day if they are unable to perform activities such as crisis activities and HE+ Program Services referrals.