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TANF Section, WIOA Combined Plan Modifications 2026

31 Reasonable distance: The FEP will work with the participant to determine what a reasonable distance is on a case-by-case level. The FEP must document the decision that is made and reason(s) in PIN comments.

Unsuitability of informal care: If a participant is using Wisconsin Shares, this is any informal care since parents have to use certified or licensed providers to receive the subsidy. However, W-2 allows informal child care, for unregulated providers, they may operate with three children or fewer, but not able to access WI Shares.

Affordable child care arrangements: The federal Office of Child Care (OCC) defines affordable child care as seven percent of a family’s income.

(c) Ensure that parents and caretakers receiving assistance engage in work in accordance with section 407 (section 402(a)(1)(A)(iii) of the Social Security Act). Consistent with the required strategic elements discussed in section II (a)(2) herein, provide a specific analysis of how the State’s workforce development activities are addressing employment and training services for parents or caretakers receiving assistance.

Intensive Case Management To ensure that parents eligible for W-2 are engaged in work activities, the W-2 program provides intensive case management and supportive services, such as child care, transportation, housing, and other services that address the parent’s family and work-related needs.

Participation in Work Activities The W-2 program encourages parents to engage in work activities by providing strengths-based and family-centered services that are consistent with the parents’ interests and goals. Parents may be assigned to participate in work activities as a condition of receiving assistance payments. W-2 agencies include parents in the decision-making process to identify appropriate work activities. (See W-2 Manual Chapter 1.) W-2 agencies also encourage parents to engage in work activities by tracking the eligible parents’ time limits and discussing the impact of time limits with applicants and eligible parents. (See W-2 Manual Chapter 2.)

W-2 agencies meet with each eligible parent to review assigned activities and the parent’s progress toward meeting the established goals. W-2 agencies also complete an EP review with each eligible parent as often as necessary based on the eligible parent’s circumstances. The W- 2 agencies consider the parent’s progress in assigned activities in the agencies’ future decisions regarding placement and activity assignment. (See W-2 Manual Chapter 6.)

W-2 agencies verify and track a parent’s attendance in assigned activities based on Wisconsin’s TANF Work Verification Plan. (See W-2 Manual Appendix on TANF Work Participation Requirements.) See Wisconsin’s TANF Work Verification Plan at: https://dcf.wisconsin.gov/files/w2/tanf-state-plans/tanf-work-verification-plan-10-1-08.pdf

In accordance with work requirements under 42 U.S.C. 602(a)(1)(B)(iv) and consistent with the exception provided in section 607(e)(2), Wisconsin requires W-2 participants not exempt from