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buy-in from the start. Empowering Participants and Ensuring Clarity The development of Individualized Service Plans (ISPs) in collaboration with each participant is crucial. This process transforms case management from a top-down directive into a partnership. By co-creating the plan, they ensure that participants have agency and a clear understanding of their path forward. Key elements that prevent the ISP from becoming an impediment include: Shared Ownership: Collaboration fosters a sense of responsibility and motivation in the participant. Clear Expectations: Outlining specific action items for both the participant and the case manager eliminates confusion and ensures that everyone understands their role. Proactive Barrier Mitigation: By identifying potential obstacles and building mitigation strategies directly into the plan, they address challenges before they can derail progress. Maintaining Momentum and Providing Real-Time Support The Progress Monitoring system, with its blend of "quick weekly check-ins" and "in-depth monthly meetings," is designed to be a supportive scaffold, not a rigid compliance tool. This frequent and consistent contact ensures that participants remain engaged and that small issues are resolved before they become significant impediments. This approach allows for: Timely Intervention: Quick check-ins enable case managers to address emerging challenges, such as a transportation issue or a scheduling conflict, in real-time. Sustained Encouragement: Regular communication provides a consistent source of support and helps celebrate small victories, which is vital for maintaining motivation. Adaptability: The regular meetings allow for adjustments to the ISP as circumstances change, ensuring the plan remains a relevant and useful tool. Addressing Holistic Needs Through a Coordinated Network Recognizing that a participant's success in E&T is often tied to factors outside the program, the Coordination with Service Providers is a critical function. Case management that ignores external life challenges can inadvertently create insurmountable barriers. Our approach prevents this by: Leveraging a Wider Support System: Actively referring participants to partners like WIOA and Vocational Rehabilitation expands the resources available to them. Solving Foundational Problems: By providing referrals for essential needs such as housing, food, and clothing, you help stabilize the participant's life, allowing them to focus on their E&T goals. Creating a Seamless Experience: Active collaboration with community partners ensures that participants experience an integrated support system, rather than a fragmented and confusing series of appointments and agencies. In essence, the case management services are designed to be a primary driver of success by being deeply participant-centered. By anticipating and actively working to remove barriers, providing clear and collaborative planning, offering consistent support, and addressing the holistic needs of each individual, they ensure that the case management process itself is a powerful tool for empowerment, not an impediment to progress. 1/29/26, 10:32 AM State Plan WY FY26 - Original Submission https://dam-fns.usda.gov/sites/default/files/microsite/snapet-wyfy26stateplan//index.html 32/110