Chapter DHS 254

Chapter DHS 254

IM WORKER TRAINING

DHS 254.01   Introduction.

DHS 254.02   Definitions.

DHS 254.03   Initial income maintenance training.

DHS 254.04   Ongoing training for experienced IM workers.

DHS 254.05   Trainer qualifications.

DHS 254.06   Local responsibility for implementing updates.

DHS 254.07   Reports and records.

Ch. DHS 254 Note Note: Chapter DWD 23 was renumbered Chapter HFS 254 under s. 13.93 (2m) (b) 1., Stats., and corrections were made under s. 13.93 (2m) (b) 6. and 7., Stats., Register March 2004 No. 579. Chapter HFS 254 was renumbered chapter DHS 254 under s. 13.92 (4) (b) 1., Stats., Register January 2009 No. 637.

DHS 254.01 DHS 254.01 Introduction.

DHS 254.01(1) (1) Authority and purpose. This chapter is promulgated under authority set forth in s. 49.78 (3), Stats., to ensure that each income maintenance worker employed by a county or tribal agency has successfully completed a training program to achieve acceptable IM worker job performance. Successful completion of prescribed training is required for all new IM workers. The department shall make ongoing training available for experienced IM workers.

DHS 254.01(2) (2) Applicability. This chapter applies to county and tribal income maintenance agencies and the income maintenance workers employed by those agencies.

DHS 254.01 History History: CR 02-050: cr. Register January 2003 No. 565, eff. 2-1-03.

DHS 254.02 DHS 254.02 Definitions. In this chapter:

DHS 254.02(1) (1) “Automated system” means a computer–supported process used by the department and the department of workforce development, including CARES.

DHS 254.02(2) (2) “CARES” means the department of workforce development’s automated client assistance for re–employment and economic support.

DHS 254.02 Note Note: CARES is the automated system used by DWD and DHS to determine eligibility, calculate benefits, and retain data for income maintenance programs and W-2.

DHS 254.02(3) (3) “Case management” means the family–centered and goal–oriented process for assessing the needs of an IM group member and his or her family for employment, training, and supportive services and assisting the IM group member in obtaining services to achieve self–sufficiency.

DHS 254.02(4) (4) “County agency” means the agency established under s. 46.215, 46.22, or 46.23, Stats.

DHS 254.02(5) (5) “Department” means the Wisconsin department of health services.

DHS 254.02(6) (6) “Eligibility determination” means the act or process by which the situation of a person or a group is compared to a set of standards to determine whether the person or group meets the criteria for receiving a specific type of income maintenance.

DHS 254.02(7) (7) “Experienced IM worker” means an IM worker employed by a county, tribal or W–2 agency before December 1, 1999, or an IM worker who has completed initial income maintenance training.

DHS 254.02(8) (8) “IM handbooks, manuals, and instructional materials” means income maintenance handbooks, manuals, and memos that are issued by the department of health services and addressed to county and tribal agencies and set forth eligibility and benefit criteria and case maintenance and case processing information.

DHS 254.02(9) (9) “Income maintenance” or “IM” has the same meaning as “income maintenance program” in s. 49.78 (1) (b), Stats.

DHS 254.02 Note Note: Section 49.78 (1) (b) provides that:
“‘Income maintenance program’ means the Medical Assistance program under subch. IV, the Badger Care health care program under s. 49.665, the food stamp program under 7 USC 2011 to 2036 except for the employment and training program described in s. 49.79 (9), or the cemetery, funeral, and burial expenses program under s. 49.785.”

DHS 254.02(10) (10) “Income maintenance worker” or “IM worker” means a person employed by a county, a governing body of a federally recognized American Indian whose duties include determinations or redeterminations of income maintenance program eligibility.

DHS 254.02(11) (11) “New IM worker” means a person who is employed by a county or tribal agency as an IM worker on or after December 1, 1999, including a permanent employee who transfers into an IM worker position and who has not completed initial income maintenance training.

DHS 254.02(12) (12) “Tribal agency” means an agency designated by the elected tribal governing body of a federally–recognized Wisconsin Indian tribe or band and contracted by the department to administer an income maintenance program.

DHS 254.02 History History: CR 02-050: cr. Register January 2003 No. 565, eff. 2-1-03; corrections in (5), (8) and (12) made under s. 13.92 (4) (b) 6., Stats., Register January 2009 No. 637.

DHS 254.03 DHS 254.03 Initial income maintenance training.

DHS 254.03(1) (1) The department shall make initial IM worker training available to new IM workers directly or through contractors. The county or tribal shall ensure that each new IM worker completes the department’s initial training during the first 6 months of employment.

DHS 254.03(2) (2) The new IM worker may not make independent decisions related to eligibility for income maintenance programs or perform case management functions until the initial income maintenance training is successfully completed. Successful completion requires attendance for all class hours and involvement and participation in all instructional activities. The county or tribal agency shall develop evaluation strategies to ensure that the new IM worker achieves a minimum standard of competence.

DHS 254.03(3) (3) The department shall develop a standardized curriculum for training new IM workers. The approved curriculum shall include courses, independent study, and closely supervised practical experience that total at least 100 hours and shall ensure that learning objectives support an acceptable standard of competency at completion. The curriculum may vary depending on job function and may include program philosophy, policy and procedure, eligibility determination, case management, interpersonal skills, and automated systems.

DHS 254.03(4) (4) A county or tribal agency may develop its own training to implement the DHS standardized curriculum under sub. (3), with approval by the department. A county or tribal agency that chooses not to participate in the initial training for new IM workers offered by the department or its contractors shall submit a training implementation plan to the department for approval at least 45 days before the planned start date of training. Training plans shall be submitted to the department on an annual basis. The plan shall:

DHS 254.03(4)(a) (a) Specify the number of hours of classroom training, independent study, planned exercises, and activities.

DHS 254.03(4)(b) (b) State how IM handbooks, manuals, and instructional materials will be used.

DHS 254.03(4)(c) (c) Explain how training will address the interpersonal and case management skills needed to perform the IM function.

DHS 254.03(4)(d) (d) Specify the number of hours of supervised practical experience, including the use of automated systems, IM program policy and procedure application, and case management techniques.

DHS 254.03(4)(e) (e) Indicate the length of the training program.

DHS 254.03(4)(f) (f) Describe how learning will be evaluated.

DHS 254.03(4)(g) (g) Include the name, address, position title, and qualifications of each trainer.

DHS 254.03 Note Note: Send the proposed IM training implementation plan to: DHS IM Training Coordinator, 1 W. Wilson Street, Room 1050, Madison, WI 53702.

DHS 254.03 History History: CR 02-050: cr. Register January 2003 No. 565, eff. 2-1-03; correction in (4) (intro.) made under s. 13.92 (4) (b) 6., Stats., Register January 2009 No. 637.

DHS 254.04 DHS 254.04 Ongoing training for experienced IM workers.

DHS 254.04(1) (1) The department shall develop an ongoing course or courses for experienced IM workers and shall make the course or courses available each year directly or through contractors. The department shall annually define required training courses and develop a standardized curriculum for each job function as needed. The curriculum shall include the following:

DHS 254.04(1)(a) (a) Policy and procedure in IM handbooks, manuals, and instructional materials.

DHS 254.04(1)(b) (b) Automated systems used in IM programs.

DHS 254.04(1)(c) (c) Interpersonal skills needed to perform IM functions.

DHS 254.04(1)(d) (d) Enhanced case management information and skills, including:

DHS 254.04(1)(d)1. 1. Programmatic techniques that provide intermediate or advanced training in skills that ensure accuracy in program delivery.

DHS 254.04(1)(d)2. 2. Special needs of the IM recipient or a family member, including substance abuse, domestic abuse, and physical or mental disabilities.

DHS 254.04(1)(d)3. 3. Community resources and supportive services available to assist IM participants.

DHS 254.04(2) (2) A county or tribal agency may develop its own training to implement the DWD standardized curriculum under sub. (1), with approval by the department. A county or tribal agency that chooses not to participate in training offered by the department or its contractors shall submit a training implementation plan to the department for approval at least 45 days before the planned start date of training. Training plans shall be submitted to the department on an annual basis. The plan shall:

DHS 254.04(2)(a) (a) Specify the number of hours of classroom training, independent study, planned exercises, and activities.

DHS 254.04(2)(b) (b) Indicate the length of the training program.

DHS 254.04(2)(c) (c) Describe how learning will be evaluated.