Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development's (DWD) RES Plan
RES INITIATIVESINITIATIVE DETAILS
RES Background: Wisconsin has a unique history with respect to RES services. DOL Grant: In 2004, DWD received a demonstration grant for RES services from the U.S. Department of Labor. DWD created an oversight team that included UI and job service reps, and involved this oversight panel in every level of the RES process.

Reporting: As part of the grant, DOL funded Berkley Policy Associates to publish a report on the effectiveness of the DWD RES operation. Click here to see the Report.
Recovery Funds: The 2004 DOL demo grant laid the groundwork for DWD's current plans to use stimulus funds. Planning: An RES Committee meets twice weekly to help plan the RES initiative; the Committee is made up of subcommittees including UI, job service, and other participants.

Additional Funding: DWD is adding a portion of the Recovery Act's UI Administrative dollars as well as funds from a subaccount of Wisconsin's original 2002 RES Act to augment the Recovery RES dollars.
Collaboration with UI Division: DWD wants to involve the UI Division with the RES process "up-front" in order to maximize program efficiency. UI Involvement: RES sessions with claimants included a UI adjudicator to give a UI perspective (under the DOL demo).

Minimize UI Workload: DWD hopes to ease the burden on the State's UI system by minimizing adjudication issues through assessments, follow-up, and rescheduling on the Job Service side.
Separation of Services: DWD plans to use a process created under the DOL 2004 grant in which claimants are sent through a "triage" process made up of three different paths. Path 1: A work ready labor exchange path which integrates the RES process with Wagner-Peyser services and job search functions.

Path 2: A partner referral path which ensures DWD has a clear referral process to partners in the RES process, especially including WIA Title I.

Path 3: An assessment path. Wisconsin has several local hard skill assessment operations throughout the state, but this initiative will create a statewide program.
Assessments: DWD will use this initiative to create a statewide system of hard skills assessments and work readiness certificates to serve as many UI claimants as possible. Assessment Goal: DWD's final goal is to provide 150 reemployment sessions, 30 counseling sessions, and 30 proctored hard skill assessment tests per week throughout the state. The goal is to provide 26,000 work readiness certificates per year.
Labor Exchange: Job Center of Wisconsin System Integration: DWD wants to integrate their labor exchange with their UI database and WIA case management tracking and reporting system.

Resume Submission: DWD wants to ensure every UI claimant in the RES program gets their résumé uploaded to Job Center of Wisconsin before they begin intensive RES services.

Job Center of Wisconsin

DWD Homepage

DWD ARRA Website

Wisconsin RES

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