Wisconsin Administrative Code
Department of Health Services
DHS 250 - Economic Support
Chapter DHS 254 - IM Worker Training
Section DHS 254.03 - Initial income maintenance training

(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.

(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.

(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.

(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: