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Department announces intent to contract for FoodShare Employment and Training

For Immediate Release

Contact:  Claire Smith

September 9, 2014

(608) 266-1683

MADISON—The Department of Health Services today announced its intent to award contracts to seven organizations to coordinate and administer FoodShare Employment and Training (FSET) services in ten different regions across the state. The Department’s announcement is part of Governor Walker’s workforce development plan and entitlement reforms, which invested nearly $33 million in FoodShare worker training in the biennial budget to reform the FSET program by using a regional model to provide employment and training services and requiring able-bodied adults without dependent children to meet work or job training requirements as a condition of eligibility for FoodShare benefits.

“Governor Walker is committed to helping Wisconsin residents move from dependence on government programs to the independence and dignity that comes with working hard to build a prosperous future of their own choosing,” said Secretary Kitty Rhoades. “The Governor’s FoodShare Employment and Training program reforms help FoodShare members, especially adults ages 19-49 with no minor children living in their home, to transition to the workforce by increasing opportunities for education, vocational training and active engagement in the workforce. The FoodShare Employment and Training program will still be available on a voluntary basis for adults with dependent children, the elderly, and people with disabilities.”

The Department intends to contract with the following organizations to coordinate and administer FSET services:

  • ResCare, Region 2 (Milwaukee County)
  • ResCare, Region 3 (Ozaukee, Waukesha, and Washington Counties)
  • Forward Service Corporation, Region 4 (Calumet, Fond du Lac, Green Lake, Waupaca, Waushara and Winnebago Counties)
  • Forward Service Corporation, Region 5 (Brown, Door, Florence, Kewaunee, Manitowoc, Marinette, Menominee, Oconto, Outagamie, Shawano and Sheboygan Counties)
  • Wood County Human Services Department, Region 6 (Adams, Forest, Langlade, Lincoln, Marathon, Oneida, Portage, Vilas and Wood Counties)
  • Workforce Resource, Region 7 (Ashland, Bayfield, Burnett, Douglas, Iron, Price, Rusk, Sawyer, Taylor and Washburn Counties)
  • Workforce Resource, Region 8 (Barron, Chippewa, Clark, Dunn, Eau Claire, Pepin, Pierce, Polk and St. Croix Counties)
  • Workforce Connections, Region 9 (Buffalo, Crawford, Jackson, Juneau, La Crosse, Monroe, Trempealeau and Vernon Counties)
  • Dane County Department of Human Services, Region 10 (Columbia, Dane, Dodge, Jefferson, Marquette and Sauk Counties)
  • South West Wisconsin Workforce Development Board, Region 11 (Grant, Green, Iowa, Lafayette, Richland, and Rock Counties)

Able-bodied adults without dependent children will be required to meet a work requirement by enrolling in employment and worker training programs offered by the Department of Health Services, Department of Children and Families or Department of Workforce Development, unless they meet an exemption.  If able-bodied adults without dependent children choose not to meet the work requirement through employment or participating in a work program, they will be limited to three months of FoodShare benefits in a 36-month period. The new rules for able-bodied adults without dependents are being phased in statewide over a one year period and will be applied to individuals when they apply for FoodShare benefits or when they renew their benefits after January 1, 2015.

The Department is currently piloting requiring able-bodied adults without dependent children to meet work or job training requirements as a condition of eligibility for FoodShare benefits and the use of a regional model to provide FSETservices in Region 1(Racine, Kenosha and Walworth Counties).  The pilot began July 1, 2014.

View additional information about the FSET program: http://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/foodshare/FSET/index.htm.  View a member fact sheet regarding the new FSET requirements: http://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/publications/p0/P00710.pdf.

 

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