Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development

Wednesday, May 07, 2003 Governor Jim Doyle Secretary Roberta Gassman

News Media Contact Rose Lynch 608/266-6753 e-mail: news@dwd.state.wi.us fax: 608/266-1784

Federal Grant Connects Unemployment Claimants
and One Stop Job Centers

Madison - Governor Jim Doyle and Department of Workforce Development Secretary Roberta Gassman announced today that the Federal Department of Labor has awarded a $600,000 grant to the Division of Unemployment Insurance (UI) to demonstrate how the link between unemployed individuals and the state's employment programs can be strengthened. The demonstration project will illustrate how states can effectively connect unemployed individuals with a full array of workforce development services to aid their return to the labor market. The services are provided by the state's Job Centers and partner programs during an individual's period of unemployment.

"We are pleased to be selected for this project. The Department of Labor acknowledges our national leadership in developing and providing innovative services to people needing assistance," said Secretary Gassman. "This project emphasizes our commitment to further improve services to Wisconsin's unemployed citizens."

The grant will assist unemployment insurance claimants to receive reemployment services including job referrals, job placements, referrals to job training and other services accessed through the One-Stop delivery system. During this two-year project, the department will develop a strategy to expand the coordination of UI benefits and employment services within the Job Centers and then will test and analyze that strategy. At the close of the project, a report on the lessons learned will be completed to provide guidance to the Department of Labor and other states as other reemployment programs are implemented.

The objectives of the demonstration project are to:

• Provide UI services in Spanish and English.
• Ensure that information about available reemployment services is clearly presented to individuals who file for unemployment benefits
• To provide UI claimants with enhanced services, reemployment counseling and other services to aid their return to the labor market;
• Develop shared case management between unemployment programs and reemployment assistance programs.
• Simplify Internet navigation between the Department's UI program and the JobNet system;

The project will build upon collaboration efforts already underway between DWD and partner agencies. DWD will administer this grant.

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Content Contact: Rose Lynch