Home > Random Moment Sampling (RMS) > RMS Training

Responding to Sample Observations

• Workers receive random RMS observation e-mails (sample observations). The e-mails show a “from” address as IM/W-2RMS1, IM/W-2RMS2, or IM/W-2RMS3, depending on the RMS county group to which your county is assigned.
  
  
• Workers click on a link in the RMS e-mail and log into the RMS website. The website allows workers to select the program or programs they are working on from a drop-down box. A drop-down box for activities is also on the webpage. Workers should record the case number if they are working on a case. Case numbers are collected for federal or state audit purposes, and strict confidentiality will be maintained. If a case number has not been assigned, or is not available, then the client’s name or the Request for Assistance (RFA) number should be reported.
  
  
• There is also a section for comments to be entered. Enter comments that indicate the program and activity when you use the social services program code, the subcontracted codes, or the “other” activity code. You can also enter other comments if you want to provide additional information.
  
  
• The worker’s response needs to reflect what the worker was doing at the specific random moment sample time.
  
  
• The RMS instructions include a number of multi-program, program choices. Examples include FS/BC+, W-2 (TANF)/FS, W-2 (TANF)/FS/BC+/CC, etc.  These should not be reported just because the client is eligible for all the programs unless the worker is actually working on all three programs. For example, if at the sample moment the worker is processing an application for eligibility and it is unknown exactly what program the client will be eligible for, but eligibility for the Food Stamps, W-2 (TANF), MA, and Child Care programs are being considered, selection of the multi-program option would be appropriate. If the worker is working only on one of the programs, the single program code should be selected for this RMS observation.
  
  
• It is important that all sample observation e-mails are responded to within a 24-hour period when the worker is in the office. If the employee is on leave or at training, it is important to respond within 24 hours of returning to the office. Failure to comply may result in an increased number of RMS e-mails in future RMS samples.
  
  
• If the DWD RMS staff receive a message that the worker was out of the office, additional contact is necessary since out of the office could be leave, sampled outside of normal work hours (not scheduled to work), or the employee could have been working at a different location. Since these are all recorded differently, it is important that workers let the RMS staff know if it was leave, training, or sampled outside of normal work hours so we can properly record the observation.
  
  
• If workers need to call in a response, they should leave their name, group number, and the observation number, along with the program, activity, and case number (if working on a case).
  
  

Wisconsin.gov | Site Map | Search | Accessibility | Legal | Feedback | DWD Home