8.8 Follow-up Services

8.8.2 Purpose

Effective date: TBD

The purpose of follow-up services is to increase the likelihood of continued employment, retention, and earnings of a participant that has obtained unsubsidized employment.¹ Therefore, DWD-DET has determined that "placed in unsubsidized employment" does not include placement in temporary or part-time jobs unless the employment relates to the participant's occupational goals as outlined in their Individual Employment Plan (IEP).

Follow-up services in the Title I Adult Program and the Dislocated Worker Program may begin immediately following placement into unsubsidized employment if the participant is expected not to receive any future services other than follow-up services. ²

DWD-DET requires career planners to complete an IEP review before exit, to determine if the employment aligns with the participant's occupational goals and current career and training services progress. For example:

• Does the employment lead to economic self-sufficiency?
• Is the participant still engaged in the program?
• Are they currently receiving services, or are future services planned?

Career planners must document the IEP review in ASSET Services and the outcome in ASSET Customer Notes. NOTE: If the career planner cannot reach the participant to capture this information, they must enter the ASSET service and use the completion code "will never start" along with a Case Note documenting the outreach attempt.

• ¹ WIOA Sec. (2)(6)
• ² TEGL 10-16, Change 2, p. 35

8.8.3 Follow-Up Services

Examples of Follow-up services include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Counseling Individuals About the Workplace; ¹
• Additional Career Planning and Counseling;
• Additional Educational and Employment Opportunities Information;
• Employer Contact (see Note below);
• Participant Contact (see Note below);
• Peer Support Groups;
• Referral to supportive services (Adult Program and Dislocated Worker Program participants in follow-up may not receive program-funded supportive services.) ²

NOTE: The intent of the "Employer Contact" and "Participant Contact" service is to identify and address any current employment challenges and opportunities for advancement. Although it may be necessary to capture supplemental wage information, DWD-DET does not consider attempts to capture this information a follow-up service. Career planners must record the results of those attempts separately in ASSET Customer Notes and if any information is obtained, enter the details in ASSET Follow-up Status. Note: See the Supplemental Data Collection Recommended and Proven Practices for recommendations on how to best communicate with former program participants.

• ¹ WIOA Sec. 134(c)(2)(A)(xiii); TEGL 16-16, p. 16
• ² TEGL 19-16 p.19

8.8.4 Notification of Availability of Services

DWD-DET requires that participants be made aware of the availability and the purpose of follow-up services at the time of IEP development and again when the participant gains unsubsidized employment.¹ An example is adding follow-up services as an action step on the initial IEP development for the participant to "remain in contact for 12 months following exit from the program." Another example is to include follow-up services in program flyers and advertisements.

• ¹ WIOA Sec. 134(c)(2)(A)(xiii) identifies follow-up services as one of the required WIOA career services and WIOA Sec. 134(c)(2)(A)(xii)(II) identifies the purpose of the IEP to identify the employment goals, appropriate achievement objectives, and appropriate combination of services for the participant to achieve the employment goals. Therefore, DWD-DET requires career planners to identify follow-up services to ensure the participants reach their long-term employment goals.

8.8.5 Frequency of Contacts and Failed Contact Attempts

Participants' need for and receptivity to follow-up services will vary. Career planners should determine if more frequent follow-up services are needed, based on the participant's individual needs and career goals, as documented in their IEP. DWD-DET requires that, at a minimum, career planners attempt to contact the participant at least once every three months for 12 months, starting from the date of gaining unsubsidized employment.

In circumstances where outreach has been unsuccessful, DWD-DET allows the career planner to cease attempts to provide the remaining follow-up services. However, career planners must document all contact attempts in ASSET Customer Notes. The note must include the contact method used, the date attempted, and if follow-up services will continue.

DWD-DET allows career planners to stop contact with the participant, including follow-up services, if they request any time they no longer wish to be contacted. Career planners must record the outcome and details in ASSET Customer Notes, including the details. For example, "the participant stated they are no longer interested in WIOA services and asked not to contact them again."

WDBs must establish a policy consistent with DWD-DET's guidance in this chapter that defines appropriate follow-up services, as well as requirements for identifying when to provide follow-up services to participants.¹ Career Planners must ensure they are following their local WDB policy requirements.

• ¹ TEGL 19-16 p.3; TEGL 16-16 p.16

8.8.6 Potential for Re-enrollment and Relationship to Exit

If, at any time during the follow-up service period, a participant needs more services than are available, they may re-enroll in the program. They may start services immediately if the episode is still open in ASSET. If a common exit has occurred in ASSET, the participant can reapply following the WIOA Title I Application Guidance.

As the date of exit is retroactive to the last service date, follow-up services may begin immediately following the anticipated last service date if the participant is expected not to receive any future services other than follow-up services. Follow-up services do not extend the date of exit in performance reporting.¹

• ¹ TEGL 19-16 p.3; TEGL 16-16 p.16