We are the Income Maintenance (IM) Training area of the Department of Health Services (DHS). Our team is a blend of staff from DHS and contracted agencies. We are responsible for training the state and local agency staff who participate in administering the IM programs, which are: FoodShare (SNAP), Medicaid and BadgerCare, Family Care (including Family Care non-MA, SSI Caretaker Supplement (CTS), and the Funeral Burial Expense program. The IM training area provides curriculum and learning opportunities about the policy, process and automation of these IM programs.
The IM training area is a part of the Technical Assistance and Training section of the Bureau of Eligibility Management (BEM) within the Department of Health Services, Division of Health Care Access and Accountability (DHCAA). DHCAA funds essential health and nutrition services to low-income families with children, pregnant women, the elderly, and persons with disabilities. In addition to the IM training area, the Technical Assistance and Training section also includes the CARES Information and Policy Resolution Center (CIPRC), or “Cares call center”, writing and publication of IM handbooks and manuals; provision of IM related technical assistance, and administration of the Eligibility Management web page and other internet based resources.
IM Trainers play a key developmental role in bridging the gap between policy development and program implementation, and stimulating ongoing professional development and quality improvement for program staff.
The IM Trainers section works closely with policy and systems analysts to provide appropriate training for various job functions within the DHS and county administering agencies.
The IM Training section creates and delivers training programs that are in alignment with the goals of DHS, including increased program participation, payment accuracy, and workload reduction for local agency staff. IM Training determines the appropriate methodology for meeting the training need. Training is presented locally, regionally or statewide, depending upon the identified audience and topic.
The IM Training section strives to meet the ongoing needs of statewide agencies in a timely and convenient manner by offering training topics such as Medicaid, FoodShare and ongoing case maintenance. IM Training also provides computer systems training for programs such as ACCESS and CARES Worker Web. We also assist local community groups, advocates, and professional organizations by providing presentations on Income Maintenance programs and the use of ACCESS by the general public.
"The Department's mission is to protect and promote the health and safety of the people of Wisconsin.” The IM Training section is an involved member in providing services that build a healthy, safe and dignified life for the residents of Wisconsin. As the training section we also see our role as providing a valuable service for the DHS and the county administering agencies. It is our mission to create and provide high quality programming and continuing education that meets the needs of those we serve.