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Dane County Department of Human Services |
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Children, Youth, and Families
Description | General Eligibility
| How to Apply Description
Through its Public Health Division and Children, Youth, and Families Division the Dane County Department of Human Services offers an array of services with the mission of contributing to an environment where children, youth, and their families can participate successfully in the community.
Services are available to Dane County residents. However, Public Health Services are available only to those Dane County residents living outside of the City of Madison with the following exceptions: the Immunization Program, Seal Dane Program, Tobacco Free Dane County Coalition, and the WI Well Woman Program. There is no direct cost for most services. There may be eligibility requirements for some program and services.
Any application requirements are listed under the specific service.
Services provided include:
Child Protective Services Child Protective Services - Dane County Department of Human Services offers an array of services both directly and through purchase of service agencies for families and children who experience child abuse and/or neglect. This link also provides information on reporting child abuse and neglect concerns. Pregnancy and Early Childhood Services Early Childhood Initiative - The Early Childhood Initiative (ECI) brings services to children and families in Madison's Allied Drive neighborhood, southwest Madison neighborhood, and Sun Prairie. The ECI focuses on children (ages birth-to-four), and their parents, in families in which parents may experience income, housing, job readiness, parenting skills, alcohol and other drug abuse, or mental health issues, or other issues. The ECI strives to increase families' access to prenatal care, health and developmental screening and assessment, parenting education and support, immunizations and other preventative health care, basic needs assistance, and employment related assistance. This is accomplished by support of a Family Support Specialist who delivers Home Visitation services, a neighborhood Resident Partner who providers mentoring and other assistance, and an Employment and Training Specialist who works with parents and caregivers to overcome obstacles to employment. The ECI is supported by Dane County, Madison Community Foundation, and Wisconsin Partnership Fund monies. For services, contact the ECI Coordinator at (608) 273-6600. Birth to Three Program - This is Wisconsin's early intervention program for infants and toddlers with developmental delays and disabilities and their families. Birth to Three services include therapy and service coordination that are provided in the child's natural environment, (e.g., home, day care, etc.). Some of the services and supports that might be provided to meet the developmental outcomes identified for a child as part of the Individualized Family Services Plan include: family education, developmental education services, communication services, related health services, occupational therapy, and physical therapy. In Dane County, Birth to Three Services are operated by Imagine a Child's Capacity and United Cerebral Palsy. Please see the State of Wisconsin's Birth to Three web site for more information on this statewide program. Parents are expected to contribute to the cost of this service. To apply: For persons living in the Madison Metropolitan School District, contact Imagine a Child's Capacity at (608) 204-6242. For persons living outside the Madison Metropolitan School District, contact United Cerebral Palsy of Greater Dane County at (608) 273-3232. Public Health Pregnancy and Child Health Services - Please see the Public Health Madison Dane County website for further information. Children's Mental Health Children's Mental Health - The Children Youth and Families Division offers a variety of mental health services for children and youth via a purchase of service system. Service areas include individual, group, and family counseling, day treatment, crisis services and risk assessment, advocacy and support services for parents, wraparound services and case management, and community support programming for teens with a severe and persistent mental illness. Delinquency Services Delinquency Services - The Dane County Department of Human Services offers an array of services both directly and through purchase of service agencies for youth who are delinquent or at risk for delinquency. Programming is founded in the Balanced and Restorative Justice Model. This model calls for juveniles to be held accountable for their behaviors, agencies to assist juveniles in building desirable competencies, and communities to be assured protection. Dane County JJ System Competency Development Initiative - The Dane County Department of Human Services works in conjunction with the Dane County Juvenile Court and community agencies to address the competency building portion of the Balance Restorative Justice Model. The goal of building competencies is to ensure that youth served in the Juvenile Justice system leave the system more prepared for the challenges and opportunities of adulthood than when they entered. Building competencies in youth is dependent on actively involving them in their own development and change, supporting their endeavors, and acknowledging their successes. The Competency Development Initiative utilizes the following two tools, the Skill Development Plan and the Uniform Provider Report. The Skill Development Plan helps youth to inventory their skills and choose goals to actively work on during their period of involvement with Dane County Department of Human Services. This tool provides Dane County Department of Human Services, and community service providers with direction from the youth to coordinate efforts in building competencies that will better prepare the youth for the rest of their life. The Uniform Provider Report is utilized by the programs involved in the youth's life to report progress and success in the youth's skill development to the youth, family, and other programs working with the youth. The process for use of these tools is represented in the Skill Development Protocol Flow Chart. Youth Services Youth Resource Centers - Youth Resource Centers are places tailored to meet the needs of middle school age youth in the neighborhood or community in which they live. Centers provide youth with safe, supervised places to be during non-school hours (after school, weekends, summer). Centers provide such activities as: video and electronic games, snacks, interest groups and clubs, job boards, community volunteer projects, as well as, provide a safe place to hang out. Support and Resources for Families Joining Forces for Families - The Joining Forces for Families (JFF) program is an award-winning prevention and early intervention services collaboration facilitated by the Department. JFF serves families in select Madison neighborhoods and every Dane County community. Partners include area school districts, City and County public health departments, local and county law enforcement agencies, and others. The Department provides one manager and 15 professional staff to provide services to children and families at risk of involvement in formal services systems. Teams service children and families at individual, family, neighborhood, and community levels alike. For more information, contact the JFF Community Program Manager at (608) 242-6325. Kinship Care - Kinship Care is a State of Wisconsin program administered by Dane County. Kinship Care provides a monthly stipend along with childcare assistance and medical assistance for children who are cared for by relatives. To apply, contact Dane County Department of Human Services at (608) 242-6382.
There is no cost the Early Childhood Initiative, the Youth Resource Centers, Joining Forces for Families, and the Neighborhood Intervention Program (described under Delinquency Services). Some services, such as Birth to Three, have a parental cost share, based on the ability to pay, that is assessed for services.
Information on childcare services Information on services for children with developmental disabilities Information on Public Health Nursing services Information on the Dane County Youth Commission 2-1-1 Information and Referral Database - This link is to the United Way of Dane County's searchable Information and Referral database. This can provide assistance in looking for resources for food, housing, and more. Dane County Cooperative Extension - This link provides information on child development, building strong families, and parenting resources. Healthy Kids Corner - This is a link to the State's web site that is devoted to keeping children healthy.
Bob Lee, Division Administrator For information on Public Health Nursing Services, contact the Public Health Intake Nurse at (608) 266-4821.
For more information on Language Services, please visit out Language Services page. |
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