OPERATING AUTHORITY AND PURPOSE
The Human Services Department is mandated to provide
an extensive array of social services, financial benefits
and rehabilitation to statutorily designated groups
of Racine County residents. The mission of the Human
Services Department is to foster healthy, self-reliant
individuals and families. It is committed to providing
services of value to taxpayers that promote independence,
strengthen families, encourage healthy behavior, protect
vulnerable persons, and prevent individual and social
problems.
The Human Services Department provides or purchases
a wide range of services for the elderly, mentally
ill, developmentally disabled, physically disabled,
abused and neglected children, alcohol and drug abusers,
juvenile delinquents and status offenders. Statutory
authority for the department, including its secure
juvenile detention facility, is found in Chapters 48,
46, 51 and 938 of the Wisconsin Statutes. Chapter 49
authorizes the Department to administer public welfare
programs, such as Wisconsin Works, Food Stamps, and
Medicaid. The Department is also responsible for a
myriad of employment and training programs that are
integrated into the Workforce Development Center.
EVALUATION OF PERFORMANCE MEASURES
The Human Services Department’s 2003 workload
included:
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1,365 child welfare referrals, an increase of
19% over 2002.
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Juvenile intake, court services and case management
to 1,057 newly apprehended youth, with an average
daily corrections population that increased by 39%
over 2002, to 65.1.
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Implementation of a pre-dispositional alternative
to state corrections, the ACE program. Ten juveniles
participated, spending an average of 139 days in
detention and earning an average of five high school
credits during that time.
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45,181 congregate meals and 86,598 home delivered
meals provided to the elderly.
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Services for 1,137 adults with developmental disabilities
and 351 adults with physical disabilities.
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Various forms of assistance for AODA or Mental
Health issues for 1,377 individuals.
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Working with Ridgewood to return five chronically
mentally ill persons from Trempealeau County.
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Providing public assistance in the form of Medical
Assistance, Food Stamps, W2, and Child Care Subsidies
to 17,999 households (15% increase).
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An average daily population for the Juvenile Detention
Center of 64.12.
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62,992 individual job search sessions in the WDC
resource room (9% increase).
2005 GOALS AND BUDGET STRATEGIES
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Protect children and preserve the unity of family
by strengthening families.
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Provide effective workforce development services
to assist Racine County residents and employers reach
their highest economic potential.
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Provide financial and employment supports for
low-income families.
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Reduce incarceration and prevent institutionalization
through quality community-based services.
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Equip juveniles and their families with the competencies
to live responsibly and hold the juveniles accountable
for their crimes.
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Provide emergency services to people in crisis.
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Achieve state performance standards.
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Obtain additional state/federal funding.
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Reduce the Developmentally Disabled waiting list
for Vocational Programming.
