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Special Committee on Strengthening Wisconsin Families

Chair: Rep. Steve Kestell
Legislative Council Staff: Laura Rose, Scott Grosz, and Anne Sappenfield
Member List

The special committee is directed to study the Wisconsin Works (W-2) Program and the child welfare system to determine methods to improve collaboration between the two systems in order to support, strengthen, and, in some cases, reunify families.  The committee shall review recent legislative audits of both systems.  The committee shall determine how the W-2 Program may be more supportive of the family unit.  In addition, the committee shall study how participation in the child welfare system affects the receipt of public benefits and how public benefits affect a parent’s ability to meet conditions under a child welfare court order.

Legislation Enacted
Report to the Legislature
Recommendations to the Joint Legislative Council (December 12, 2007)
  • Proposed Report to the Legislature, 2007-21, Special Committee on Strengthening Wisconsin Families (December 5, 2007)
  • WLC: 0075/5, relating to collaborative systems of care for families who are involved in multiple systems of care
  • LRB-3042/1, relating to motor vehicle occupational licenses issued by the Department of Transportation
  • LRB-3063/1, relating to a municipal court judgment regarding community service work
  • LRB-3491/1, relating to parenting plans in actions affecting the family
  • WLC: 0171/1, relating to home visitation grants
November 5, 2007 Meeting
  • Memo No. 13, Proposal to Modify Current Law Relating to the Family Foundations Home Visitation Program (October 30, 2007)
  • Proposal to Maintain and Expand the Coordinated Services Team Initiative (CST) in Wisconsin, submitted by Dan Naylor, White Pine Consulting Service
  • WLC: 0171/1, relating to home visitation grants
  • WLC: 0147/2, an amendment to WLC: 0075/4 (November 2, 2007)
  • Handout, Collaborative Systems of Care for Families with Children who Are Involved in Multiple Systems, distributed at the request of Dan Naylor, White Pine Consulting Service (November 5, 2007)
  • Draft Letter to Mr. Kevin Hayden, Secretary, Department of Health and Family Services
  • Draft Letter to Ms. Denise Revels Robinson, Chair, Child Welfare Training Council
  • Draft Letter to Roberta Gassmann, Secretary, Department of Workforce Development
October 1, 2007 Meeting
  • WLC: 0075/4, relating to collaborative systems of care for families who are involved in multiple systems of care
  • WLC: 0147/1, an amendment to WLC: 0075/4 (September 26, 2007)
  • WLC: 0157/1, relating to requiring child welfare staff and Wisconsin works staff to meet requirements for training in family systems theory
  • Letter, from Sarah Diedrick-Kasdorf, Senior Legislative Associate, Wisconsin Counties Association  (September 7, 2007)
  • Memo No. 6, Options for Legislation on Strengthening Wisconsin Families (January 3, 2007 (Revised March 12, 2007)):
    • Enclosure 1, Report from Agency, Clearinghouse Rule 06-141
    • Enclosure 2, Memorandum, Workforce Recommendations, from Charity Eleson, Executive Director, Wisconsin Council on Children and Families
    • Enclosure 3, Ch. DWD 17, Wis. Adm. Code
    • Enclosure 4, Strengthening Families Through Early Care & Education
  • Memo No. 12, Exchange of Client Information Between Information Systems
    • Enclosure 1, DHFS/DCFS Info Memo 2006-19 (September 19, 2006)
    • Enclosure 2, DHFS/DCFS Memo 2007-03 (February 26, 2007)
  • Handout, Department of Health & Family Services Summary of Children’s Integrated Service Programs and Coordinated Service Teams, submitted by the Department of Health and Family Services (September 20, 2007)
  • Handout, 2007 County ISP and CST Allocations and Funding Revenue, submitted by the Department of Health and Family Services (undated)
  • Handout, Funding Parameters for Revenue Funding Coordinated Services Team, submitted by the Department of Health and Family Services (undated)
  • Handout, Family Foundations Program, submitted by Ann Altman Stueck, DHFS (October 1, 2007)
  • Handout, Family Systems, submitted by Public Member Jon Angeli (October 1, 2007)
  • Handout, 12 Critical Elements of Successful Home Visiting Programs, submitted by Pence Revington, UW-Extension, Family Living Specialist (October 1, 2007)
  • Presentation by Audrey Laszewski, Project Director, The Early Years Home Visitation Outcomes Project of WI (October 1, 2007)
  • Presentation by Polly Snodgrass, RN, Program Director, Healthy Families/Prenatal Care Coordination, Family Services (October 1, 2007)
  • Handout, Children's Service Society of WI, submitted by Sandy Ellis, Director of Prevention, Children's Service Society of Wisconsin (October 1, 2007)*
August 20, 2007 Meeting
  • Memo No. 11, Legislative Fiscal Bureau Budget Paper Relating to the Home Visiting Program (August 14, 2007)
    • Enclosure, Legislative Fiscal Bureau Paper #432, Family Foundations--Home Visiting Program (DHFS--Children and Families)
  • Memo, Out-of-Home Care Caseload Statistics, distributed at the request of Public Member Carol Wright (June 5, 2007)
  • Report, Recent Trends in Children's Placement Arrangements in Divorce and Paternity Cases in Wisconsin, distributed at the request of Public Member Jodi Roberts (July 2005; Revised May 2006)
  • Report, Divorced Wisconsin Families with Shared Child Placements, distributed at the request of Public Member Jodi Roberts (February 2006)
  • Handout, distributed at the request of Public Member Jon Angeli
  • Handout, Milwaukee Fatherhood Collaborative, Wisconsin Fathers for Children and Families, distributed by Peter Kerr, Communications Director, Milwaukee Fatherhood Collaborative
  • Proposed Parenting Plan, distributed at the request of Senator Lena Taylor
July 30, 2007 Meeting
  • WLC: 0075/4, relating to collaborative systems of care for families with children who are involved in multiple systems of care
  • WLC: 0135/1, relating to equalizing physical placement to the highest degree
  • WLC: 0143/1, relating to permissive operating privileges of occupational licenses
  • WLC: 0144/1, relating to municipal court judgment
  • WLC: 0145/1, relating to permissive suspension of operating privileges after drug offense conviction
  • WLC: 0146/1, relating to parenting plans in actions affecting the family
  • Memo No. 8, 2006 Driver License Withdrawals by Reason of Conviction (July 23, 2007)
    • Enclosure, Revocations or Suspensions by Reason of Conviction
  • Memo No. 9, Legislative Fiscal Bureau Materials Relating to Creation of the Department of Children and Families (July 23, 2007)
    • Enclosure 1, Paper #200, Create Department of Children and Families
    • Enclosure 2, Joint Committee on Finance Motion
  • Article, The Frayed Knot, distributed at the request of Senator Dale Schultz
  • Memo No. 10, Data Relating to Divorce Actions in Wisconsin in 2006 (July 27, 2007)
    • Enclosure, Number of Divorce Actions and Disposition of Actions (2006)
June 18, 2007 Meeting
 
Report to the Legislature
  • Report to the Legislature, Special Committee on Strengthening Wisconsin Families, RL 2007-13 (July 13, 2007)
  • 2007 Assembly Bill 439
  • WLC: 0075/3, relating to collaborative systems of care for families with children who are involved in multiple systems of care
Recommendations to the Joint Legislative Council (May 10, 2007)
  • Proposed Report to the Joint Legislative Council 2007-13, Special Committee on Strengthening Wisconsin Families (May 2, 2007)
  • WLC: 0103/3, relating to the Wisconsin technical college system and higher education financial aid eligibility and requiring the exercise of rule-making authority
May 18, 2007 Meeting of the Collaborative Systems of Care Subcommittee
 
April 30, 2007 Meeting
  • WLC: 0103/2, relating to the Wisconsin technical college system and higher education financial aid eligibility
  • Handout, Legislative Action to Reform Adult Basic Education and Increase Access to Financial Aid for Working Adults, distributed at the request of Charity Eleson

  • Handout, Reform Adult Basic Education to Improve Completion and Transition Rates, distributed at the request of Charity Eleson

  • Handout, Already Enrolled:  How Expanding Access to Wisconsin Higher Education Grants to Students Attending Less-Than-Half-Time Would Help More Adults Complete Postsecondary Programs
  • Memo, Equal Placement of Children in Custody Disputes, submitted by Representative Don Pridemore
April 16, 2007 Meeting of the Collaborative Systems of Care Subcommittee
 
March 19, 2007 Meeting
  • Handout, distributed by Public Member Jon Angeli
  • Registration Form, The 4th Biennial Wisconsin Fatherhood Conference, distributed by Public Member Jodi Roberts
  • Handout, State of the State 2007, Policy Brief:  Department of Children and Family Services
  • Memo No. 6, Options for Legislation on Strengthening Wisconsin Families (January 3, 2007 (Revised March 12, 2007)):
    • Enclosure 1, Report from Agency, Clearinghouse Rule 06-141
    • Enclosure 2, Memorandum, Workforce Recommendations, from Charity Eleson, Executive Director, Wisconsin Council on Children and Families
    • Enclosure 3, Ch. DWD 17, Wis. Adm. Code
    • Enclosure 4, Strengthening Families Through Early Care & Education
  • Proposal, by Wisconsin Cares, Inc., distributed by Public Member Dr. Jack Westman
  • Handout, Expanding the Coordinated Services Team (CST) Initiative Statewide, distributed by Dan Naylor, MPA, White Pine Consulting Service, Inc.
February 7, 2007 Meeting
  • Memo No. 7, School District Funding Responsibilities (January 31, 2007)
  • WLC: 0075/1, relating to collaborative systems of care for families with children who are involved in multiple systems of care
  • Handout, distributed at the request of Public Member Dr. Jack Westman
  • Memorandum and Attachments from Dianne Jenkins, DHFS Liaison to the Special Committee:
    • Final Cover letter (February 1, 2007)
    • Final Report to the Joint Legislative Audit Committee, Evaluation of Milwaukee County Child Welfare (Reports 06-01 and 06-2)
  • Memorandum, from Dianne Jenkins, DHFS Liaison to the Special Committee (February 6, 2007)
  • Report, A Progress Report and Management Assessment of the Wisconsin Systems Integration Initiative, Families Forward- Wisconsin (January 2007)
  • Handout, Driver's License Law, distributed by Honorable James A. Gramling, Jr.
  • Handout, Driving is ex-inmates' key to jobs, distributed by Honorable James A. Gramling, Jr.
  • Materials, distributed by Mark Perlman, Center for  Growth and Development, Sarasota, Florida
January 9, 2007 Meeting
  • Memo No. 6, Options for Legislation on Strengthening Wisconsin Families (January 3, 2007):
    • Enclosure 1, Report from Agency, Clearinghouse Rule 06-141
    • Enclosure 2, Memorandum, Workforce Recommendations, from Charity Eleson, Executive Director, Wisconsin Council on Children and Families
    • Enclosure 3, Ch. DWD 17, Wis. Adm. Code
    • Enclosure 4, Strengthening Families Through Early Care & Education
November 21, 2006 Meeting
October 24, 2006 Meeting
  • Memo No. 1,  Distribution of Materials Requested at the September 26, 2006 Meeting (October 17, 2006)
  • Memo No. 2, Home Visitation Program Evaluations (October 17, 2006)
  • Handout, Wisconsin Supporting Families, Grant County DSS, distributed by Public Member Jon Angeli
  • Letter, from Helene Nelson, Secretary, Department of Health and Family Services and a report, Interim Report to the Joint Legislative Audit Committee, Evaluation of Milwaukee County Child Welfare (Reports 06-1 and 06-2) (October 2, 2006)
  • Handouts, distributed by Public Member Jack Westman
  • Handouts, distributed by Public Member Jon Angeli
  • Publication, Wisconsin's State Plan to Prevent Child Maltreatment (2006)
September 26, 2006 Meeting
  • Act Memo 467, Joint Legislative Council Committee on Strengthening Wisconsin's Families
    (6-02-06)
  • Handouts, distributed by Public Member Jon Angeli
  • Presentation, Comparing Welfare and Child Welfare Populations in Milwaukee, by Dr. Mark Courtney, The Chapin Hall Center for Children, University of Chicago
  • Issue Brief # 107, Those Left Behind:  Enduring Challenges Facing Welfare Applicants, Dr. Mark Courtney, The Chapin Hall Center for Children, University of Chicago
  • Presentations by Janice Mueller, Legislative Audit Bureau:
    • PowerPoint, Wisconsin Works (W-2) Program
    • PowerPoint, Milwaukee County Child Welfare
    • Report 05-6, An Evaluation, Wisconsin Works (W-2) Program, Department of Workforce Development (April 2005)
    • Report 06-1, An Evaluation Milwaukee County Child Welfare: Program Issues,  Department of Health and Family Services (February 2006)
    • Report 06-2, An Evaluation Milwaukee County Child Welfare:  Finances and Staffing, Department of Health and Family Services (February 2006)
  • Memorandum, Progress in Response to Legislative Audit of Milwaukee Child Welfare, from Helene Nelson, Department of Health and Family Services (September 25, 2006)
  • Article, Who Returns to Welfare?, The Urban Institute
  • Issue Brief, Improving Access to Benefits for Low-Income Families, NGA Center for Best Practices
August 29, 2006 Meeting
  • Staff Brief 06-01, Overview of the Wisconsin Works Program and the Child Welfare System (8-22-06)
  • Letter, from Senator Dale Schultz (8-25-06)
  • Handout, Building Brighter Futures, submitted by Public Member Jack Westman
  • Presentation, Making Wisconsin Works Work, by Secretary Roberta Gassman, Department of Workforce Development
  • Report, Wisconsin Program Enhancement Plan Progress Report for Quarter 6, Department of Health and Family Services
  • Handout, BMCW Semi-Annual Report January 1, 2006 - June 30, 2006, submitted by the Department of Health and Family Services
  • Presentation and Packet of Materials submitted by the Institute for Research on Poverty:
    • Presentation, Systems Integration: A Means of Improving Outcomes for Children and Families
    • Handout, Moving Toward a Comprehensive Definition of Human Services Integration (7-23-06)
    • Handout, Integrated Human Service Models:  Assessing Implementation Fidelity Through the "Line of Sight" Perspective (7-23-06)
    • Handout, Systems Integration"  Related Publications and Works in Progress (July 2006)
    • Handout, The service integration agenda:  Political, conceptual, and methodological challenges, Thomas Corbett and Jennifer L. Noyes (FOCUS, Vol. 22.3, Summer 2003)
    • Handout, The Challenge of Institutional ‘Milieu’ to Cross Systems Integration,  Thomas Corbett, James Dimas, James Fong, and Jennifer L. Noyes (FOCUS, Vol. 24.1, Fall 2005)
    • Handout, Cross-Systems Innovation: The Line-of-Sight Exercise, or Getting From Where You Are to Where You Want to Be, Thomas Corbett and Jennifer L. Noyes (FOCUS, Vol. 24.1, Fall 2005)
    • Handout, Supporting Cross-Program Integration: Some Recommendations for Federal Policy and Practice, Mark Greenberg and Jennifer L. Noyes (CLASP Publication No. 05-15, 3/16/2005)

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