MADISON… Legislative concern about the track record of the child welfare system in Milwaukee County and outrage over the wasteful use of W-2 program funds has produced positive changes and more taxpayer-friendly and accountable systems for both the region and the state, according to state Senator Alberta Darling (R-River Hills).
“While the original audit of the Bureau of Milwaukee Child Welfare (BMCW) brought to light many disturbing facts, several improvements seem to have been made in just the past few years,” said Darling. “And while there have been changes at the BMCW, today’s testimony revealed we still have a long way to go. New tools must be in place to help guide us in our quest to better serve Milwaukee kids in foster care.”
Darling’s concerns over accountability, staffing and safety issues have led to much of her past criticism of the BMCW. New tracking methods have helped secure the thousands of dollars provided to the participating welfare agencies. Darling has also publicly voiced her concerns about some of the past questionable and unallowable expenses approved by the BMCW.
“I requested an audit of the W-2 program in December of 2003 because of my uncertainty regarding the strengths and weaknesses of the program,” said Darling. “Since the Legislative Audit Bureau released its disturbing report that outlined the failures of the program in Milwaukee, I’m pleased to hear that progress has been made and the success rates of the clients enrolled in W-2 are improving.”
Darling says she expects that oversight will be improved under the new W-2 contracts and that the state’s Department of Workforce Development will do a better job of partnering with agencies that have a proven track record of success. W-2 agencies must now have board members who are trained in management responsibilities such as financial statements, auditing, and codes of conduct.
Darling also applauds Senator Carol Roessler and Representative Sue Jeskewitz, the co-chairwomen of the Joint Legislative Audit Committee, for holding an informational hearing on both of the completed audits earlier today in Milwaukee.
