Wednesday, May 16, 2012
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Youth with Disablities

The Human Services Department provides some funding for children with disabilities.  The Birth to Three Program is for babies and toddlers with cognitive delays, the Family Support Program provides funds to help children with disabilities stay in their parent's homes and purchase special needs services, and the Children's Autism Waiver provides intensive treatment for children under age 8.  In addition, the Children Come First Program, provides funding and referral for services for children with a diagnosis of severe emotional disturbance.  Please see each item for further information.
  
Click on a tab below to review information about the various topics.

Autism

The State of Wisconsin offers funding through a Medicaid Autism Waiver to provide two types of service for children diagnosed with autism.  To be eligible for the funding, a child must:

  • Have a diagnosis of autism from a qualified professional.  A pediatrician or school psychologist cannot diagnose autism.
  • Be under the age of 8 when they begin services. (as a result, the referral to be determined eligible should begin midway through their 7th year at the latest).
  • Be covered by or eligible for Medicaid/Title XIX funding.

The Autism Waiver has two phases.  The first is Intensive In-home Therapy, where the child receives 20-35 hours a week of staff coming into the home and working on social, behavioral, speech, and other skills. The parents are a vital part of this therapy, as they learn how to teach and reinforce skills as well.  The Intensive phase has a limit of three years of therapy.  The only other service provided during this phase is service coordination.

The second phase is the Ongoing Phase.  This level has less funding attached but is more flexible.  Service coordination is still a requirement but parents have a choice of a variety of other services.  These may include continuing a few hours of therapy a week, respite, child care, recreation, special equipment, and others.

For additional information, contact DDIS 262-637-2707.

Children Come First Project

Children Come First

A Racine County Collaborative Project for Seriously Emotionally Disturbed Children

 

 

 

In keeping with the mission of the Youth and Family Division, the Children Come First (CCF) Project's primary function is to preserve the unity of the family, while keeping children safe, and strengthening families through assisting parents in fulfilling their parental responsibilities.  This unit consists of 2 Case Managers as well as an in-home Parent Educator and Family Therapist.

The Children Come First Project began in May 1991.  A collaborative, coordinating project advisory committee represents consumers and providers of services to seriously emotionally disturbed (SED) Racine County children and their families.  The advisory committee coordinates access to services.  Project staff screen, assesses and case manage the service needs of SED children to help maintain the children in a normalized environment in the community.

The primary goal of the CCF Project is the development of a community based collaborative system of care for children diagnosed as Seriously Emotionally Disturbed and their families.

An individualized plan which addresses the following needs is provided for each child served by the project staff:

  • Education
  • Health
  • Family
  • Mental Health
  • Social Service
  • Recreation

Families are integral and active partners in this process.  Priority is given to children at risk of placement outside of the home. For more information about Children Come First services, please contact:

Racine County Human Services Department
1717 Taylor Avenue
Racine, WI 53403

262-638-7720

or toll free

800-242-4202

or via email

IandA@goRacine.org

Family Support

The Family Support Program is a state-funded program designed to help families meet the needs of their disabled children.  It is a very flexible program and parents can choose a wide variety of services for their children.  Services can include child care, recreational activities, adaptive equipment, counseling, special medical supplies and therapeutic activities.  Funding for services is dependent upon the level of need.  There is a limited amount of funding available through the Family Support program.  As a result, families may be put on a waiting list if the demand for services exceeds funding available.   For more information, contact CompassWisconsin: Threshold at 866-710-4054 or view their website http://www.compasswisconsin.org/

Katie Beckett

The Katie Beckett program is a funding source that allows parents to apply for Medicaid insurance coverage for their child with a developmental or medical disability.  When the parents’ income is higher than allowed under the SSI/Social Security rules, but the child’s disability results in a high amount of out-of-pocket expenses, Katie Beckett can provide that coverage.

This program is not part of the Human Services Department.  In Racine, the program is administered by DDIS.  They may be reached at 262-637-2707.

Birth to 3

What is the Birth to 3 program?

Birth to 3 is Racine County’s early intervention program for infants and toddlers with developmental delays and disabilities and their families.  The Department of Health and Family Services (HFS) oversees the Birth to 3 program in Wisconsin and has developed administrative rules (HFS 90) that specify the program requirements.  Racine County Human Services is the lead agency for the program in Racine County and receives all referrals for services.

Mission

The Birth to 3 Program is committed to children under the age of three with developmental delays and disabilities and their families. We value the family’s primary relationship with the family. We work to enhance the child’s development and support the family’s knowledge, skills and abilities as they interact with and raise their child.

How will the Birth to 3 program help? 

The earlier a child’s developmental delays are discovered, the more opportunities there are for a child to increase skills and abilities.  The goal is to help children participate in their communities.

In addition to the skills the child develops, the Birth to 3 program is committed to providing services in a way that makes sense for each family.  This “family centered” program recognizes the importance of parents, family and friends in a young child’s life.  The early intervention team will provide ideas and techniques to help a family enhance their child’s development and learning potential, mostly in the family home or where the child spends most of his time.

Who is eligible to receive services?

The Birth to 3 program is for children ages birth to 36 months.  Eligibility is based on a diagnosed disability or significant delay in one or more areas of development.  The team will evaluate the child’s ability to: 

  • Learn, also referred to as cognitive development;
  • Move, see and hear, also referred to as physical motor development;
  • Communicate, also referred to as speech and language development;
  • Respond and relate to others, also referred to as social and emotional development, and;
  • Daily living needs, also referred to as adaptive development. 

A  Birth to 3 service coordinator helps the family understand and participate in the evaluation process.

The services and supports a child and family receive are based on individual needs.  Eligibility for this program is not affected by the family’s income; however, parents may need to contribute to the cost of services.

What Services and supports might be available?

If the child is eligible for the program, the service coordinator works with the family to see that the family and their child receive the services and supports they need within the family’s natural environment.  The service coordinator and other early intervention staff meet with the family to discuss the child’s developmental strengths and needs. 

Medical Support Services (MSS) and/or Racine County Opportunity Center (RCOC) presently provide all services to the family after the initial referral call.  Some of the services and supports the family might need are:

  • Early Childhood education
  • Speech/language services
  • Occupational therapy
  • Physical therapy
  • Other health services

Who can request services for a child/family? 

Anyone can ask for a referral to the Birth to Three program by calling the Single Point of Referral at 262-638-6444 to request an evaluation and/or information or services.  Anyone may call including parents, doctors, teachers, etc.  However these services are voluntary and a parent can refuse.

Further Information

For further information contact the Racine County Human Services at 262-638-7720.

Contact Us

Jonathan Delagrave, Human Services Director, is responsible for the overall operation of the Department while Division Managers have more limited areas of responsibility. 

If you are receiving service from the Human Services Department your most effective way for communicating with the department is through the social worker or case manager assigned to you or their immediate supervisor.  Your social worker or case manager can tell you the name and contact information of their supervisor.  They can also provide information about appealing a decision that you believe is wrong.

If you are not receiving services from the department but wish to find out more information you may call 411 who will direct your call to the person or agency in Racine County that can provide the information you seek.

Complaints, compliments or other issues related to the Human Services Department or services for youth, youth with disabilities or families may be directed to:

Jonathan Delagrave, Director Kerry Milkie, Manager
262-638-6646 262-638-6633
Jonathan.Delagrave@GoRacine.org Kerry.Milkie@GoRacine.org

 

 

 


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