The Department of Social Services offers several Supportive Services programs to assist our clients.

Children's Foster Care Program

Foster Care is giving someone else's child a safe place during a difficult time. Every child needs security and nurturing in order to grow into a healthy adult.

Your job as a foster parent also carries a special reward-- knowing that you're taking action to help someone who needs you very much.

We'll gladly answer your questions and give you the necessary information so your household can make the right decision on whether or not to become a foster family.

Specialized Foster Care Program

The Specialized Foster Homes work with youth who experience more challenging, complex and chronic issues. The youth may be involved in serious or numerous criminal acts. He/she has been involved in chronic parent/child conflict, truancy, delinquency, mental health, AODA or other complex issues.

The youth would need to be placed in group care or residential care if not successfully placed in a Specialized Foster Home.

A social worker is assigned to the foster home and the child placed in that home. Together they work on a treatment plan for reunification with the natural family. The Specialized Foster Homes also work closely with the natural family to facilitate the return of the child to their home.

Day Care Certification

Persons wishing to become certified to provide day care can contact Wood County Department of Social Services. Certified providers can care for up to six children at one time, three of which may be under the age of seven and unrelated to the provider. Certified providers are eligible to receive reimbursements from the Child and Adult Food Program and can also provide care for children who receive subsidies from the State of Wisconsin. In order to be certified, a background check is completed on the applicant and all household members over the age of 10. There is a $35.00 certification fee, plus $8.00 for each additional background check needed.

Regular certification means that the provider has met all of the standards for certification and has completed 20 hours of training. Provisional certification means that the provider has met all of the standards for certification, but has not completed the 20 hours of training.

There will also be a home visit completed before the applicant can become certified. At the home visit, the applicant will need the following:

• A well water test report--if the applicant does not have city water
• Verification of rabies vaccination of all pets in the home
• A working smoke detector on each floor of the home used for childcare
• A copy of the provider's TB test results
• Proof of Sudden Infant Death and Shaken Baby Syndrome training
• A copy of a valid driver’s license
• A carbon monoxide detector

A certified day care provider can have up to six children in his/her care at one time but only three can be under the age of 7.

Volunteer Driver Transportation Program

The Wood County Volunteer Transportation Program is available to those who:

• Are on medical assistance
• Do not have a vehicle
• Do not have a friend or family member who can drive them
• Are not physically disabled
• Do not have a serious criminal history
• Do not have a serious mental or behavioral condition

To request transportation to a medical appointment, at least five business days before your appointment, call an Economic Support Specialist at your local Social Services office.

You will receive notice by phone or mail when a volunteer driver has been assigned. You will also receive a written or phone notice if no driver is available. The Volunteer Transportation is not a guaranteed service; some restrictions and limitations do apply.

Kinship Care

The WCDSS administers a Federal and State funded program called Kinship Care, which provides money to people who are raising the children of their relatives. This is a child only payment. Caretaker relatives are providing a service that allows displaced children to remain in the care of their extended family. Relatives caring for children who are not their legal responsibility are providing a service to the child and the community.

Caretaker relatives who wish to apply for Kinship Care benefits should contact the county social services agency.

The agency will:

• Complete an assessment to determine that there is a need for the child to be placed with the relative and that the placement is in the best interest of the child.
• Complete a criminal background check of the relative or any other adult living in the home and any employees or prospective employees who have, or would have, contact with the child.
• Refer the Kinship Care case to the local Child Support agency. This allows the caretaker relative to cooperate with the Child Support agency in establishing and enforcing child support orders.

Once eligibility is approved, a monthly Kinship Care payment of $215 per child is issued to the caretaker relative. Kinship Care reviews are completed at least every 12 months.

When it is not possible to keep children with their birth parents, placing children with relatives is considered a responsible alternative. This program keeps children out of Foster Care and supports family connections.

Stepparent Adoption Study

A stepparent adoption study is completed by Social Services when there is an order from the Court for such a study. A stepparent adoption study is the only type of adoption study completed by Social Services. All other adoptions are completed by a private adoption agency and/or a private attorney.

Custody Study

This service provides a court ordered custody study for use in child custody determinations through Wood County Family Court. The purpose of a custody study is to assist the court in reaching a determination as to placement and visitation, by citing factual information and observation, culminating in recommendations to the court. The custody study provides an objective assessment of family dynamics and strengths and weaknesses for the Family Court to utilize in determining the best living arrangement for minor children.

Children's Comprehensive Community Services

Comprehensive Community Services (CCS) provides an array of psychosocial rehabilitation services to consumers up to age 19 (if in high school) with mental health or substance use disorders. The program uses a wraparound model that is flexible, consumer directed, recovery oriented, and strengths-based. The intent of services is to reduce the effect of the youth’s mental and substance disorders, restore youth to the best possible level of functioning, and to facilitate recovery. Medical Assistance is billed for services. Referrals are accepted from child welfare, education, juvenile justice, mental health programs, parents and caregivers.

In order to be enrolled in the CCS program, children must have a:

• Mental health or substance use diagnosis
• Determination of functional eligibility via the children’s long term functional screen
• Residence in Wood County

Children's Long-Term Support Waivers

Social Services facilitates Children Long-Term Support Medicaid Waiver Programs for children with physical disabilities and severe emotional disturbances. The purpose of the waivers is to help families support their children with severe disabilities within their own home. The waivers are funded through Medicaid and local funds. The waivers are available to children and youth under the age of 22 and cover a broad range of services depending on the child’s and family’s needs. Social workers assist the family to develop a plan to assure that needs are being met over time and under changing circumstances.