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County approves request to hire case manager for child assistance program

Times Press - 1/26/2018

Washington County officials want to hire an additional individual to accommodate a state mandate that was incorporated into the most recent biennial budget.

Members of the Human Services Committee unanimously voted to approve a request by Human Services staff during the recent meeting for another case manager to support the Children's Long-Term Support Waiver Program.

"In the governor's budget, there was funding to eliminate the children's long-term support waiver waitlist," Human Services Director Julie Driscoll said. "I want to make sure that we are clear - that is for the waitlist that we have right now."

According to the Wisconsin Department of Health Services website, the Medicaid-funded program provides financial assistance for classes of children, including those with developmental disabilities, severe emotional disturbances and physical disabilities so they, their families and loved ones can receive supplementary support services based on their specific needs.

Gov. Walker included a provision in the budget that allocates another $39 million for reducing the number of eligible children who remain on the list awaiting their waiver funding.

Along with the committee report, officials provided a map that identifies the counties and the corresponding number of children who are on their waitlists. Washington County has 75 children waiting for financial assistance. Some have fewer names on the list, Rusk county has less than 10 children who are waiting for the waiver.

Others have more. Dane County has about 400 children eligible for the program but awaiting funding.

County staff and officials have discretion for deciding how they will process clients through the system and reduce the names on the list.