Milwaukee County

This is a juvenile diversion program which gives first time minor offenders apprehended for misdemeanors the option of appearing before a panel of community volunteers, called the Community Panel, rather than entering the juvenile court system. This is a voluntary option chosen by the juvenile and his/her parents and does not preclude access by the juvenile to the due process guaranteed by the juvenile justice system.

This program conducts Independent Initial Assessments for the Division of Milwaukee Child Protective Services (DMCPS). Independent investigations of alleged abuse and neglect are mandated whenever there is a substantial probability of bias by the investigating agency. Independent investigations may be conducted for the following reasons: 1) Report of abuse or neglect by a foster parent. 2) Maltreatment of a foster child by another adult other than a foster parent. 3) Report of abuse and neglect by staff of a residential facility of a child placed by DMCPS. These investigations are conducted in a manner consistent with the philosophy, purpose and standards of the DMCPS. Community Impact Programs is responsible for conducting these investigations and is responsible for making a determination as to whether abuse or neglect has occurred.

Kinship Care is designed to help support a child who resides outside of his or her own home, either temporarily or for the long term, by someone who is related to the child by family ties or by a significant prior relationship connection. Kinship Care supports the concept of children residing with a relative caregiver to alleviate family stress or temporary familial problems, rather than being placed in a foster home or other type of out-of-home placement. The Wisconsin Kinship Care Program provides monetary support for the care of minor children by a relative absent of Children’s Court or Child Protective Services involvement. Professional Services Group conducts assessments of kinship cases where the children are living with relatives that are privately arranged by family members.

The Placement Referral Unit works collaboratively with Initial Assessment (IA) and the child placing agencies (CPA) within the Division of Milwaukee Child Protective Services (DMCPS). This program refers children and families to an appropriate child placing agency that will best meet the needs of the children in custody of the DMCPS under a CHIPS order and who require out-of-home placement or families who need intensive in-home services. The goal is to place children, as a sibling group to the greatest extent possible, in the least restrictive setting that will meet the needs of the children. Whenever possible and appropriate, children will be placed with a relative first.

This program is responsible for conducting reviews of child welfare cases for Access, Initial Assessment and Ongoing Services, using standardized review instruments that measure Wisconsin state and federal child welfare standards.

This program provides outpatient psychotherapy directly in the school environment for children in elementary and middle schools in the West Allis/West Milwaukee school district. Staff work with the school staff to identify students in need of services and provide individual and family psychotherapy during the school day, which increases access to services for many children and families.

Supervised Visitation is responsible for providing court ordered supervision between children who are in temporary foster care placement and their families. Workers arrange and supervise visits, observe interactions, and when necessary, transport children to and from visits. Information from these visits is documented and reported to the Division of Milwaukee Child Protective Services. Visits are also conducted for biological parents who have been ordered to participate by Family Court.

Referrals to the UA Program are received from the Division of Milwaukee Child Protective Services, Family Drug Court, Food Share and Wraparound. UA frequency is varied depending upon the requirements of the client, and UA’s can occur at Professional Services Group's offices and/or in the community.

Professional Services Group provides AODA and mental health services to families with children who have mental health needs.