This position oversees the Foster Care and Kinship Programs and is responsible for hiring and oversight of all staff to assure completion of foster care and kinship care licensing and re-licensing application studies in accordance with federal, state and local regulations (DCF 56 Foster Home Care for Children & DCF 58 Kinship Care and Long-Term Kinship Care). This position also assists Racine County Human Services case management staff to locate appropriate foster care/kinship care resources and works with Racine County on recruitment and retention of foster families, as well as setting up respite for placement providers.
If you’re interested in more information on foster care in Racine County, click here!
This position is responsible for the recruitment of potential foster homes in Racine County, licensing of those homes, re-licensure of existing foster homes, and matching/placement of children into appropriate foster homes. This position is also responsible for providing DCF 56 required Foundations Training to all foster parents, as well as required ongoing training opportunities on a wide variety of topics to all placement providers. This position develops relationships and collaborations within the community and provides education on the need for more quality foster parents to meet the challenging needs of our communities’ children.
If you’re interested in more information on foster care in Racine County, click here!
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. 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. This position is responsible for determining eligibility for kinship care benefits and monitoring compliance with eligibility requirements. Eligibility for Voluntary KC & Court Order KC applications are in accordance with DCF 58 Kinship Care and Long-Term Kinship Care & DCF 56 Foster Home Care for Children. Home visits are conducted, and eligibility determined via interview and paperwork.
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Safety Support is an intensive in-home program that is designed to ensure child safety and prevent the removal of children from their home. Safety Support seeks to preserve the family unit whenever possible. The well-being and adequate functioning of children and families is the desired outcome. Safety Support is designed to be community based, comprehensive, culturally competent, family focused and individually tailored to meet the needs of children and families.
This position functions as a single point of entry for Child Protective Services and service referrals to the Racine County Human Services Department. This includes providing information and assistance to callers of the Racine County Human Services access line or performing intakes and other investigative and/or case management activities within the various Human Services Units.
Transitional Education Program (TEP) is a collaborative effort between Racine Unified School District and Professional Services Group. This program provides a wraparound approach for students who are transitioning back to the community from out-of-home placements. The program utilizes a philosophy of positive youth development by implementing programs like Circle of Courage, Mindfulness, and Restorative Justice. These programs promote positive outcomes by providing opportunities, fostering positive relationships, and giving the support needed to build on student’s strengths, as well as prevent risky behaviors.
Turning Point Academy (TPA) is a collaborative effort between the Racine Unified School District, Racine County Human Services and Professional Services Group. This program is designed to meet the educational needs of at-risk students who are in need of behavior modification, social/emotional support and academic support. The program also provides services to special education students who have not been successful in other special education settings. The program utilizes a philosophy of positive youth development by implementing programs like the Circle of Courage, Mindfulness, and Restorative Justice. These programs promote positive outcomes by providing opportunities, fostering positive relationships, and giving the support needed to build on students’ strengths, as well as prevent risky behaviors.
Strengthening Families is a collaborative effort between Racine County Human Services Department and Professional Services Group. This program is an evidence-based 11-week parenting class found to significantly improve parenting skills and family relationships, reduce problem behaviors, delinquency and alcohol and drug abuse in children. The program is for parents and their children, ages 5-17.
If you are interested in more information about completing an upcoming class, please contact Luci Arroyo at (262) 945-8856.
Healthier Wisconsin Partnership Program is a collaborative effort between Racine Unified School District, Racine County Human Services Department, and Professional Services Group and is funded by Advancing a Healthier Wisconsin Endowment. Racine is 1 of 10 communities across Wisconsin to implement an eight-year project focused on improving the social emotional health of elementary school students. This project works with 4K to 5th grade Racine Unified School District students and families. Additionally, this project has created a community-based resource website and referral pathway to make access to services more efficient.
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