PSG / CIP - Racine County Programming
Professional Services Group
Child Care Administration assists in the administration of the WI Shares Program. The following services are provided: certification/ recertification of day care providers; recruitment of day care providers; input of attendance information; conducting annual child care rate survey; and monitoring day care providers to ensure compliance with rules and regulations mandated by state policy.
Clinical Services provides assessment and therapy services to all youth and their families that are in any of the agency's programs as well as referrals from a wide variety of sources such as physicians, attorneys/courts, phone book, and social services. Clinical staff members address such issues as depression, anxiety, substance abuse, stress management and relaxation, marital/family problems, sexual assault, and problems of childhood and adolescence. Psychiatric and psychological evaluations are provided as needed for youth, adults and family members.
Family Connections provides in-home and in-community support, skill building, supervision and crisis intervention services to adjudicated youth and families referred by the Racine County Human Services Department. A primary objective of the program is to facilitate the development of skills and resources to the point that the youth and his/her caregivers are able to successfully manage their own problems and resources.
The Independent Living Program is designed to assist at-risk youth in achieving stable living within the community. The program is divided into three phases, progressing from training and intensive staff involvement to partially subsidized independent living with minimal staff contact. Emphasis is placed upon developing a work plan that directs individuals to job placements and addresses long term employment skills, as well as in providing training in all areas of adult functioning.
Intensive Supervision provides support services (in-person and phone checks, school attendance and performance monitoring, family contacts, transportation, referrals for treatment and other community-based services and information exchange with Racine County Human Services Department case managers). These services are offered primarily during late afternoons and evenings for youth identified as at-risk for possible placement in alternate care and/or correctional settings as well as youth court ordered into the program.
Life Skills works with youth adjudicated of a delinquent offense and their families. Both the strengths and the needs of a youth and his/her family are addressed to provide the youth and his/her family with the positive attitudes, knowledge and skills they need to function positively and constructively. A strength based format is used to assess each youth's competencies. Skill development is offered in both individual and group formats.
Parent Mentoring is designed to prevent child maltreatment and preserve families through in-home services that meet the individual needs of the families referred to the Racine County Human Services Department. The program takes a strength based approach and serves to empower the families.
Partners Educating Parenting Students is a one semester transitional program offered by the Racine Unified School District, Professional Services Group, and Workforce Development Center. This program provides help to pregnant and parenting students to complete school and prepare for life after high school.
School Engagement is a collaborative effort between Racine Workforce Development, Racine County Human Services Department, Racine Unified School District and Professional Services Group. This is a referral based program designed to work with at risk truants at Case and Park High Schools in Racine.
The Transitional Education Program provides services in collaboration with the Racine Unified School District. Youth who participate in this program are adolescents who have an alcohol and/or other drug abuse issue. This program provides a wrap around approach that focuses on assisting the client in achieving academically as well as maintaining sobriety.
WDC Case Management services are provided to a variety of customers eligible for specialized services. Specialized services include the following programs: Food Stamp Employment and Training, Wisconsin Works, Children First and Child Care Subsidy. The case manager is responsible for providing services that meet program, agency, state and federal guidelines.
Workforce Services for Youth provides services to Racine County Youth, ages 14 – 21, in a range of preparatory activities that confirm their eligibility to participate in Workforce Investment Act (WIA) funded activities. The program assesses areas of academic, employment and personal strengths, determines areas of interest, identifies barriers to long-term academic and employment success, and develops individualized services and employment developments that are both achievable and sustainable beyond program involvement.
Workshop Instruction for Job Seekers is responsible for the development, coordination, marketing and delivery of a full range of workshop instruction at the Racine County Workforce Development Center. Two to three workshops are typically offered on a daily basis. Staff members facilitate workshops for a diverse adult clientele and could address such areas as: Pre-Entrepreneurial or Foundation Skills; Starting Your Own Business; Career Development; Resumes; Job Search; Personal Growth; and Skill Training.
Youth Panels is a juvenile diversion program which gives first time offenders the option of appearing before a panel of community volunteers rather than entering the court system. The Youth Panel Program provides swift and meaningful community response by drawing both the community and their families into a contracting process, critical to the prevention and rehabilitation goals of the program. A juvenile who accepts and completes the contractual obligations avoids the stigma and possible effects of a criminal record.
Community Impact Programs
Foster Care Licensing is responsible for the recruitment and retention of licensed foster homes in Racine County. Licensing and certification studies are conducted to examine qualifications of applicants and ensure all State requirements are met. This program makes recommendations to Racine County Human Services Department on the approval or rejection of potential and/or current foster homes.
Supervised Visitation provides supervised visits between parents and their child/children that are living in an out-of-home placement for child protection reasons. Staff members are responsible for: monitoring visits between children and parents to ensure visits are in accordance with visitation restrictions; establishing and maintaining visitation schedules; transporting children and parent to and from visits; taking notes of observations; and providing the assigned Case Manager with written reports.