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From the Interim Director, Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), submitting an informational report regarding the 2011 Contracts for the Income Maintenance and Child Care Programs. (INFORMATIONAL ONLY UNLESS OTHERWISE DIRECTED BY THE COMMITTEE)
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Background
In 2009, Wisconsin Act 15 authorized the State Department of Health Services (DHS) to assume responsibility for managing the administration of the State’s Income Maintenance (IM) program in Milwaukee County. This involved the establishment of a Milwaukee County Enrollment Services unit (MILES) to determine eligibility and administer the Food Share and BadgerCare public assistance programs. Section 49.825 (2)(d)(1) provides for the reimbursement to the County of all approved, allowable costs related to the County staff assigned to this unit in excess of the county’s minimum required contribution of $2.7 million. In addition, subsection (2)(c) authorizes DHS to enter into a contract with the County that provides for the performance by the County of any administrative functions under this subsection.
Similarly, Wisconsin Act 28 created section 49.826 of the statutes authorizing the Department of Children and Families (DCF) to establish a child care provider services unit (Milwaukee Early Care Administration - MECA) to support the Wisconsin Shares child care subsidy program. Section 49.826 (2)(c) provides that DCF shall reimburse the county for all approved, allowable costs that are incurred by the county.
The first State/County contracts for Income Maintenance (IM) and Child Care authorized by these statutory changes were executed in early 2010 and covered calendar year 2010. As of January 2011, the 2011 contracts with DHS and DCF have not been finalized. DHHS has met internally to review the contracts and is negotiating with the State on the specific terms. The purpose of this report is to update the County Board on the changes included in the draft contracts.
DHS IM Contract Changes...
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