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Milwaukee County Child Welfare

Milwaukee County Child Welfare. Legislative Audit Bureau September 2007. Audit Overview. DHFS began administering the program in January 1998, following a class-action lawsuit. LAB released two reports in February 2006: program issues (report 06-1); and finances and staffing (report 06-2).

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Milwaukee County Child Welfare

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  1. Milwaukee County Child Welfare Legislative Audit Bureau September 2007

  2. Audit Overview • DHFS began administering the program in January 1998, following a class-action lawsuit. • LAB released two reports in February 2006: • program issues (report 06-1); and • finances and staffing (report 06-2). • The Joint Legislative Audit Committee has held two prior hearings on Milwaukee County Child Welfare in March 2006 and March 2007. • DHFS reported to the Audit Committee on March 1, 2006, October 2, 2006, and February 1, 2007.

  3. Key Facts and Findings • From January 2001 through June 2005, program expenditures totaled $493.7 million. • In June 2005: • services were provided to 3,188 children who had been removed from their homes to ensure their safety; and • 266 families received safety services without having a child removed. • From January 2004 through June 2005, 30.9 percent of investigations of abuse and neglect exceeded a 60-day statutory time limit. • Early in 2005, only 27.4 percent of court-ordered services for families were provided in a timely manner.

  4. Key Facts and Findings • In 25 of 48 cases in which children were removed from their homes, we found problems in achieving permanent placements. • 20.1 percent of children reunified with their parents reentered out-of-home care within 24 months. • Coordination of service delivery between child welfare, Medical Assistance, and other support programs needed improvement. • We found $677,694 in unallowable and questioned costs charged to the program by six contractors.

  5. Audit Recommendations • Improve the timeliness of investigations and the delivery of court-ordered services. • Reduce the time children spend in out-of-home care. • Ensure the adequacy of safety services. • Improve service coordination with Medical Assistance, W-2, and other social services providers.

  6. Audit Recommendations • Monitor families who return for additional safety services. • Monitor families who have children placed in out-of-home care in the 12 months following receipt of safety services. • Ensure that all children in out-of-home care receive annual medical and dental examinations.

  7. Audit Recommendations • Continue to work to improve the retention of child welfare staff. • Appropriately calculate compliance with performance standards specified in the settlement agreement. • Collect and analyze information on services that contractors provide to families.

  8. Audit Recommendations • Monitor and assess La Causa’s financial condition and debt. • Require contractors to repay unallowable costs and either repay or provide additional documentation for questioned costs. • Ensure that new staff complete pre-service training before managing cases.

  9. Milwaukee County Child Welfare Legislative Audit Bureau September 2007

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