Division of Enterprise Service Area Administration:

• Administrator of the Annual DHS and DCF State/County Contract and other contracts with local agencies.
• Provide oversight and monitoring of local human service programs.
• Provide ongoing consultation and technical assistance to counties.
• Identify issues or concerns from the local viewpoint, and help DHS and DCF management to develop possible resolution.
• Facilitate communication and coordination between counties and DHS and DCF.
• Represent DHS and DCF on statewide, regional and local workgroups or ongoing committees.

Contract Administrator

As the State/County Consolidated Contract Administrator for DHS and DCF, the regional Area Administrators are responsible for assuring county program implementation and compliance with state mandates for the programs administered by DHS and DCF, coordinating with others throughout both departments. Mental health and substance abuse services; Medical Assistance and Food Share eligibility, benefits and funding; and services for the elderly and disabled are administered by DHS.  Children's services are administered by the Department of Children and Families. AA staff must also have an understanding of DWD and DOC programs to facilitate coordination on overlapping issues as necessary. AA staff has a wide variety of responsibilities related to both program & fiscal issues as Contract Administrator. They are viewed by counties as the primary department representatives for DHS and DCF.

Statewide Family Care implementation is led by the Division of Long Term Care. As part of the Family Care Contract Administration team, AA regional staff are responsible for coordination of Managed Care Organization certification, oversight of program implementation and ongoing compliance with state mandates and requirements in coordination with DLTC. AA staff also play a role in the application review and program start-up for new Aging and Disability Resource Centers (ADRC), and an ongoing role in ADRC quality oversight in coordination with DLTC.

Program Oversight and Monitoring

Area Administration staff participate in program quality reviews across all program areas, including regularly scheduled reviews such as Child Protective Services Quality Service Reviews as well as reviews done in response to critical incidents or ongoing problems in program performance.  As part of their oversight responsibility, they provide technical assistance in developing and implementing corrective action plans as a result of review findings.  AA staff also investigate and mediate consumer complaints relating to county services or actions, interacting with legislators, consumers and others who raise complaints or concerns to DHS and DCF.  AA staff are the point of contact for all complaints about counties after the consumer has gone through the county complaint or grievance process.  This often involves working together with county staff to mediate a resolution to the complaint.

Consultation and Technical Assistance

Area Administration provides leadership, consultation, training and technical assistance to local human service agencies on administrative and program issues. The Area Administrators provide board member training to local elected or appointed human service boards, advisory committees and councils, and are consultants to County Board Members and County Executives/Administrators on organizational issues such as formation of Human Service Departments. The Area Administrators also provide leadership and consultation on issues such as development of program outcomes and outcome based contracts, system development, quality improvement, and implementation of state initiatives and policies. Area Administration provides program consultation, training and technical assistance for programs included in the State/County contract through regular regional meetings, local site visits, and regular ongoing communication with county managers and staff in the region.

Issue Identification

One of the key functions of Area Administration staff is to identify issues or concerns from the local viewpoint for DHS and DCF management, and assist in possible resolution. Local issues are identified in a variety of ways including local monitoring, regional meetings, contacts from counties, and complaint investigations. The Area Administration Director also attends the monthly Wisconsin County Human Services Association Executive Board meeting as the DHS and DCF representative and prepares a summary of the meeting for DHS and DCF management, following up directly with individual Administrators or Bureau Directors when specific issues are identified. Local issues or concerns are shared regularly with central office managers and staff through regular meetings and conference calls with DHS and DCF program divisions and bureaus, AA Monthly Reports that are distributed broadly in DHS and DCF, and ongoing communication between AA and central office staff. AA staff also helps to identify local and regional training needs and help to arrange for the training.

Facilitate Coordination and Communication

One of the Area Administration functions is facilitating coordination and communication between counties, DHS and DCF. AA staff facilitate multi-county collaboration across all program areas, supporting counties to improve efficiencies and access to service for consumers.  They also provide leadership in program development and implementation of effective programs to better meet consumer needs while maximizing local resources and reducing duplication or conflict across program areas, a critical area as we look at major program change.  AA staff play an important role in leading initiatives that cross multiple program areas, bringing together representatives from multiple divisions, departments and local agencies to meet the need of individuals and families. 

One Way they Represent DHS and DCF

Area Administration staff regularly represent DHS and DCF on statewide, regional and local workgroups or committees. Staff serve on the Child Welfare Training Partnership Steering and Training Committees, Children Come First Advisory Committee, and the Department's Emergency Government response teams, just to name a few. They also represent DHS and DCF on a variety of regional or local workgroups or committees. Because AA staff have a broad range of program knowledge and responsibility, they are often called upon to represent the department or serve on department committees or workgroups.

Patrick Cork
PO Box 7850
Madison, WI 53707-7850
(608) 267-8929

Last Revised:  February 12, 2009