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Children's System of Care

Wisconsin’s Children’s System of Care seeks to improve the health, safety, and well-being of children and families. It recognizes the importance of family, school, and community in promoting the full potential of every child by addressing their physical, emotional, intellectual, cultural, and social needs. 

The vision is that children and families are valued, understood, and supported in their communities.

To achieve this vision, many agencies are working together to ensure children and families have access to what they need to thrive. These agencies include agencies focused on physical health, mental health, education, child welfare, and youth justice.

The mission is simple: Wisconsin’s Children’s System of Care is a way of helping children and families receive the right help, at the right time, in the right amount by connecting and coordinating the work of all system partners.

Essential children's resources

Wisconsin Wayfinder: Children's Resource Network Logo

Wisconsin Wayfinder supports families of children with delays, disabilities, special health care needs, and mental health conditions. Children’s resource guides are helpers who assist families, caregivers, professionals, and organizations in finding a wide array of supports and services available through the Children’s Resource Network.

Key partners

  • Children and families are at the center of this work. The goal is to give them a voice and choice in the services and supports they need. 
  • Tribal nation and county governments are responsible for building partnerships at the local level. The goal is to eliminate barriers to services and supports and empower local providers to connect for the good of children and families. 
  • Local coordinating committees are responsible for supporting the work of tribal nation and county governments. The goal is to ensure the sustainability of the partnerships established.
  • State agencies are responsible for establishing partnerships with each other; supporting tribal nation governments, county governments, and coordinating committees; and training providers of services and supports to advance implementation of the system of care. The goal is to ensure that all partners are engaged and equipped for success.
  • The Children Come First Advisory Committee is responsible for guiding the transformation of the system of care. This goal is to ensure all partners are leveraging their collective resources to affect and sustain positive change.  

Three components

The three components of Wisconsin’s Children’s System of Care include: 

  • A clear philosophy intended to guide the delivery of services and supports.
  • An infrastructure to fulfill essential functions.
  • A comprehensive array of services and supports.

Select an option below to learn more about these components.

The system of care philosophy is the foundation of the delivery of services and supports. In Wisconsin, this philosophy includes the core values of:

  • Family and young adult voice and choice
  • Community based.
  • Culturally and linguistically responsive.
  • Unconditional.

Family and young adult voice and choice means families and young people are supported in determining the types of services and supports provided, and they are involved in decision-making roles in system-level policies, procedures, priorities.

Community based means that to the extent possible services and supports are provided in community settings, like homes, schools, and primary care offices, with the responsibility of managing the system of care grounded in community level structures, processes, and relationships. 

Culturally and linguistically responsive means that services and supports are adapted to the diversity of the child and their family to ensure equity in access and quality.

Unconditional means that all partners in the system of care work toward meeting the needs of a child and their family even when faced with challenges and setbacks. 
 

The system of care infrastructure includes the policies and processes that manage the delivery of services and supports and quality improvement efforts, including rules regarding funding and finances, partnerships across agencies, workforce development, partnerships with children and families, and data collection.

The system of care features a range of services and supports to promote the health, safety, and well-being of a child and their family. This includes early intervention, home- and community-based treatment interventions, along with inpatient and residential interventions with linkages to community services. 

Services and support provided to a child and their family should be based on the unique needs of the child and family. The child and family should be part of the planning process to determine which type, level, and intensity of services and supports would be most beneficial. 

Services and services should be based on best practices for addressing the physical, emotional, intellectual, cultural, and social needs of the child and family

Children’s System of Care Summit

More than 200 people attended the Children’s System of Care Summit held April 25-26, 2023, in Wausau. This event was designed to engage, equip, and empower tribal nations and counties in the evolution of their children’s system of care. 

In honor of this event, Governor Tony Evers proclaimed the week of April 23-29, 2023, as Children’s System of Care Week in Wisconsin (PDF).

Select an option below to view materials from this event.

Wisconsin Children’s System of Care Summit Companion Guide (PDF)
This document includes the event agenda, summaries and reflections on data collected regarding the state of Wisconsin’s Children’s System of Care, a presentation on the history of children’s system of care activities in Wisconsin, and an article on the national evolution of the system of care approach.   

The Evolution of the System of Care Approach (PDF)
This document provides updates on the array of services and support, infrastructure, and philosophy components that make up the system of care framework.

The System of Care Framework: Inspiring Hope & Healing for Children, Youth, Young Adults, and Their Families Presentation (PDF)
This document is the slide deck presented by Gary M. Blau, Ph.D., the senior advisory advisor for children, youth, and families in the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s Office of the Assistant Secretary. Blau was the keynote speaker at the Wisconsin Children’s System of Care Summit.

Many of the sessions on day one of the Children’s System of Care Summit were recorded.

Recording 1

  • Opening remarks from the event organizers (Starts at 00:00:00 mark)
  • Presentation of the Children’s System of Care Week proclamation (Starts at 00:14:38 mark)
  • Remarks from the DHS Office of Health Equity (Starts at 00:17:45 mark)
  • Recorded remarks from the DHS Office of the Secretary (Starts at 00:18:55 mark)
  • Remarks from the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction (Starts at 00:23:02 mark)
  • Presentation on the history of children system of care activities in Wisconsin (Starts at 00:33:18 mark)
  • Presentation on the system of care framework and how to inspire hope and healing for children, youth, young adults, and their families (Starts at 01:10:00 mark)

Recording 2

  • Reflection on the information presented by the opening speakers (Starts at 00:00:00 mark)
  • Presentation of the Wisconsin Children’s System of Care 2023 Champion Award (Starts at 00:07:49 mark)

Recording 3

  • Presentation on the overview of the components of a system of care (Starts at 00:00:00 mark)
  • Presentation on system of care survey results – overview (Starts at 00:18:37 mark)
  • Presentation on system of care survey results – services and supports (Starts at 00:23:48 mark)
  • Presentation on analyzing the services and supports survey results (Starts at 00:30:14 mark)
  • Storyteller segment on services and supports (Starts at 00:42:43 mark)
  • Presentation on system of care survey results – infrastructure (Starts at 01:09:47 mark)
  • Presentation on analyzing the infrastructure survey results (Starts at 01:17:35 mark)
  • Storyteller segment on infrastructure (Starts at 01:28:15 mark)

Recording 4

  • Presentation on system of care survey results – philosophy (Starts at 00:01:29 mark)
  • Presentation on analyzing the philosophy results (Starts at 00:09:33 mark)
  • Storyteller segment on philosophy (Starts at 00:19:20 mark)

Current priorities

The Children Come First Advisory Committee is providing guidance on the strategic planning process regarding the five priorities for Wisconsin's Children System of Care based on the information shared at the 2023 summit.

The priorities include:

  • Governance and funding/state and local partnerships
  • Workforce development
  • Public health approach/health and mental health integration
  • Parent peer support/youth peer support 
  • Crisis support, specialized residential services and supports, and respite

Workgroups have been formed focused on each of the five priorities. The workgroups include representatives from all key partners of Wisconsin's Children’s System of Care.

The efforts of the workgroups will help define a new strategic plan for Wisconsin’s Children’s System of Care. The new strategic plan is expected to be published by March 2024. 

Resources for tribal nation and county governments

Children’s System of Care Guiding Document, P-02093 (PDF)
This item provides an overview of the principles of Wisconsin’s Children’s System of Care and resource areas to consider in system of care development when blending Coordinated Services Teams Initiatives, Comprehensive Community Services, and the wraparound model.

Children’s System of Care: Foundations of Wisconsin Wraparound Video Series
This item is a collection of videos that provide an overview of application of the wraparound model in Wisconsin.

Care Coordinator and Supervisor Competencies, P-03084 (PDF)
This item provides information on the knowledge and core skills necessary for care coordinators and their supervisors to provide quality services to children and families.

Collaborative Systems of Care Resource Website
This item provides information to support improvements to Wisconsin’s Children’s System of Care, including information on training opportunities.

Children’s System of Care: Self-Assessment Tool, P-02093B (EXCEL)
This item assists in identifying local strengths and needs related to the system of care principles and infrastructure. Before completing it, review the instructions document, P-02093C (PDF).

Toolkit for Expanding the System of Care Approach (PDF)
This item provides information on tools available to support the implementation of a system of care.

The Evolution of the System of Care Approach (PDF)
This item provides updates on the array of services and support, infrastructure, and philosophy components that make up the system of care framework.

Last revised October 24, 2023