December 21, 1998
To the Honorable, the Assembly:
We have completed an evaluation of the Kinship Care program administered by the Department of Health and Family Services. The program provides cash assistance to individuals who provide care for the children of relatives who are absent or otherwise unable to care for their children. The programs's budget, $24.2 million in fiscal year 1998-99, is funded through the federal Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) block grant and general purpose revenue funds. More than 8,000 children received Kinship Care benefits in June 1998.
Attention was drawn to the Kinship Care program in 1998, when eligible children and families were being placed on waiting lists because funding was insufficient to meet demand for the program. Although budget predictions underestimated the number of eligible families who would apply for the program, especially in Milwaukee, we did not find the projections to have been unrealistic given information available at the time. In September, an additional $1.9 million was transferred to the program to provide benefits to families reported to be on waiting lists and to allow for some additional growth.
In investigating the reasons for the unexpected program growth, we found inconsistent program implementation among local agencies, particularly with regard to the treatment of children's and caretaker relatives' income. This inconsistency indicates a need for additional legislative attention. In addition, the Department's management and oversight of the program has been limited. Therefore, we include recommendations for additional program monitoring to support informed management and policy decisions.
We appreciate the courtesy and cooperation extended to us by staff in the Department of Health and Family Services and local agencies. The Department's response is Appendix III.
Respectfully submitted,
janice mueller
State Auditor
__________________
State of Wisconsin
Public Service Commission
Madison
December 23, 1998
To the Honorable, the Assembly:
Pursuant to sec. 9141(2m)(a) of the last state budget bill (Wisconsin Act 27), the Commission submits the attached report on recommendations for:
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1. Reducing programmatic and funding differences between the educational telecommunications access program under section
196.218 (4r) of the statutes, as created by this act, and the assistance for institutions program specified in section
PSC 160.11, Wisconsin Administrative Code.
2. A date after which school districts, technical colleges, private colleges, and public library boards may no longer be eligible to participate in the educational telecommunications access program established under section
196.218 (4r) of the statutes, as created by this act.
Sincerely,
joseph p. mettner
Chairman
__________________
State of Wisconsin
Wisconsin Housing and
Economic Development
Madison
December 30, 1998
To the Honorable, the Legislature:
Pursuant to section 234.25, Wisconsin Statutes, attached is the fiscal 1998 annual report of the Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority (WHEDA). This report contains the following information:
* Fiscal 1998 Program Activity
* Small Business Employment Statistics
* Strategic Plan
* June 30, 1998 Financial Statement
Please note that each of the housing programs described in the following pages are consistent with the goals, policies and objectives of the state housing plan.
Should you have any questions or comments on the report, please call me or Jim Langdon at 266-3529. Thank you for your interest in WHEDA.
Sincerely,
fritz ruf
Executive Director
