roger m. ervin
Secretary
__________________
State of Wisconsin
Office of the Milwaukee Ombudsman for Child Welfare
April, 2010
The Honorable, The Legislature:
I am pleased to submit the 2009 Annual Report of the Office of the Milwaukee Ombudsman for Child Welfare (Ombudsman Office). This report is intended to complement other quality assurance and evaluation information to assess the delivery of child welfare in Milwaukee County.
Several organizational changes occurred in 2009. Late March brought a change to Region 3 when St. Amelian-Lakeside, Inc. was chosen by the Department of Children and Families (DCF) to provide ongoing case management and safety services for Region 3. This occurred after La Causa, one of the Bureau of Milwaukee Child Welfare's (Bureau) contracted partner agencies, exercised its option to terminate their contract. Integrated Family Services, a subsidiary of St. Amelian-Lakeside, was created to provide these services. In September 2009, the DCF announced they had hired a new Bureau director, Arlene Happach. The Ombudsman Office looks forward to her efforts to improve the child welfare system in Milwaukee.
The 2009 Annual Report provides an overview of the activities of the Ombudsman Office and our recommendations for systemic improvement from the perspective of those who depend on Bureau services. Based on the past year and previous years, the data suggests a need for improved communication, better comprehension of goals, accurate and timely documentation, quality supervision, as well as a need for an independent system perspective.
The Ombudsman Office appreciates the cooperation of the Bureau and its contracted private agency partners in our efforts to provide complainants with an independent and impartial review of their complaints. We continue to believe an independent Ombudsman established in state statute is the best way to provide this needed service to Milwaukee County's children and families.
Sincerely,
pamela matthews
Director
__________________
The committee on Commerce, Utilities, Energy, and Rail reports and recommends:
Relating to allocation of the midwestern disaster area bonding authority provided to Wisconsin under the federal Heartland Disaster Tax Relief Act of 2008, and affecting small businesses.
No action taken.
Jeffrey Plale
Chairperson
__________________
Motions Under Senate Rule
98 and Joint Rule
7
for the Month of April 2010
A certificate of congratulations by the Wisconsin Legislature on the motion of Senator Lassa, for Jim Anderson, on the occasion of being honored with the 2010 Quality of Life Leadership Award.
A certificate of congratulations by the Wisconsin Senate on the motion of Senator Lassa, for Jeff Barth, on the occasion of being named a 2010 Emergency Response Hero by the American Red Cross.
A certificate of congratulations by the Wisconsin Senate on the motion of Senator Holperin, for Loretta Baughan, on the occasion of being presented the 2010 Distinguished Service Award by the Dog Federation of Wisconsin.
A certificate of congratulations by the Wisconsin Senate on the motion of Senator Lazich, for Nicholas J. Baumgardner, on the occasion of earning and attaining the rank of the Eagle Scout Award.
A certificate of congratulations by the Wisconsin Legislature on the motion of Senator Lassa, for George Becker, on the occasion of being a 2010 inductee into the Wisconsin Conservation Hall of Fame.
S787
A certificate of congratulations by the Wisconsin Senate on the motion of Senator Lassa, for Emilie Benson, on the occasion of earning and attaining the Girl Scout Gold Award.
A certificate of congratulations by the Wisconsin Legislature on the motion of Senator Lassa, for Mary Berard, on the occasion of being honored with the 2010 Quality of Life Leadership Award.
A certificate of commendation by the Wisconsin Senate on the motion of Senator Darling, for David Berousek, on the occasion of his retirement from the Brown Deer and North Shore Fire Department after 19 years of dedicated service.
A certificate of congratulations by the Wisconsin Senate on the motion of Senator Lassa, for Jordan Binder, on the occasion of earning and attaining the Girl Scout Gold Award.
A certificate of commendation by the Wisconsin Senate on the motion of Senator Taylor, for Bishop R.J. Burt, Sr., on the occasion of his 25 years of unending service to his family, congregation and community.
A certificate of commendation by the Wisconsin Senate on the motion of Senator Ellis, for Brent Burton, on the occasion of earning and attaining the rank of the Eagle Scout Award.
A certificate of congratulations by the Wisconsin Senate on the motion of Senator Erpenbach, for Hannah Colney, on the occasion of earning and attaining the Girl Scout Gold Award.
A certificate of congratulations by the Wisconsin Senate on the motion of Senator Olsen, for Culver Franchising System, Inc., on the occasion of winning the 2009 Sauk County Large Business of the Year Award.
A certificate of commendation by the Wisconsin Legislature on the motion of Senator Harsdorf, for Walter Lee DeKock, on the occasion of earning and attaining the rank of the Eagle Scout Award.
A certificate of congratulations by the Wisconsin Senate on the motion of Senator Ellis, for Jon Desens, on the occasion of earning and attaining the rank of the Eagle Scout Award.
A certificate of congratulations by the Wisconsin Senate on the motion of Senator Lazich, for Christopher W. Doerner, on the occasion of earning and attaining the rank of the Eagle Scout Award.
A certificate of congratulations by the Wisconsin Senate on the motion of Senator Lassa, for Lori Duchow, on the occasion of being named the 2010 Health Hero by the American Red Cross.
A certificate of condolence by the Wisconsin Senate on the motion of Senator Taylor, for the family and friends of Ms. Peggy Norris-Dunn, on the occasion of her dedication to her country, community and the lasting impact on all who had the privilege of knowing her.
A certificate of congratulations by the Wisconsin Legislature on the motion of Senator Lassa, for Emily Earley, on the occasion of being a 2010 inductee into the Wisconsin Conservation Hall of Fame.
A certificate of congratulations by the Wisconsin Legislature on the motion of Senator Lazich, for Nicholas Kevork Goldner, on the occasion of earning and attaining the rank of the Eagle Scout Award.
A certificate of congratulations by the Wisconsin Senate on the motion of Senator Taylor, for Greater Galilee Missionary Baptist Church, on the occasion of being honored for a remarkable 90 years of service.
A certificate of condolence by the Wisconsin Senate on the motion of Senator Taylor, for the family and friends of Ms. Margaret Green, on the occasion of her dedication to family and community and the lasting impact on all who had the privilege of knowing her.
A certificate of congratulations by the Wisconsin Senate on the motion of Senator Lassa, for Kelly Guden, on the occasion of earning and attaining the Girl Scout Gold Award.
A certificate of congratulations by the Wisconsin Legislature on the motion of Senator Lassa, for Duane Harris, on the occasion of being named the 2010 Good Samaritan Hero by American Red Cross.
A certificate of congratulations by the Wisconsin Legislature on the motion of Senator Lassa, for Ruth Hine, on the occasion of being a 2010 inductee into the Wisconsin Conservation Hall of Fame.
A certificate of commendation by the Wisconsin Senate on the motion of Senator Taylor, for Bishop Darrell Hines and Pastor Pamela Hines, on the occasion of founding the Darrell L. Hines Academy that provideschildren with opportunities to succeed academically.
A certificate of congratulations by the Wisconsin Senate on the motion of Senator Jauch, for Jonah Robert Kahl, on the occasion of achieving a third place finish in the 2010 Fourth Grade Forest Appreciation Week writing contest.
A certificate of commendation by the Wisconsin Senate on the motion of Senator Lasee, for Donald Keenan, on the occasion of being the recipient of the 2010 Person of the Year Award
A certificate of congratulations by the Wisconsin Senate on the motion of Senator Erpenbach, for Marisa Ketchum, on the occasion of earning and attaining the Girl Scout Gold Award.
A certificate of commendation by the Wisconsin Senate on the motion of Senator Taylor, for Bishop Lawrence Kirby, on the occasion of his dedication to the youth and those in need and the lasting impact on all who had the privilege of knowing him.
A certificate of congratulations by the Wisconsin Legislature on the motion of Senator Lassa, for Nathan Korlesky, on the occasion of earning and attaining the rank of the Eagle Scout Award.
A certificate of commendation by the Wisconsin Legislature on the motion of Senator Harsdorf, for Tyler Robert Lathe, on the occasion of earning and attaining the rank of the Eagle Scout Award.
A certificate of congratulations by the Wisconsin Senate on the motion of Senator Hansen, for John and Gloria LeMay, on the occasion of celebrating their 70 years of marriage.
A certificate of commendation by the Wisconsin Legislature on the motion of Senator Harsdorf, for Brian Loncar, on the occasion of earning and attaining the rank of the Eagle Scout Award.
A certificate of congratulations by the Wisconsin Senate on the motion of Senator Kanavas, for Will Davis Lyons, on the occasion of earning and attaining the rank of the Eagle Scout Award.
A certificate of congratulations by the Wisconsin Legislature on the motion of Senator Lassa, for McCain Foods USA, on the occasion of being named the 2010 Corporate Hero by the American Red Cross.
S788
A certificate of congratulations by the Wisconsin Senate on the motion of Senator Schultz, for Thomas D. McPherson, Jr., on the occasion of earning and attaining the rank of the Eagle Scout Award.
A certificate of congratulations by the Wisconsin Senate on the motion of Senator Erpenbach, for Elizabeth Meier, on the occasion of earning and attaining the Girl Scout Gold Award.
A certificate of congratulations by the Wisconsin Legislature on the motion of Senator Lassa, for Terry Menzel, on the occasion of being named the 2010 Community Hero by the American Red Cross.
A certificate of commendation by the Wisconsin Senate on the motion of Senator Risser, for Charles D. Miller, on the occasion of earning and attaining the rank of the Eagle Scout.
A certificate of commendation by the Wisconsin Senate on the motion of Senator Grothman, for all the brave men and women serving as law enforcement officers, on the occasion of recognition of National Peace Officer's Memorial Day.
A certificate of commendation by the Wisconsin Senate on the motion of Senator Lasee, for Greg Allen Nemetz, on the occasion of earning and attaining the rank of the Eagle Scout Award.
A certificate of commendation by the Wisconsin Legislature on the motion of Senator Jauch, for 2009-2010 Northwood High School Girls Basketball team, on the occasion of their outstanding overall record of 25-1.
A certificate of congratulations by the Wisconsin Senate on the motion of Senator Erpenbach, for Maille O'Neil, on the occasion of earning and attaining the Girl Scout Gold Award.
A certificate of congratulations by the Wisconsin Senate on the motion of Senator Lassa, for Andrew Patterson, on the occasion of earning and attaining the rank of the Eagle Scout Award.
A certificate of congratulations by the Wisconsin Senate on the motion of Senator Lazich, for Matthew Polakowski, on the occasion of earning and attaining the rank of the Eagle Scout Award.
A certificate of congratulations by the Wisconsin Senate on the motion of Senator Lassa, for Elisa Prebble, on the occasion of earning and attaining the Girl Scout Gold Award.
A certificate of congratulations by the Wisconsin Senate on the motion of Senator Lazich, for the Prospect Lions Club, on the occasion of celebrating sixty years of service.
A certificate of congratulations by the Wisconsin Senate on the motion of Senator Hansen, for the Village of Pulaski, on the occasion of its 100th Anniversary.
A certificate of congratulations by the Wisconsin Senate on the motion of Senator Holperin, for the Rhinelander High School Mock Trial team, on the occasion of being the 2010 Mock Trial State Champions.
A certificate of congratulations by the Wisconsin Senate on the motion of Senator Lazich, for Evan John Rypel, on the occasion of earning and attaining the rank of the Eagle Scout Award.
A certificate of congratulations by the Wisconsin Senate on the motion of Senator Ellis, for Nick Salzman, on the occasion of earning and attaining the rank of the Eagle Scout Award.
A certificate of congratulations by the Wisconsin Senate on the motion of Senator Lazich, for Vincent J. Scaglione, on the occasion of his 50 years of dedicated service to the student athletes at Milwaukee Public Schools.
A certificate of congratulations by the Wisconsin Legislature on the motion of Senator Lassa, for Matt Schoonover, on the occasion of being named a 2010 Emergency Response Hero by the American Red Cross.
A certificate of congratulations by the Wisconsin Legislature on the motion of Senator Lassa, for Jim Schuh, on the occasion of being honored with the 2010 Quality of Life Leadership Award.
A certificate of congratulations by the Wisconsin Senate on the motion of Senator Erpenbach, for Elan Simpson, on the occasion of earning and attaining the Girl Scout Gold Award.
A certificate of condolence by the Wisconsin Senate on the motion of Senator Taylor, for the family and friends of Ms. Juanita Smith, on the occasion of her dedication to family and community and the lasting impact on all who had the privilege of knowing her.
A certificate of congratulations by the Wisconsin Senate on the motion of Senator Lassa, for the Sports Den and all its employees, on the occasion of being selected as Marshfield Area Chamber of Commerce and Industry's 2010 Small Business of the Year.
A certificate of commendation by the Wisconsin Senate on the motion of Senator Darling, for Tucker John Stewart, on the occasion of earning and attaining the rank of the Eagle Scout Award.
A certificate of commendation by the Wisconsin Senate on the motion of Senator Darling, for David Stockbridge, on the occasion of earning and attaining the rank of Eagle Scout Award.
A certificate of congratulations by the Wisconsin Senate on the motion of Senator Erpenbach, for Kelli Sutherland, on the occasion of earning and attaining the Girl Scout Gold Award.
A certificate of commendation by the Wisconsin Senate on the motion of Senator Taylor, for Thrivent Builds with Habitat for Humanity, on the occasion of their dedication to community and service and the lasting impact on all who are involved with this organization.
A certificate of commendation by the Wisconsin Senate on the motion of Senator Darling, for Nicholas Colin Umbs, on the occasion of earning and attaining the rank of the Eagle Scout Award.
A certificate of congratulations by the Wisconsin Senate on the motion of Senator Ellis, for Joe Weber, on the occasion of earning and attaining the rank of the Eagle Scout Award.
