To make a referral, contact us at 920-236-4650.
What is the Family Support Team?
The Family Support Team provides Service Coordination and funding to families and individuals, age Birth-22, when a child has a specialized need requiring additional care. The goal is to provide the needed information, resources, supports and funding for families, and to support each child as they grow to adulthood. The Family Support Team is made up of a supervisor and ten service coordinators. Three service coordinators within Family Support are contracted through Lutheran Social Services. Birth-3 services, including service coordination for young children with a developmental disability or delay, are supported through a contract with Valley Packaging Industries.
Service Coordination - Family Support Team
When available, FST Service Coordinators can provide short term service coordination to children with a diagnosed condition who are not eligible for the primary funding programs available, but are in need of support or advocacy. The Family Support Team staff provide support and access to services for children with disabilities and their families. For eligible persons, ages Birth to 22, a plan is developed based on the direction of the individual to the maximum extent possible. Service coordination determines eligibility, appropriate community providers, and financial resources availabe to support full inclusion in home and community.
Funding programs the Family Support Team oversees:
- Children's Long Term Support (CLTS) Waiver Program
- Children's Community Options Program (CCOP)
What is CLTS Waiver or CCOP?
Children's Long Term Support Waivers, and Children's COP are federally and state funded programs that support eligible children ages 0 to 22 who have a developmental disability, including Autism, a physical disability, and/or a significant emotional disability. Services funded through this program are based on the child's needs and identified goals to enhance the child's functioning in their community home setting.
CLTS: https://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/clts/waiver/family/index.htm
CCOP: https://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/ccop/family.htm
Who is Eligible for CLTS Waiver or CCOP?
To participate in the CLTS Waiver Program, a child must be:
- Under 22 years of age
- Eligible for Wisconsin Medicaid (CLTS only)
- Live at home or in another eligible community-based setting
- Have a level of care need that is typically provided in an institutional setting such as a hospital, a nursing home, or an institution for people with developmental disabilities
- Be able to receive safe and appropriate care at home and/or in the community
https://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/clts/waiver/family/eligibility.htm
How are CLTS/CCOP services provided?
The Family Support Service Coordinators will meet with the family, child, and other key support people the family would like involved, following a completed assessment ensuring the child meets criteria for CLTS/CCOP, to discuss the family's identified needs and future goals for their child and family. This is a collaborative process between the service coordinator and the family to determine which services will best meet the identified need for the child. Community programs and natural supports are often considered in these discussions, when appropriate, as this can strengthen a family's support network when formal services are not needed. This process also focuses on a child's and family's strengths and incorporates them into service planning, when possible. Once the service plan is finalized, the service coordinator will assist the family in connecting with the appropriate service, authorizing funding, and monitoring the child's progress in the service. The service plan will be revisited at least twice a year to determine if other needs have been identified for which a service may be needed, or if a need that was present is no longer a concern. When possible, the service coordinator will focus on services that can make an impact on the child's current functioning so the need for supports may lessen over time, allowing the family to function more independently.
What services are available with CLTS/CCOP funding?
Services provided are based on identified needs. While CLTS/CCOP can pay for a number of services, if a service is not pertinent to a particular child, that service would not be utilized.
Available services can include:
- Adaptive Aids
- Adult Family Home
- Child Care Services
- Communication Aids, Assistive Technology, and Interpreter Services
- Community Integration Services
- Consumer Education and Training
- Counseling and Therapeutic Services
- Daily Living Skills Training
- Day Services
- Financial Management Services
- Home Modifications
- Housing Counseling
- Mentoring
- Nursing Services
- Personal Emergency Response System (PERS)
- Relocation Services
- Respite
- Specialized Medical and Therapeutic Supplies
- Supportive Home Care
- Support and Service Coordination
- Supported Employment
- Training for Parents, Guardians, and Families of Children with Disabilities
- Transportation
Upcoming Conferences/Trainings/Activities
Autism Society Upcoming Events
SOAR Fox Cities Activity & Program Guide
November 15-16, 2021 - 31st Annual Children Come First Conference
Wisconsin Family Assistance Center for Education, Training & Support Archived Workshops
CLTS/CCOP Participant Rights:
https://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/library/f-20985.htm
Advisory Committee
The Family Support and Birth to Three Advisory Committee serves both the Family Support and Birth to Three Programs. It is a formal mechanism for family input and a vehicle to identify areas for improvement. It also serves as an opportunity to increase understanding between families and providers. The committee meets from 12:30 until 1:30 at the Oshkosh Human Services building in Room 33. Contact Elizabeth Wagner at 920-236-1199 if you are interested in learning more about this committee or would like to join.
2022 Meeting Dates:
- February 8
- May 10
- September 13
- December 13
Child Development Resources
- https://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/birthto3/family/development.htm
- https://www.vroom.org/
- https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/actearly/milestones/index.html
- https://actearly.wisc.edu/
- https://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/children/resources.htm
- https://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/children/index.htm
- https://www.drugwatch.com/health/children/
- https://developingchild.harvard.edu/
Resources:
Resources for children with disabilities:
- https://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/children/index.htm
- https://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/children/resources.htm
A Parent's Guide to Self-Regulation:
Catalpa Health:
Catalpa Health was formed to address the mental health needs of children in our community. The three major health systems in our area joined together to provide prevention services, psychiatry, therapy and psychology.
Child Care Resource and Referral:
CCR&R is a community based non-profit agency offering services to parents, child care providers, employers and the community that improve the quality and accessibility of early childhood education and care.
https://ccrrfoxvalley.org/for-families/
Children with Special Health Care Needs:
The Northeast Regional Center is part of a state wide network to help answer questions about children with special needs. They have access to books and articles, parent training, local programs, and health departments.
Northeast Regional Center Website
First 5 Fox Valley
Connects families to developmental services and helps them find the resources needed to help young children ages 0-5 reach their full potential, now and in the future.
Family Voices:
Family Voices aims to achieve family centered care for all children and youth with special health care needs and/or disabilities. They provide families with tools to make informed decisions, advocate for improved public and private policies, build partnerships among professionals and families, adn serve as a trusted resource in health care.
Parent Connections:
Parent Connections offers a variety of services, each designed to ease the transition into parenthood and make parenting less stressful and more enjoyable. Programs and services include:
- Parents as Teachers - Home Visitation
- Family Wellness Workshops
- Teen Parent Programs
- Dads Programs
- Family Fun Events
The Parent Outlet:
The Parent Outlet website is a resource to connect parents, with children ages 0 to 5, to topics including Child Development, Parenting, Child Safety, Health, Nutrition, Early Learning, and Community Resources. The Parent Outlet.com supports parents so children are safe, healthy, and ready to learn. Their Facebook site also provides up to date activities and events for young children and their families.
Waisman Center:
The Waisman Center is dedicated to the advancement of knowledge about human development, developmental disabilities, and neurodegenerative diseases.
Wisconsin Facets:
Wisconsin Facets is a statewide non-profit organization that helps connect parents to community resources, build partnership with service providers, educate parents on rights in their child's education and provides advocacy education.
Disability Rights Wisconsin (DRW):
A non-profit organization that helps protect the rights of people with disabilities nationwide. Offering advocacy support.
Winnebago County Public Health Department:
Serving the City of Oshkosh, City of Neenah, City of Omro, Village of Winneconne and surrounding townships of Winnebago County, the Public Health Department provides a number of parenting and health related services.
Winnebago County Public Health Website
Wisconsin Department of Human Services Birth to Three:
Similar to the county level program, this state Birth to Three site provides information about the program and how to make a referral.
State of Wisconsin Department of Human Services Website
Katie Beckett Medicaid:
The Katie Beckett Program is a special eligibility process that allows certain children with long-term disabilities, mental illness, or complex medical needs, living at home with their families, to obtain a Forward Health card when the child has a long term condition and the family has higher household income.
Social Security Administration (SSA):
Information on applying for caretaker supplement or SSI on behalf of your child.
Comprehensive Community Services (CCS):
Voluntary Behavioral Health services for youth and adults.
MTM:
Non-Emergency Medical Transportation. Can be used to transport youth and adults to appointments that are billed to Medicaid. Can also be used to reimburse a parent or individual who can drive to and from medical appointments.
J & B Medical Supply:
Supply incontinence products for children on Medicaid who are over the age of 4.
Wisconsin Early Childhood Collaborating Partners:
Information on child development and childcare.
Wisconsin Early Childhood Collalborating Partners Website
Wisconsin Alliance for Infant Mental Health:
WI-AIMH strives to promote infant mental health through building awareness, promoting professional capacity, fostering partnerships and supporting policies which are in the best interest of infants, young children and their families.
Department of Public Instruction:
Information for families and students in relation to schools.
Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction Website
Special Education in Plain Language booklet (CESA 7/DPI):
Informational booklet to help families understand special education steps and their rights.
Special Education in Plain Language Printable Version
Division of Vocational Rehabilitation:
VR services are any services described in a plan for employment necessary to assist a consumer in preparing for, securing, retaining or regaining an employment outcome that is consistent with the strengths, resources, priorities, concerns, abilities, capabilities, interests and informed choices of the consumer.
Education and Resource Guide for Children and Families (DVR):
Informational booklet on youth skill development and employment support.
Youth Transition: What is Transition Planning?
Information pertaining to youth reaching adulthood.
- https://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/clts/waiver/transition/index.htm
- https://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/clts/waiver/transition/youcanwork.htm
- https://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/clts/waiver/transition/transitiontoadult.htm
- https://beforeage18.org/
Aging and Disability Resource Center (ADRC):
The ADRC provides information on a broad range of programs and services, helps people understand the various long-term care options available to them, helps people apply for programs and benefits, and serves as the access point for publicly funded long-term care.
