Wisconsin Lifespan Respite Care

1
Wisconsin Lifespan Respite Care

• Effective
• Limited
• Great Potential

2
Limited

• Created by statute in 1999
• 5 local programs serving 7 counties
• Expansion vetoed by Governor in 2003
• Nearly eliminated in 2005
• Stagnant funding - 225K/year

3
Effective

• Serves more than 350 families each year with more
  than 12,000 hours of care
• Local programs more than double state funding
  through local fundraising
• Volunteer involvement
• Gap funding reduces waiting lists in counties
  served by program

4
How it Works

• Funding
• Infrastructure
• Services
• Coordination
• Challenges
• Political Support

5
Funding and Infrastructure

• 225K annual budget, plus 100K in new funding
  for child abuse prevention
• 5 Lifespan Programs (25,000 each) and 5 Abuse
  Prevention Programs (18,000 each) serving 1-3
  counties
• Lifespan Programs serve all ages and special needs

6
Services

• Statewide information and referral, technical
  assistance, and training
• Local linkage to existing programs and funding
• Local gap funding
• Local provider recruitment and training

7
Coordination

• Existing funding streams do not flow through the
  program
• All funding is State GPR

8
Challenges

• Lack of enthusiasm at Department of Health and
  Family Services
• Defense of funding

9
Political Support

• Support from present Governor and Legislature
• Main selling point is success of local programs
  in leveraging small amount of state funding
• Grassroots advocacy saved funding when it was in
  jeopardy

10
Great Potential

• Recently recruited legislator to join our board
  of directors
• Recently added funding from Childrens Trust Fund
• Predicted political change at State Capitol