Bayfield County Family Services

Crisis Services Available

Mental health crisis services are available by calling (866) 317-9362 for help 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The Crisis Center is staffed by mental health professionals trained in crisis intervention.

Mission:

To provide a safe and stable environment for identified children and families through empowerment and support.

Services offered to families:

• Case Management Services for Children and Families
• Child Abuse/Neglect Investigations
• Child Day Care Provider Certification
• Community Support Program
• Custody and Step-Parent Adoption
• Emergency Detention – Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse (AODA) and Mental Health
• Foster Home Licensing
• In-Home Family Services
• Kinship Care Program
• Out-of-Home Placements

 

A Safe Place for Newborns

You were not prepared to have a baby. Unsure what to do? Leaving your newborn in a safe place is an option.

Case Management Services for Children and Families

Services provided to families (either through a court order or on a voluntary basis) in the following situations: delinquency (child commits a crime); school truancy (child is absent without an acceptable excuse for part or all of five or more days in a semester); child abuse or neglect. In Wisconsin, a 17 year-old is treated as an adult when they commit a crime; students are required to attend school until they are 18.

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Child Abuse/Neglect Investigations

Assessment and on-going services for children birth to age 18. It is a mandatory child abuse report if a mandated reporter suspects that a child 15 or younger has had sexual contact with another person.

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Child Day Care Provider Certification

Certification of a person who wishes to provide day care (for a maximum of six children) within their home.

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Community Support Program

Case management services to the chronically mentally ill. Bayfield County contracts with new Horizons North for this service.

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Custody and Step-Parent Adoption

Custody Studies: Family Court orders DHS to prepare a report and recommendations when divorcing/separating parents cannot agree on legal custody/physical placement issues involving their children.

Step-Parent Adoption: Family Court orders DHS to preapre a report and recommendations when a stepparent wishes to adopt his/her step child.

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Emergency Detention – Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse (AODA) and Mental Health

Persons believed to be a danger to self or others are taken to a mental health unit by law enforcement. Any resultant court-ordered services are monitored by DHS staff.

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Foster Home Licensing

Recruitment, licensing and on-going support and training for foster parents.

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In-Home Family Services

• Electronic Monitoring: A child is fitted with an ankle bracelet that immediately alerts the monitoring company when the child leaves home.
• AODA Testing: Alcohol and other drug abuse use is monitored by urine screens and cheek swabs.
• Intensive Supervision Program (ISP): A package of services including daily contact with a child, electronic monitoring and AODA testing. Duration: typically four months. The child is restricted to home/school/work/necessary health or counseling appointments, but with adherence to ISP rules, the child progresses to a less restrictive schedule.
• In-Home Family Therapy: Solution-focused therapy provided to families. Duration: approximately 3-4 months.

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Kinship Care Program

Provides a monthly payment (currently $215/month) to an eligible person who is caring for a minor relative to age 19. Medical Assistance is also available to cover the child's medical needs.

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Out-of-Home Placements

Through a court order or voluntary placement agreement, children are placed in a continuum of settings from least restrictive (foster home) to most restrictive (locked settings such as secure detention or corrections).

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