The Department is organized into five divisions and two offices:

• The Division of Children and Family Services keeps children safe from abuse and neglect and responds appropriately when abuse or neglect occurs. In doing so, the Division focuses on services that keep families and communities strong and vital. DCFS responsibilities fall into four main categories: 1) statewide oversight of county child welfare services; 2) direct services to children and families through the Bureau of Milwaukee Child Welfare, and special needs adoption and adoption search services through the Bureau of Programs and Policies; 3) community support services for families; and 4) regulation and licensing of child care and residential facilities for children and youth.

 

• The Division of Disability and Elder Services manages programs involving mental health, substance abuse, developmental disabilities and sensory disabilities, as well as aging and long-term support programs. The division also has quality assurance responsibilities for the regulation and licensing of all adult care programs and facilities, and manages the state supplemental security income (SSI) program. In addition, the division operates state institutions that provide care and treatment for persons with mental illness, developmental disabilities, and/or sexually violent behaviors.

 

• The Division of Public Health manages programs in the areas of environmental health, occupational health, family and community health, emergency medical services, injury prevention, chronic disease prevention, health promotion, communicable disease prevention and preparedness, oral health, school health, minority health, women’s health, and health information.

 

• The Division of Health Care Financing focuses on the purchase ofquality health care for low income families with children, pregnant women, the elderly and persons with disabilities, performing eligibility determinations for Medicaid and FoodShare, federal supplemental security income and social security disability insurance programs, and issuing FoodShare benefits.

 

• The Division of Management and Technology provides management support for fiscal services, information technology, personnel, affirmative action and employment relations to the program divisions of the Department.

 

• The Office of Strategic Finance provides department-wide planning, budgeting, evaluation and audit services. It is also responsible for contract administration and oversight of county human service agencies and management of tribal affairs.

 

• The Office of Legal Counsel is a law office within the Office of the Secretary providing the Department with legal advice and representation. The Office provides formal legal opinions, communicates informal legal advice, litigates DHFS cases in administrative hearings and in some court trials, assists the Wisconsin Department of Justice and the U.S. Attorney’s Office in court litigation, coordinates DHFS rulemaking activities, administers DHFS compliance with HIPAA regulations, offers formal and informal advocacy on behalf of the Department’s programs, coordinates the Department’s rehabilitation review approval process, and provides training and guidance in investigation methods and legal issues.