Planning Council Community Reports / Resources

Office of the Milwaukee Ombudsman for Child Welfare 2009 Annual Report—April 2010 .pdf format.

The Office of the Milwaukee Ombudsman for Child Welfare (Ombudsman Office) is a free, public service that conducts objective, impartial, and independent reviews of case-specific concerns regarding the safety, permanence, and well-being of children and families involved with the Bureau of Milwaukee Child Welfare (Bureau). The 2009 Annual Report provides information on areas for improvement, contacts for services, and review findings. Click on the link above to access the report or click here to view the Executive Summary.

Directory of Anti-Violence Efforts in Milwaukee County—June 2009 .pdf format.

A directory of anti-violence efforts was originally created in 2005. Based on demand, the directory

was updated in 2006 and has been updated and expanded in 2009 with support from the Greater Milwaukee Foundation's Fitch Research Fund.

The directory includes descriptions and contact information for anti-violence efforts in Milwaukee County, a list of efforts by category, and a sample

of twelve evidence-based practices in violence prevention.

The directory is intended to encourage

communication, coordination, and collaboration

among people working to prevent or reduce

violence. Click on the link above to access the directory.

If you know of any anti-violence efforts that should

be included in this directory, or if information in the directory changes, please contact Lonna Kruse by emailing lkruse@planningcouncil.org or by calling

(414) 224-0404, extension 3051.

If you would like printed copies of the directory,

they are available for $8.00. To order, please

contact Lonna Kruse.

A Community Conversation About the Safety of Children in Foster Care - May 2009 .pdf format. Note: this report is quite large (1.32 MB) and may take some time to download.

This study, which was commissioned by the Greater Milwaukee Foundation's Bright Futures Milwaukee Fund in memory of long-time child advocate James R. Ryan, was undertaken to engage the community in a discussion about the safety of children in foster care. The report provides information on the current status of children in foster care in Milwaukee, identifies best practices for keeping foster children safe, and recommends strategies for enhancing the safety of children in foster care in Milwaukee County.

• Click here for more detailed information about best and evidence-based practices that enhance the safety of children in foster care.
• Click here for more detailed information about what key informants had to say.
• Click here for more detailed information about what caseworkers had to say.
• Click here for more detailed information about what biological mothers had to say.
• Click here for more detailed information about what foster parents had to say.
• Click on the following link to view an article about the foster care study written by Milwaukee Journal Sentinel staff http://www.jsonline.com/news/milwaukee/46266767.html.
• The following link is an article about the study written by LaToya Dennis of Milwaukee Public Radio http://www.wuwm.com/programs/news/view_news.php?articleid=4613.
• To read an editorial in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel on keeping children safe in foster care, posted July 24, 2009, click on the following link: http://www.jsonline.com/news/opinion/
  51616007.html.
• To read an August 2 response to the editorial above, click on the following link (http://www.jsonline.com/news/opinion/
  52220327.html) and scroll to the heading "CHILD CARE". The response was written by the Planning Council's Executive Director, Kathleen Pritchard.

Office of the Milwaukee Ombudsman for Child Welfare 2008 Annual Report - April 2009 .pdf format.

The Office of the Milwaukee Ombudsman for Child Welfare (Ombudsman Office) has released its 2008 Annual Report. The Ombudsman Office is a neutral, independent office that reviews case-specific concerns regarding the safety, permanence, and well-being of children and families involved with he Bureau of Milwaukee Child Welfare (Bureau). The Ombudsman Office responds to citizen concerns regarding specific action or inaction of the Bureau to learn whether or not policy, procedure, law, and practice standards were followed in its decision-making.

The report identifies key areas for improvement, associated recommendations, and details on all contacts made to the Ombudsman Office in 2008. Click on the link above to access the full report or click on the following link to view the Executive Summary. For more information about the Ombudsman Office, go to http://ombudsmanmilw.org/default.htm.

Alternatives to Suspensions and Expulsions Advisory Group Report - July 2008 .pdf format.

Prepared for the Milwaukee Public Schools Safe Schools/Healthy Students Initiative. This report summarizes the work of the Alternatives to Suspension and Expulsions Advisory Group activities, an ad hoc committee functioning as a sounding board for the Safe Schools Healthy Students Initiative to generate ideas to improve student achievement.

Violence Prevention and Reduction Initiatives in Milwaukee County—April 2008 .pdf format.

Violence Prevention and Reduction Initiatives in Milwaukee County, Section One, Focus Group Report.

Published for the Medical College of Wisconsin - Violence Prevention Initiative

Office of the Milwaukee Ombudsman for Child Welfare 2007 Annual Report - March, 2008 .pdf format.

Manual for Cross Systems Workshops to Support Family Services Coordination - December, 2000 .pdf format.

Child Care for Children with Special Needs - Executive Summary June, 1999 .pdf format.

Developing Cross Systems Workshops

Interactive PowerPoint Presentation on the rationale and method for developing cross systems workshops that lay the foundation for more integrated services for families engaged by different child welfare, TANF and substance abuse service providers. July 2004

Child Care for Children with Special Needs

Interactive PowerPoint Presentation on The challenges of providing inclusive childcare that encompasses children with special needs. September 2003.

1999 Final Report of the Child Care Advisory Committee Recommendations on Child Care Rates and Policies for 2000 - October, 1999

1997 Final Report of the Child Care Advisory Committee Recommendations on Child Care Rates and Policies for 1998 - November, 1997