If you know a child with special needs or developmental delays and are looking for support for this child within Wood County, please look through this page. Contact information should direct you to someone that can assist you!

Mission Statement

The mission of Wood County Unified Services Children’s Unit is to identify and respond to the unique needs of qualifying children and their families who have concerns and needs from birth to 18. We work with you to enhance a child’s development and quality of life while supporting the families, knowledge, skills and abilities.

Child Services Information

Click on a link below to jump to the section of this page you are most interested in.

• Program Eligibility and Goals
• Birth to Three Program
• Family Support Program
• Children’s Long Term Support Waivers for Developmental Disabilities
• Referral Process & Points of Contact
• Child Care Resources in Wood County

Program Eligibility and Goals

To provide fair and adequate services to eligible children*. The Family Support Program and Children Long Term Support Services may have waitlists. Your contact person can assist you with these concerns.

Services within Wood County are served by two different agencies. (Contact information is listed above). This is due to the type of services that these two agencies provide. This list may help direct you to the correct agency based on the type of disability that the child has.

• Developmental Disability (DD) Served by Unified Services
• Family Support (FSP) Served by Unified Services
• Children Long Term Support Waiver (DD) Served by Unified Services
• Physical Disability (PD) Served by Department of Social Services (DSS)
• Severe Emotional Disorder (SED) Served by DSS
• Children Long Term Support Waiver (PD, SED) Served by DSS
• Children Mental Health Support Services Served by DSS
• Community Options Program (COP) Served by DSS

For more information about DSS programs, please contact the Department of Social Services.

*An eligible child means that a child meets financial guidelines and considered eligible based on functional screens or assessments on growth and development.

Birth to Three Program

Wood County Unified Services is the administrative lead agency for the Birth to Three Program in Wood County. If you are concerned about your child’s development you can contact the Birth to Three Service Coordinator at 715-421-8836.

Developmental screenings and evaluations for the Birth to Three program are provided at no cost to the family. A Birth to Three Service Coordinator will be assigned to work with you and your child. The Service Coordinator will assist the family in explaining the evaluation process, the development of the Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP) and the procedural safeguards.

Guiding Birth to Three Principles

• Children’s optimal development depends on their being viewed first as children and second as children with a problem or disability.
• Children’s greatest resource is their family. Children are best served within the context of family.
• Parents are partners in any activity that serves their children.
• Just as children are best supported within the context of family, the family is best supported within the context of the community.
• Professionals are most effective when they can work as a team member with parents and others.
• Collaboration is the best way to provide comprehensive services.
• Early intervention enhances the development of children.

Support Services Available (based on family needs)

• Service Coordination (managing services)
• Family Education and Counseling
• Special Instruction/Early Intervention
• Communication Services
• Nursing Services
• Occupational Therapy
• Speech and Language Therapy
• Physical Therapy
• Transition Services

Criteria for Eligibility for Birth to Three

• Children Birth to 36 months (3 years).
• Child diagnosed with a condition which will likely result in developmental delays (i.e. cerebral palsy and Down’s syndrome)
• A significant delay (25%) in one or more of the following areas: learning, physical/motor, communication, social/emotional, and adaptive-behavior/self help.

To make a Referral, please contact the Birth to Three Service Coordinator OR the Division Manager as outlined in Referral Process.

Family Support Program

The Family Support Program (FSP) is a state funded, county operated program created to assist families in meeting the needs of their children with significant impairments living at home. In order to be eligible, there must be a significant impairment that is physical, mental or emotional disability and that seriously limits the child’s ability to carry three basic daily living activities such as self-care, learning, communication, mobility, self-direction, and capacity for independent living.

FSP helps families obtain the kind of services and supports necessary to reduce the risk of an out-of-home placement, address health and safety concerns, and maintain a quality family life. The Family Support Coordinator and parents work together to develop an Individualized Service Plan (ISP) for each family. Home modifications, transportation, specialized equipment, in home care, nursing care, and respite are examples of items and services the Family Support Program can help the family to purchase.

Funds are not intended to be used for everyday living expenses, but rather for the identified needs that are specifically related to the child’s disability. The amount a family is assigned VARIES from year to year according to their identified needs. The family’s income affects the amount the child is eligible for, and budget is determined annually on the assessed need of the family and available resources.

Support and Available Services:

• Support and service coordination.
• Utilizing the informal supports of the family.
• Link to community supports.
• Link to support services, counseling, daily living skills, respite, communication aides, home modifications, adaptive equipment, medical supplies and others.

Eligibility for Family Support:

• The child must be an under 18 resident of Wood County.
• The child must live with his/her parents/legal guardian or be in a kinship placement.
• The Children’s Functional Screen determines an eligible level of care—meaning the physical, cognitive, or emotional disability seriously restricts/impacts the child’s ability to carry out basic daily living activities. (i.e. self-care, communication, and mobility)

To make a Referral, please contact the Family Support Service Coordinator OR the Division Manager as outlined in Referral Process.

Children’s Long Term Support Waivers for Developmental Disabilities

The Children’s Long Term Support Waivers for Developmental Disabilities provide supports to children with a serious to severe developmental disability. The federal government’s Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), allows states the flexibility to use Medicaid funds to develop and implement creative alternatives to placing individuals in hospitals or nursing homes.

Wisconsin offers several Medicaid waivers. Among them are the three Children’s Long-Term Supports (CLTS) Waivers for: Developmental Disabilities (DD), Mental Health (MH), and Physical Disabilities (PD). To qualify for a CLTS waiver, a child must show proof of citizenship, their identity, and be eligible for Medicaid. They also need a level of care determination that is provided when the Children’s Long-Term Functional Screen is conducted. In WOOD County, children granted CLTS waiver slots may receive funding until they turn 18 years of age or until they no longer meet eligibility.

Support and Services available(based on child’s needs)

• Support and Service Coordination.
• Utilizing informal supports of the family.
• Link to community supports.
• Link to support services, counseling, daily living skills, respite, communication aids, home modifications and others.
• Crisis Support Services.

Eligibility for Long Term Waivers

• A child must be a State of Wisconsin resident for a minimum of 6 months.
• Child must be a resident of Wood County.
• Child must be eligible for Medicaid.
• The Children’s Functional Screen determines and eligible level of care.
• The Children’s Functional Screen determines the child’s physical, cognitive, or emotional impairment significantly impacts their ability to function.
• Age birth to 18 years.

*There may be a parental fee.

To make a Referral, please contact the Children’s Long Term Support Waivers Service Coordinator OR the Division Manager as outlined in Referral Process.

Referral Process

To make a referral, call the POINT OF CONTACT or the PROGRAM MANAGER at the numbers under Points of Contact. Indicate that you would like to make a referral to a program and find out more about eligibility criteria for the program in question.

***If you are not the parent or legal guardian you MUST contact the family and request to make a referral into services.

***One exception would be a referral to Birth to Three and its services. (See the Birth to Three section).

The following information will need to be gathered for the Program:

1. Child’s information (name, address, city/state, telephone, sex, and date of birth).
2. Whether or not the child is receiving medical assistance and the MA number.
3. Mother and Father’s information (address, date of birth, employer, home and work phone numbers).
4. If the child is UNDER three, the area of concern will be addressed. Examples:
   1. Communication: speech/language
   2. Movement: sitting, crawling, walking, picking up small objects
   3. Social Development: behaviors, interactions, relationships
   4. Self-Help: feeding, dressing
5. If the child is OVER three, the diagnosis of the child.
   Note: Physical disabilities and Mental Health are served by Social Services.
6. Name of child’s school (if applicable).
7. Name of child’s doctor and/or therapist.
8. Other services the child is receiving.

Note: A referral does not guarantee a child will receive formal services which may be limited based on funding availability for some programs. Some families may have their needs met through informal supports.

Points of Contact

Birth to Three Program
Julie Powell (WR and Marshfield)
Wood County Unified Services Building (Map)
Phone: 715-421-8836
Fax: 715-421-2266
Email: jpowell@co.wood.wi.us

Family Support Program
Jack Farris
Wood County Unified Services Building (Map)
Phone: 715-421-8837
Fax: 715-421-2266
Email: jfarris@co.wood.wi.us

Children Long Term Support/Waivers (DD)
Kay Marceau
Wood County Unified Services Building (Map)
Phone: 715-421-8839
Fax: 715-421-2266
Email: kmarceau@co.wood.wi.us

Children Services Division Manager (Unified Services)
Tonya Callahan
Wood County Unified Services Building (Map)
Phone: 715-421-8848
Fax: 715-421-2266
Email: tcallahan@co.wood.wi.us

Department of Social Services - Children’s Unit
Paul Stoltz
Wood County Courthouse (Map)
Phone: 715-421-8600
Email: pstoltz@co.wood.wi.us