Wis. Stat. § 46.22 — WI Code / Chapter 46 / Section 46.22
County social services.
Status: in_force

(1) County department of social services.

(a) Creation. Except as provided under s. 46.23 (3) (b) , the county board of supervisors of any county with a population of less than 750,000, or the county boards of 2 or more counties, shall establish a county department of social services on a single-county or multicounty basis. The county department of social services shall consist of a county social services board, a county social services director and necessary personnel.

(am) Funding for multicounties. State social services funding under s. 20.435 (7) (b) is not available to counties which establish a multicounty department of social services until the counties have drafted a contractual agreement, approved by the secretary, setting forth the plans for direct sponsorship and have drafted a budget under par. (b) 1. d.

(b) Powers and duties.

1. The county department of social services shall have the following functions, duties and powers in accordance with the rules promulgated by the department of health services and subject to the supervision of the department of health services:

a. To maintain administrative and reporting relationships with all pertinent state departments.

b. To make investigations that relate to welfare services, except for welfare services provided under ch. 48 and subch. III of ch. 49 , community-based juvenile delinquency-related services, and juvenile correctional services, upon request by the department of health services.

c. Within the limits of available state and federal funds and of county funds appropriated to match state funds, to provide social services for persons eligible for or receiving supplemental security aids under Title XVI of the social security act, eligible for or receiving state supplemental payments under s. 49.77 or eligible for or receiving aid to families with dependent children under s. 49.19 .

d. To submit a final budget in accordance with s. 46.031 (1) for services authorized in this section, except for the administration of and cost of aid granted under ss. 49.19 and 49.45 to 49.471 .

g. To make certification or referral of eligibles for state or federal assistance programs under subch. V of ch. 49 , eligibility for which is based on need.

i. If the county board of supervisors establishes an initiative to provide coordinated services under s. 59.53 (7) , to participate in and administer the initiative, including entering into any written interagency agreements or contracts.

j. If authorized under s. 46.283 (1) (a) 1. , to apply to the department of health services to operate a resource center under s. 46.283 and, if the department contracts with the county under s. 46.283 (2) , to operate the resource center.

k. If authorized under s. 46.284 (1) (a) 1. , to apply to the department of health services to operate a care management organization under s. 46.284 and, if the department contracts with the county under s. 46.284 (2) , to operate the care management organization and, if appropriate, place funds in a risk reserve.

2. A county department of social services shall have the following functions, duties, and powers in accordance with the rules promulgated by the department of children and families and subject to the supervision of the department of children and families:

a. To administer community-based juvenile delinquency-related services under s. 48.526 .

b. To maintain administrative and reporting relationships with all pertinent state departments.

c. To make investigations as provided under ch. 48 and subch. III of ch. 49 and investigations relating to community-based juvenile delinquency-related services upon request by the department of children and families.

d. To certify eligibility for and issue food coupons to needy households in conformity with 7 USC 2011 to 2036 , subject to s. 49.78 .

e. To make payments in such manner as the department of children and families may determine for training of recipients, former recipients and potential recipients of aid in programs established under s. 49.193 , 1997 stats., and s. 49.26 (1) .

f. To submit a final budget in accordance with s. 49.325 (1) for services authorized in this subdivision.

fm. To administer the child care program under s. 49.155 , if the department of children and families contracts with the county department of social services to do so.

g. To make certification or referral of eligibles for state or federal works or other assistance programs under ch. 48 and subch. III of ch. 49 , eligibility for which is based on need.

3. A county department of social services shall have the following functions, duties, and powers in accordance with the rules promulgated and standards established by the department of health services and subject to the supervision of the department of children and families:

a. To maintain administrative and reporting relationships with all pertinent state departments.

b. To make investigations which relate to programs under s. 49.046 , 1993 stats., upon request by the department of health services.

d. To submit a final budget to the department of children and families in accordance with s. 49.325 for services authorized in this subdivision.

4m. A county department of social services shall have the following functions, duties and powers in accordance with the rules promulgated by the department of administration and subject to the supervision of the department of administration:

a. To collect and transmit information to the department of administration so that a federal energy assistance payment may be made to an eligible household.

b. To collect and transmit information to the department of administration so that weatherization services may be made available to an eligible household.

c. To receive applications from individuals seeking low-income energy assistance under s. 16.27 (4) or weatherization services under s. 16.26 .

d. To provide information on the income eligibility for weatherization of a recipient of low-income energy assistance to an entity with which the department of administration contracts for provision of weatherization under s. 16.26 .

e. To receive a request, determine a correct payment amount, if any, and provide payment, if any, for emergency assistance under s. 16.27 (8) .

5m. A county department of social services shall have the following functions, duties and powers in accordance with the rules promulgated by the department of corrections and subject to the supervision of the department of corrections:

a. To purchase juvenile correctional services under s. 301.26 .

b. To maintain administrative and reporting relationships with all pertinent state departments.

(c) Other powers and duties. The county board of supervisors in a county with a single-county department of social services and the county boards of supervisors in counties with a multicounty department of social services may provide that the county department of social services shall, in addition to exercising the mandatory functions, duties and powers under par. (b) , have any or all of the following functions, duties and powers and such other welfare functions as may be delegated to it by the county board of supervisors in a county with a single-county department of social services and the county boards of supervisors in counties with a multicounty department of social services:

1. Make investigations in cooperation with the court, institution superintendent, district attorney and other agencies and officials operating in the welfare field regarding admissions to and release or conditional release from the following institutions:

a. ‘County institutions.’ Any county infirmary, home, asylum or hospital for mental diseases, tuberculosis or otherwise.

b. ‘State institutions.’ The Mendota Mental Health Institute, the Winnebago Mental Health Institute, centers for the developmentally disabled, and Type 1 juvenile correctional facilities, as defined in s. 938.02 (19) .

c. ‘Other institution.’ University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics and secured residential care centers for children and youth, as defined in s. 938.02 (15g) .

2. Subdivision 1. does not authorize the county department of social services to make investigations regarding admission to or release from state prisons under s. 302.01 , county houses of correction, jails, detention homes or reforestation camps.

4. Make investigations which are provided for under s. 48.88 (2) (a) and (c) , if the court having jurisdiction so directs.

5. Perform the duties and functions prescribed in ss. 48.08 and 938.08 when requested to do so by the judge assigned to exercise jurisdiction under chs. 48 and 938 .

6. To furnish services to families or persons other than the granting of financial or material aid where such services may prevent such families or persons from becoming public charges or restore them to a condition of self-support.

7. To certify eligibility for and distribute surplus commodities and foodstuffs.

8. To administer child welfare services including services to juveniles who are delinquent and to children who have an intellectual disability or are dependent, neglected or nonmarital, and to other children who are in need of such services. In administering child welfare services the county department of social services shall be governed by the following:

a. The county department of social services may avail itself of the cooperation of any individual or private agency or organization interested in the social welfare of children in the county with a single-county department of social services or in the counties with a multicounty department of social services.

b. The county department of social services shall administer and expend such amounts as may be necessary out of any moneys which may be appropriated for child welfare purposes by the county board of supervisors in a county with a single-county department of social services or by the county boards of supervisors in counties with a multicounty department of social services or donated by individuals or private organizations.

c. Upon the request of the judge assigned to exercise jurisdiction under chs. 48 and 938 , the county department of social services shall investigate the home environment and other factors in the life of any child brought to the attention of the court for alleged dependency or neglect, or any juvenile brought to the attention of the court for alleged delinquency, and to assume guidance and supervision of any juvenile placed on probation by that court.

d. Upon the request of the department of corrections and under its direction, the county department of social services shall assume the oversight of any juvenile under parole from or otherwise subject to the supervision of any state institution.

e. The county department of social services shall have the powers and duties specified in ss. 48.57 and 938.57 .

f. The county department of social services shall implement the statewide automated child welfare information system established under s. 48.47 (7g) .

9. The authority given to the county department of social services under subd. 8. to function as an authorized child welfare agency shall not be interpreted as excluding agencies licensed under s. 48.60 from also exercising such functions.

(d) Merit system; records. The county department of social services is subject to s. 49.78 (4) to (7) . The county department of social services and all county officers and employees performing any duties in connection with the administration of aid to families with dependent children shall observe all rules promulgated by the department of children and families under s. 49.78 (4) and shall keep records and furnish reports as the department of children and families requires in relation to their performance of such duties.

(dm) Exchange of information; long-term care. Notwithstanding ss. 46.2895 (9) , 48.78 (2) (a) , 49.45 (4) , 49.83 , 51.30 , 51.45 (14) (a) , 55.22 (3) , 146.82 , 252.11 (7) , 253.07 (3) (c) , and 938.78 (2) (a) , a subunit of a county department of social services or tribal agency acting under this subsection may exchange confidential information about a client, without the informed consent of the client, with any other subunit of the same county department of social services or tribal agency, with a resource center, a care management organization, or a long-term care district, with an elder-adult-at-risk agency, an adult-at-risk agency, or any agency to which referral for investigation is made under s. 46.90 (5) (a) 1. or 55.043 (1r) (a) 1g. , or with a person providing services to the client under a purchase of services contract with the county department of social services or tribal agency or with a resource center, a care management organization, or a long-term care district, if necessary to enable an employee or service provider to perform his or her duties, or to enable the county department of social services or tribal agency to coordinate the delivery of services to the client. An agency that releases information under this paragraph shall document that a request for information was received and what information was provided.

(dp) Exchange of information; statewide automated child welfare information system. Notwithstanding ss. 46.2895 (9) , 48.396 (1) and (2) (a) , 48.78 (2) (a) , 48.981 (7) , 49.45 (4) , 49.83 , 51.30 , 51.45 (14) (a) , 55.22 (3) , 146.82 , 252.11 (7) , 252.15 , 253.07 (3) (c) , 938.396 (1) (a) and (2) , and 938.78 (2) (a) , a county department under this section may enter the content of any record kept or information received by that county department into the statewide automated child welfare information system established under s. 48.47 (7g) .

(e) Purchase of care and services.

1. In order to ensure the availability of a full range of care and services, a county department of social services may contract, either directly or through the department of health services, the department of children and families, or the department of corrections, with public or voluntary agencies or others to purchase, in full or in part, care and services which the county department of social services is authorized by any statute to furnish in any manner. The services may be purchased from the department of health services, the department of children and families, or the department of corrections if the department of health services, the department of children and families, or the department of corrections has staff to furnish the services. The county department of social services, if it has adequate staff, may sell the care and services directly to another county or state agency.

2. A county department of social services may purchase development and training services from the department of health services, the department of children and families, or the department of corrections or from other county agencies if the services are available or sell the development and staff training services to another county or state agency if the county department of social services has adequate staff to provide the services.