Human service programs provide supports, social services, care and treatment for a number of in-need populations, which include children and families, disabled, elderly, low income, and those who have mental, alcohol and other drug abuse problems. Many of the programs are truly intergovernmental, involving funding, policy, and service delivery from a multiplicity of federal, state, and local agencies including at least five state agencies. The Commission has carefully examined the state s human services programs. The system ought to be citizen-centered. Citizens, regardless of where in Wisconsin they live, have a right to consistent, effective treatment.
State government is responsible for ensuring that the system in fact operates like a system.
The state ought to frame policy for the state, fund the programs, and ensure effective results. The state also ought to lead a broad debate about the level of service provided and what level of service is appropriate given the state s ability to pay. Performance , not mandates, ought to guide the system. The existing mandates ought to be removed and replaced with a process the focuses on results. The state ought to purchase outputs and outcomes instead of focusing on inputs.