Human Services highlights “beautiful struggle,” describes supports that kept an autistic child at home; DOJ truancy grant extended

Jefferson County Human Services presented its 2024 annual report and a case study that officials said illustrates the department’s "beautiful struggle" of serving families facing poverty, addiction and trauma. Separately, the County Board approved an extension of a Department of Justice grant to fund interventions for students at risk of truancy and school refusal.

Human Services Director Brent Relo told the board his department had a 2024 budget of $41,758,000, took in more than $35 million in revenue and employed roughly 250 staff when including pool and part-time employees across five divisions: administration, behavioral health, aging and ADRC, children and families, and economic support.

Relo described an intake in 2024 involving a nonverbal teenage child with autism who had been left home alone because the mother lacked childcare. After same-day response and trust-building, Human Services placed a retired neighbor as an immediate caregiver and used Department of Children and Families safety funds to pay the adult daughter to provide interim childcare. Longer-term, the department located a local respite provider and secured Medicaid ("medical assistance") for the family, which enabled needed medical care and children's long-term support services. The department said the interventions allowed the child to remain safely in the home rather than be placed in a distant foster placement.

"Success is often slow and quiet. It comes in small wins," Relo said in his presentation. He characterized the department’s daily work as building supports so families can remain safely together when possible.

On a related administrative action, the board approved Resolution 202529, accepting an extension from the Wisconsin Department of Justice for a grant originally awarded Dec. 12, 2023. The grant, initially $63,243, funds services to deflect youth from the juvenile justice system for school refusal behaviors and chronic truancy. Human Services reported $8,875.01 reimbursed for 2024 expenses and said the extension will continue funding interventions including school-based supports, family-based case management, school mentors and staff training.

"Through 2024, the Human Service Department was reimbursed $8,875.01 for expenses incurred in 2024," the resolution text says. Finance committee recommended the 2025 budget amendment to accept the extension; the county board approved it by roll call (28 yes, 0 no, 2 absent).

Relo also emphasized transparency in departmental reporting, noting the annual report tracks key performance indicators and program goals. "Behind every program, service line in the county budget are real people, real stories and real futures," he told supervisors.

Human Services said it will continue to use available grant funds and county support to expand court-diversion interventions and community response referrals for families in need.