Committee forwards acceptance of one‑time ARPA funds for 'Keeping Kids Safe' initiative to full board

County staff briefed the Health and Human Services Committee that the Wisconsin Department of Children and Families has allocated a one-time ARPA distribution to counties for the "Keeping Kids Safe and Putting Families First" initiative and that Marathon County’s contract would be amended to receive the allocation.

Staff said the funds are intended to support programs that keep families out of the deep end of child welfare, such as targeted safety support funds, the Family Keys program, and services to prevent foster or institutional placement. "This would come through an amendment through our current state contract," a staff member said, adding that the money could be used for case management, family-support services and concrete services to prevent entry into child welfare.

The staff presentation identified an allocation figure of approximately $178,545 for the county (the transcript records the figure as "178,5452"). Staff said the funds must be expended by the end of 2026 and will be tracked and reported to the state under contract requirements.

A supervisor moved to forward acceptance of the funding to the full county board; the committee approved the motion by voice vote. No roll-call vote was recorded in the transcript.

Staff said specific uses have not been finalized and that the county will track spending and report to the state. If the full board approves the contract amendment, the county will record the allocation in its 2026 budget and spend the funds within the year.