A subsidiary of St. Aemilian-Lakeside, Integrated Family Services (IFS) provides ongoing case management and safety services for the Bureau of Milwaukee Child Welfare. The agency works with children and their families in Region 3, the southern tier of Milwaukee County.
IFS was created by St. Aemilian-Lakeside and was selected for this role in March of 2009 by the Department of Children and Families after participating in a competitive process. The department had implemented a number of changes at the Bureau of Milwaukee Child Welfare, and the selection was targeted to complement several quality improvement initiatives and enhance overall performance in the child welfare system.
IFS works to ensure safety, permanence and well being for the children and families it serves. It employs about 110 people and works out of offices at 2745 S. 13th Street, Milwaukee, WI 53215, and 1205 S. 70th St., West Allis, WI 53214. On average, it serves approximately 650 families and nearly 1,500 children each day.
The majority of children in IFS’ care are involved in the Ongoing Case Management program. Ongoing case managers, who are assigned to work with the family by the court system under a CHIPS (Child In Need of Protective Services) order, develop a permanency plan and adhere to standards regarding safety and well being. IFS Ongoing Case Management staff work out of the 13th Street office.
Safety Services cases are those in which families are at high risk but concerns have not reached the level of abuse and or neglect necessitating a CHIPS order. The focus of this program is on keeping families together, safe and in the home. IFS Safety Service staff work out of the 70th Street office.
“St. Aemilian-Lakeside has the capacity and the commitment to meet the high standards we hold for protecting children and families,” Secretary Reggie Bicha of the Department of Children and Families said in announcing the selection of IFS for the Bureau of Milwaukee Child Welfare contract.
“They are a first-class children’s services agency that has served the Milwaukee community for over 150 years, and we are very excited to move forward with them as we pursue our goals for BMCW.”
For more information, contact:
Darlene Pawluk, chief administrative officer
414-902-5853
Darlene.Pawluk@wisconsin.gov
For a complete list of our management staff, click here.
Some useful links:
Department of Children and Families and the Bureau of Milwaukee Child Welfare: http://dcf.wisconsin.gov/bmcw/
Bureau recruitment video: mms://media.dwd.state.wi.us/BMCW_Recruitment_Video/BMCW_Recruitment.wmv
