Bureau of Milwaukee Child Welfare
Vision, Commitment and History

Philosophies and Principles

History of BMCW

Children's Rights Lawsuit and Settlement Agreement 

THE MISSION of the Bureau of Milwaukee Child Welfare (BMCW) is to promote the best interest of children by supporting and encouraging families' efforts to resolve problems that threaten the safety of their children. We remove children from their homes when they are not safe. When children cannot be reunited with their families, we will provide suitable alternatives in permanent, stable, and nurturing homes.

THE VISION is for Milwaukee County to be a community where all children are valued and nurtured in safe family environments that support their growth into responsible, productive, caring adults forming families of the future. We acknowledge and value the unique and diverse environments in which children flourish and families connect to support one another.

THE COMMITMENT to the following principles will guide us in achieving our vision and mission:

• to respond and value the diversity of our community;

• to respond promptly to reports of child maltreatment;

• to assist families' efforts to provide safe homes for children;

• to use out-of-home care selectively to secure the safety of children;

• to recognize and support families' strengths;

• to provide consistent, quality, family focused intervention;

• to work in partnerships with families to promote independence;

• to build an effective network of responsive, public, and private resources;

• to join with our community in an active partnership to address the needs of children and families; and

• to advocate for the rights and well-being of all children.

 Philosophies and Principles

These philosophies and principles form the foundation of a responsive, capable, child welfare system.

• People possess the capacity to change, and have the right to be treated with dignity and respect.

• Child welfare interventions are focused on the family system, which includes the extended family, and promote the best interests of the child.

• A child should be safe and live in an environment that nurtures healthy growth and development.

• The parental home, when child safety can be ensured, is the best permanent home for a child.

• The placement of a child outside of the parental home is a short-term response to control for child safety.

• Child Protective Services intervention should use a concurrent planning approach with families when a child is placed in out-of home care. This approach recognizes permanence of the child as the primary outcome, either through the reunification of the child with the family, or the termination of parental rights (TPR) if adoption is the only alternative to providing permanence for the child.

• Decision making and service delivery systems recognize and respect the unique needs and beliefs of individuals of diverse cultures.

• Communities play an important role in promoting family well-being.

• Early intervention with families experiencing difficulties that affect child safety provides an opportunity to protect children and to seek ways to strengthen families.

• Successful and comprehensive responses to child abuse and neglect require coordinated service systems and supports, formal and informal, in order to assist families in preventing, ameliorating, and changing those conditions that negatively affect child and family well-being.

• Strong, high-quality child welfare systems support competent staff using consistent, clearly articulated standards, comprehensive and appropriate professional development opportunities and supervision, and ongoing workload management.

History

On January 1, 1998, the Wisconsin Department of Health and Family Services assumed responsibility for the  Milwaukee County child welfare system. Milwaukee is the only county in Wisconsin to have a child welfare system operated directly by the state. The BMCW became part of the new Division of Safety and Permanence in the Department of Children and Families created July 1, 2008.

This reform followed a number of years during which Milwaukee  was overwhelmed by an increased demand for services. With a 230 percent increase in the number of children placed in out-of-home care and strained financial resources, Milwaukee County was not able to meet its obligation to act in the best interest of children.

A class action suit was filed in 1993 by the American Civil Liberties Union and the Children's Rights Project, Inc. against the county and the state for failing to adequately protect children. In response, the duty and authority of child welfare services was transferred from the county to the state. The Bureau of Milwaukee Child Welfare was created.

The Bureau of Milwaukee Child Welfare embarked upon a community partnership approach in its mission to protect children. State employees are responsible for the intake and assessment of reports of abuse and neglect, as well as monitoring programs, while related services to children and families are provided by contracted private agencies.

Under terms of the legal settlement, benchmarks for improved services are closely monitored and progress reported to the community and others according to the settlement agreement.

Contact the Bureau of Milwaukee Child Welfare

Last Revised: August 19, 2008