MECA Authorization Unit

The Department of Children and Families-Milwaukee Early Care Administration (MECA) Authorization Unit became operational on July 19, 2010. MECA will complete child care authorizations for all Milwaukee County Wisconsin Shares recipients. MECA will provide greater oversight of the Shares program to prevent errors and potential fraud before the authorization is completed. MECA has implemented processes to ensure an authorization is accurate up front, to help prevent fraud from happening, and to handle specialized cases expeditiously. MECA has an intense focus on ensuring that families receive the accurate authorizations as needed.

MECA is dedicated to serving Milwaukee County and promoting program integrity throughout Milwaukee County. We have developed a new protocol for handling error prone cases, developed a new Authorization Referral Form that captures new information, created an internal structure for training staff to function in all specialized case processing, including red flag cases, foster care, children with special needs, expedited cases, and W-2 client cases. Additionally, we have plans for a liaison to coordinate with the Department of Health Services (DHS) and other community partners.

Child care provider fraud has been a high profile issue for the Department of Children and Families. Essentially, a key avenue to facilitate fraud is misuse of authorizations issued to clients. MECA intends to do the following:

• Ensure timely and accurate authorizations for parents and providers
• Prevent fraud, errors and overpayments before the authorization is complete
• Handle specialized cases and emergency needs for authorizations timely
• Ensure positive relationships with community agencies and key child care stakeholders

MECA Authorization Unit FAQs