Helping Families Improve Their Economic Mobility

Making key investments so every individual, child, and family is economically and socially secure.

Governor Evers’ 2025-2027 biennial budget proposal is the most pro-kid budget in state history and includes several smart investments to strengthen the economic mobility of families. Decisions about what will be included in the final budget, which is typically announced in June, will be made by the Legislature as well as the Governor.

Supporting the Self-Sufficiency of Individuals and Families

Helping parents improve their economic standing and well-being allows them to invest more in their communities, boosting economic growth. The Governor’s budget provides multiple smart investments that will strengthen the upward mobility of families across the state. This includes ending the practice of birth cost recovery by child support agencies and the recovery of costs when a child enters certain out-of-home care placements through the collection of child support. By keeping these critical resources with families, they are better positioned to remain together or reunify. To support this approach, the budget also calls for one-time and increased funding to county agencies to offset revenue loss. Combined with funding for programs that provide civil legal services and help reduce child support debt for low-income non-custodial parents, these investments will help the state continue to support the self-sufficiency of individuals and families and build thriving communities.

Providing Job Training and Skills for Our Future Success

DCF is dedicated to helping everyone who wants to work find meaningful employment. Increased funding for the Transform Milwaukee Jobs and Transitional Jobs programs to expand program eligibility connects more unemployed, low-income adults across the state with employment opportunities. Providing additional dollars for Skills Enhancement Grants helps working, low-income individuals obtain the skills they need to compete for living wage jobs. Investing $4 million over the biennium to fund Jobs for America’s Graduates-Wisconsin and over $19 million over the biennium to fund grants for local Boys & Girls Clubs provides educational support and job or postsecondary readiness for young people around the state setting them up to succeed. Lastly, the budget calls for $2 million over the biennium to fund grants to certain homeless shelters to provide comprehensive case management services to unemployed or underemployed parents in appropriate work programs to help reach self-sufficiency.

Modernizing Systems to Increase Efficiency and Improve Program Outcomes

Modernizing the child support program and related child support automated systems to align with national best practices is critical to children and families receiving the financial and medical support needed to thrive. Providing $45 million over the biennium will support the implementation of modern technology, automation, and business intelligence designed to meet the ongoing needs of the child support program, while providing flexibility for future system enhancements. The budget also includes funding to support enhancements and updates of the Benefits Recovery IT System (BRITS) project and for system improvements of the Emergency Assistance program.