FAMILY CARE CELEBRATES 10TH ANNIVERSARY ON FEBRUARY 10TH, 2010

February 1, 2010, marks the 10th anniversary of the start of the first Family Care pilot in Fond du Lac County.  The Fond du Lac implementation was quickly followed by the start of pilots in four more counties - La Crosse and Portage Counties on April 1, 2000; Milwaukee Aging on July 5, 2000; and Richland County on November 2, 2000.

The accomplishment of these pilots was published in an Independent Evaluation of Family Care that was performed by APS Healthcare, Inc. and released in 2005.  The findings of that evaluation prompted Governor Doyle to announce plans to expand Family Care statewide to promote Wisconsin residents' access to health and long term care services in the settings in which they choose to live.   

An integral part of Family Care's success is the expansion of the network of Aging and Disability Resource Centers (ADRCs).  Anyone can contact an ADRC to get information and answers to their questions and concerns regarding long-term care, mental health and substance abuse services and much more. Elderly and disability benefit specialists at ADRCs assist people with obtaining benefits for which they are eligible, including SSI, SSDI and Medicaid and Medicare benefits.

Due to expansion of Family Care, ADRCs are operational in 56 counties and Family Care is provided by 10 MCOs around Wisconsin; serving 29,404 enrollees in 50 counties in December 2009.

Click Here for Department of Health Services Family Care Website

Click Here for Department of Health Services Aging and Disability Resource Centers Website