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County OKs about $2M for Human Services contracts
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MONROE - Green County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved contracting services totaling nearly $2 million for Human Services Tuesday, Jan. 14, but only 18 percent of that amount is levied from county property taxes, according to Human Services Director Greg Holcomb.

About $1 million is just "passing through" Green County from the state of Wisconsin to Aging and Disability Resource Centers in Grant, Iowa and Lafayette counties. Green County serves as the fiscal agent for the regional ADRC for the four counties. Green County also received a similar share from the state.

The remaining nearly $1 million goes to contract with six service entities that provide care to Green County families, children and disabled adults.

FW Consulting, contracting for $166,000, is a fiscal intermediary service for families with children needing long-term support or long-term care adults. The program enables family members to receive respite, without becoming an employer subject to handling social security and other employer payment paperwork.

Lutheran Social Services and Orion work with families that have "harder to serve kids," said Holcomb. Providing services in case management, long-term support, and physical, mental and emotional support, these entities work "to keep kids in the home," he added. Lutheran Social Services contracted for $188,000, and Orion, working specifically with girls, contracted for $201,000.

Working to keep hard-to-serve children in their homes is better for the children, their families and the community, Holcomb noted. When children have to be moved to residential care and services providers, the cost to the county increases noticeably, he added.

Rawhide contracts with the county, currently for two children, at a cost of $200 per day, Holcomb said.

Rawhide is contracting for $142,300 for 2014. Holcomb hopes this will be the last year for this service contractor.

Monroe Clinic Hospital is also under contract for $76,000 to provide psychiatric care, consultation, medication management and oversight of the county's alcohol and drug treatment programs in 2014.

Nutritional meals for the elderly at Pleasant View Nursing Home are being contracted at $143,000.

Holcomb said about 32 percent of the contracted services was levied through county taxes in 2013.