Department of Health and Human Services
 

Health & Human Services

Together, Creating Healthy Communities

Health & Human Services

About DHHS

Leading Health and Human Services Through Dedication and Community Connection

Behavioral Health

Providing Connections That Support Recovery

I Need Help With...

Energy Assistance

Delivering Energy Assistance and Education

I Need Help With...

Youth & Family Services

Providing Youth and Families With Supervision and Support in Pursuing a Pro-social Future

I Need Help With...

Disabilities Services

Connecting Individuals With Disabilities to Resources That Promote Independence and Inclusion

I Need Help With...

Housing

Supporting Individuals With Accessing and Maintaining Housing

I Need Help With...

DHHS News

Highlights from the 2021 DHHS Annual Report 

Youth Justice Highlight: Credible Messenger Program

The Credible Messenger Program launched in May of 2021 at Sherman Park. The program is a community-based approach focused on prevention, transformative mentoring and restorative justice. Since the program launched:

  • 70 active youth in the program

  • 3,246 collective community engagement hours

Aging Services Highlight: Dine Out Program

Through the Dine Out Program, Milwaukee County works with minority owned restaurants to provide older adults to new and exciting food options, including breakfast, lunch and dinner meals.

  • 372 diners
  • 4,910 meals received though the program

Behavioral Health Services Highlight: Grab & Go Event 

Grab & Go events at Owen’s Place were held once a month, from March through October, to support the community during the COVID-19 health crisis. Children’s Community Mental Health Services and Wraparound Milwaukee handed out items, including clothing, household items, gun locks, pill disposal kits, mental health education information, books, food, school supplies and much more.

  • 576 individuals were served over the course of the eight 2021 Grab & Go events

Housing Services Highlight: Eviction Prevention

The Housing Division’s partnership with the State of Wisconsin and Community Advocates to address the eviction crisis resulted in $100 million secured to provide rental assistance through the Emergency Rental Assistance Program.

  • Approximately 11,000 at-risk Milwaukee County families were able to stay in their homes

Mom and sons

Disabilities Services Highlight: Increased Outreach, Program Enrollment 

Children’s Programs, including Birth to 3, Children’s Long-Term Support, and Children’s Community Options Program, focused on increased outreach to communities of color. Print materials and videos were made available in Spanish. The outreach increased awareness of programs for children with disabilities, addressed social and cultural stigma attached to disabilities, remove barriers to accessing supports and services.

  • 36% increase in enrollment for Children’s Long-Term Support Program

Older man and doctor

Veterans Services Highlight: Free Legal Assistance 

The Veterans’ Services Office in partnership with the Marquette Volunteer Legal Clinic provided free legal assistance to veterans and their families. the Veterans’ Service Office was able to work through the pandemic to keep services going.

  • 100 veterans and their families received free legal assistance

 

DHHS Services List 

Health & Human Services Events

Please wait while we gather your results.

What DHHS Has Accomplished for Our Community

2021 DHHS Annual Report

In 2021, DHHS...

  • Integrated the Children's System of Care and Adult System of Care, and combined the Aging & Disability Resource Center
  • Kept more than 11,000 families in their homes through eviction prevention
  • Launched the prevention-focused Credible Messenger Program, a community-based approach to youth justice
  • Served hundreds of thousands of meals to older adults

2020 DHHS Annual Report

In 2020, DHHS...

  • Navigated changes brought on by a worldwide pandemic, adapting service delivery with no interruption in services across DHHS
  • Provided shelter for 175 homeless individuals during the COVID-19 crisis
  • Served more than 62,000 customers through the Wisconsin Home Energy Assistance Program
  • In July, achieved an historic low youth incarceration rate

2017 DHHS Annual Report

2017 DHHS Annual Report

In 2017, DHHS...

  • Cut 30-day readmissions to our inpatient behavioral health hospital by nearly half since 2010
  • Reduced overall homelessness by about 40%
  • Reduced admissions to our youth detention center by nearly 20%
  • Created more than $4 million in economic impact through our Disability Benefits Specialist program
  • Processed 67,000 applications for energy assistance, a program record

2016 DHHS Annual Report

2016 DHHS Annual Report

In 2016, DHHS...

  • Created trauma response teams (with MPD) to respond to youth who have witnessed violence or been exposed to trauma
  • Reduced chronic homelessness by 77% countywide
  • Reduced the number of youth sent to Lincoln Hills/Copper Lake prisons by almost 57%
  • Connected more than 40 young adults with disabilities with employment after leaving high school

2015 DHHS Annual Report

2015 DHHS Annual Report

In 2015, DHHS...

  • Launched our initiative to end chronic homelessness in Milwaukee County in three years
  • Reduced reliance on secure youth detention facilities by 25%
  • Launched an initiative to help youth with disabilities achieve employment when finishing high school
  • Created a community-based care system for those with long-term behavioral health needs

2014 DHHS Annual Report

2014 DHHS Annual Report

In 2014, DHHS...

  • Reduced emergency psychiatric admissions by 30%
  • Reduced youth justice referrals by police by more than 20%
  • Created crisis response teams for individuals with co-occurring intellectual/developmental disabilities
  • Created a harm-reduction housing model for individuals with alcohol and other drug abuse issues

Awards and Recognition

Awards

2017

2016

Recognition

2017

Frequently Asked Questions

Open AllClose All
  Who do I contact for information on FoodShare, BadgerCare, Medicaid (T19), Caretaker Supplement or Wisconsin Shares (Child Care)?

Call (800) 291-2002. To determine if you may qualify for these programs, visit www.access.wisconsin.gov/access/. If you need to speak to someone about your case, contact the Call Center (888) 947-6583. The verification fax number is (414) 438-4580.

  How do I report possible child abuse and/or neglect?

To report suspected child abuse or neglect, call (414) 220-7233. This number is available 24-hours a day. The State of Wisconsin administers the Child Welfare Program.

  What is the Mental Health Crisis Line?

To talk to a counselor regarding a critical mental health issue, call (414) 257-7222, 24-hours a day.

MILWAUKEE COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES

1220 W. Vliet St.

Suite 301

Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53205

Access DHHS 

How We Help

Our Vision

Together, creating healthy communities.

Our Mission

Empowering safe, healthy, meaningful lives.

Our Values

Partnership, Respect, Integrity, 

Diversity, Excellence

This site is powered by the Northwoods Titan Content Management System

Menu

X