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Children's Long Term Support Program

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What is the Children's Long Term Support Program?

How CLTS Helped Our Family: Constance

A mom and daughter making the call to the Children's Resource and Referral Line

Referrals Are Easy!

Call the Children's Resource and Referral Line

(414) 289-6799 [email protected]

About Children's Long Term Support Services

The Children's Long-Term Support (CLTS) Waiver Program is a Medicaid Home and Community-based Waiver program that provides services for children with disabilities. This program allows families to use Medicaid funding for community-based services.

The program is administered in Milwaukee County by the Milwaukee County Department of Health & Human Services Disabilities Services.

-DHS Eligibility, Services, Medicaid Links

Children's Long Term Support Waiver Brochure 

A boy with hands painted open to the camera in a wheelchair and smiling

CLTS Caregiving Support Options

CLTS Enrollment Process 

Children who have a severe physical, developmental or emotional disability may be eligible for the program. Children and their parent/guardian must meet with an Options Counselor to determine eligibility.

Next, the child must meet a level of care as determined through an assessment and functional screen.

Children who are diagnosed with an Autism Spectrum Disorder, which includes Autism, Pervasive Developmental Delays or Asperger's, must provide additional information to the Options Counselor to determine mental health diagnosis and eligibility.

CLTS FAQ

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What is the Children's Long-Term Support (CLTS) Waiver Program?

The Children’s Long-Term Support (CLTS) Waiver Program is a Medicaid Home and Community-Based Waiver program that provides services for children with disabilities.

The waiver program allows Wisconsin to use Medicaid funding for community-based services.

The program is administered in Milwaukee County by the Milwaukee County Department of Health & Human Services’ Children, Youth, & Family Services (CYFS).

Who is eligible for the CLTS Waiver?

Children who have physical, developmental, or emotional disabilities may be eligible for the program. Families are encouraged to contact our Resource and Referral Line to learn about the enrollment process and schedule an assessment for your child.  Speak to one of our Resource and Referral Specialists at 414-289-6799.

What services are provided through the CLTS Waiver?

Services funded through the CLTS waiver are based on the child’s needs and the outcomes for the child that are developed with the family/caregiver. Supports and services are unique to every family and are developed by an individual assessment of that child by utilizing the Deciding Together Guide in collaboration with the family (Deciding Together Guide: What It Is and What It Isn't (wisconsin.gov)). 

Learn more about CLTS supports and services here: Children's Long-Term Support Program: Support and Services at a Glance (wisconsin.gov)

How can families apply for the CLTS Waiver?

To make a referral, families should call the Resource and Referral Line for a telephone assessment.

Referrals can be made from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Monday through Friday by phone.

414-286-6799 

Providers may not make a referral on behalf of someone or their family. Referrals must be made by the parent or guardian. 

 

What happens after a family makes the referral?

Families will meet with an Options Counselor in their home to further explain the program, complete an assessment of the child’s functioning, and complete the required paperwork.

The child must:

  • Live in Milwaukee County
  • Have a verified diagnosis or significant developmental delay
  • Meet functional eligibility
  • Meet financial eligibility
What happens when a child is approved?

The family is assigned an ongoing Support & Service Coordinator (SSC) who will work with the family to start services and continue to provide support to the child and family. You may be added to a waitlist to begin services depending on our capacity when you are enrolled. This process can be depending on staffing capabilities and waitlists. 

Who can I contact about my CLTS Services?

The person who works with your services is called a support and service coordinator (SSC). You can find this contact information on the first page of your child’s Individualized Service Plan (ISP) or by calling 414-289-6799.

My child has a disability and needs mental health services. Can we receive both services from Milwaukee County?

Yes! Children can be dually enrolled in CLTS and Comprehensive Community Services (CCS). An Options Counselor can discuss how we are able to collaborate with various programs to meet all of your child’s needs. Children are able to disenroll from CLTS to participate in other programs to meet their immediate needs and reapply for CLTS as their needs evolve.

I need help with an issue with my services. Who do I contact?

Children’s Disability Information Line

Web: DYFS Providers (milwaukee.gov)

Email: [email protected]

Phone: 414-289-5990

Milwaukee County Children Youth & Family Services
1220 W. Vliet Street, Suite: 300
Milwaukee, WI 53205
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A mother pushing her son with cerebral palsy in a mobility chair, both smiling

Children's Community Options Program

Children, age birth to 21, with a severe physical, emotional or developmental condition that is diagnosed through use of medical, behavioral or psychological criteria and is characterized by the need for individually planned and coordinated care treatment, vocational rehabilitation or other services are eligible. The condition is likely to result in substantial limitations in a child's ability to function in three or more of the following areas:

  • Self care
  • Receptive and expressive language
  • Learning
  • Mobility
  • Self-direction
  • Capacity for independent living
  • Economic self sufficiency

Children's Community Options Program Brochure

Youth Transition Services

Generally, students and families are concerned with and dealing with what options they may have after leaving high school. These options can be divided into three main areas:

  • Educational
  • Vocational
  • Residential

Educational Options can vary considerably based on the student’s abilities and preferences. The student may want to pursue college or technical school. The student may need training on how to safely cross the street. 

Vocational Options may involve training for a career or assistance with a job search. In many cases, the first resource for vocational related activities is the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR).

Residential Options are designed to assist the student with special needs to be as independent as their skills allow. The supports can run the gamut from assistance in the home to supported apartments to group homes to assistance finding the student’s own apartment.

Youth Transition Services Brochure

Find Recreational Activities for Children

Recreation for People with Disabilities

Meet the Children's Services Team

Anouvong “Toto” Chanthavixay

Director of Children's Disability Services

Toto oversees the Children's Long-Term Support Waiver Program, the Birth to 3 Program, and the Children's Community Options Program. He holds a bachelors in sociology and human services from the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, and an MBA from DeVry Graduate School of Management. He is passionate about serving families, seeing them thrive, and be successful as a result of the programs. In his spare time, Toto enjoys painting, drawing, mountain biking, and spending time outdoors.  

Glenn Coleman

Supervisor of Children's Disability Services

Glenn manages a team of Support and Service Coordinators, works as a CLTS liaison for Life Navigators, ensures program participants have all documents needed, and assists families if questions arise about the services they are receiving. Glenn is a graduate of Springfield College, where he studied social work and human services. Glenn enjoys helping families get the resources they need, and impacting the lives of people with disabilities in a positive way. In his spare time, Glenn enjoys bowling, playing pool, and spending time with family and friends.

Luisana Waukau

Supervisor of Children's Disability Services

Luisana works with families who are enrolling in the program, answering their questions, and assisting them in getting started. She supervises a team of Milwaukee County support and service coordinators and is the liaison for WCS. Luisana holds a Bachelor's of the Arts degree in women and gender studies and history from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Luisana has family members with disabilities, and enjoys working in the CYFS service area to support the disability community. In her free time, she likes gardening, watching TV, hiking, and spending time with family and friends.

Vanessa Morgan

Supervisor of Children's Disability Program

Vanessa supervises a team of support and service coordinators, assists families with their program needs, and serves as a liaison between CYFS and the Curative Care Network team. She obtained a Bachelors of Arts in sociology from the University of Mississippi, and a Masters in Social Work from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Vanessa is licensed as an advanced practice social worker. Vanessa loves her work at CYFS because she has the opportunity to support families, especially children. She also has the opportunity to work with a great team. Outside of work, Vanessa enjoys volunteering, learning new things, and spending time with family and friends.

Nancy Dumas

Supervisor of Waiver Program

Nancy supervises service coordinators, both internally, and those cases administered by partner agencies. She is available to families if they have questions, or if issues arise with their service coordinator. She holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of Illinois - Urbana Champaign. Nancy has been administering the CLTS Waiver Program since 2005, shortly after it began in 2004. Having worked in the field serving people with disabilities for more than 30 years, Nancy is passionate about doing what she can to help them live full lives. In her free time, Nancy enjoys spending time with her pets, is an avid birdwatcher, and loves to travel.

Stephanie Pizur

Quality Assurance Specialist

Stephanie assists families when they have questions about the CLTS program, or the services they receive. She holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of Wisconsin - Whitewater. Stephanie has worked serving families with developmental disabilities for more than ten years, and enjoys supporting families as they live full lives in their homes and communities. In her spare time, Stephanie loves to travel both in the U.S. and abroad. She enjoys watching football, and working on home renovation projects with her husband.

Forms and Resources

Fiscal Agent Frequently Asked Questions

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What is the Prior Period Adjustment (PPA) I see on my pay stub?

A PPA Adjustment is a reduction to a caregiver’s gross wages for employer’s payroll taxes and/or when the monthly authorized amount is exceeded. The participant enrolled in the CLTS program is given a monthly maximum authorization amount that is inclusive of employer payroll taxes. The monthly maximum authorized amount can not be exceeded. If the monthly authorized amount is exceeded a PPA Adjustment will appear on the caregiver’s payroll stub.

I worked the hours I was told I could work. Why is my pay adjusted with a PPA?

The monthly authorized amount that a participant enrolled in the CLTS program receives includes an amount for employer payroll taxes. This amount can not be paid out to caregivers’ in the form of gross wages as it is set-aside to pay the participant’s payroll taxes associated with employing a caregiver. 

Why did my caseworker tell me I could pay my caregivers the hourly rate I offered them if it exceeded the monthly authorized amount my family receives from the CLTS program?

The maximum rate we had discussed is the rate prior to payroll taxes being deducted. That is the reason the rate realized by your care provider will be slightly less than the rate we discussed.

I like paper time sheets. Can I turn in my hours using a paper time sheet?

For a limited time, caregivers may use a paper timesheet until they receive their log-in credentials for the automated Time & Attendance (T&A) system. After the caregiver and the family receive their log-in credentials, the caregiver will only be paid when time is entered into the T&A system.

I did not receive my paystub. What happened?

Employee pay stubs are posted to their portal on pay day. Pay stubs are not mailed out. Each employee was issued log-in credentials to the portal via email. Your pay stubs will remain in your portal indefinitely.

Why didn't I get paid?

If you did not receive a paycheck on pay day it may be due to the following reasons:

 

The participant’s authorization to release your paycheck is still in process. Once the authorization is finalized your payroll check will be released.

Or

If the gross wages you received on your first paycheck exhausted all of the funding available for the month you will not receive a paycheck. 

When do I get paid?

Caregivers are paid semi-monthly on the 15th and 30th of each month. If pay day falls on a weekend day the caregiver will be paid the Friday before the weekend. 

Will completing the new fiscal agent form create another delay in payment?

No. It will correct the pay rate for your direct care provider.

Will there be opportunities to use a different fiscal agent in the future?

Yes. Premiere and UTS are currently being used. If you want to use a different fiscal agent, please talk to your service provider.

Can my direct care worker be paid for more than what was authorized?

The fiscal agent will not pay out for more hours than was authorized. Please monitor the hours your direct care provider is working. If they are nearing the maximum hours authorized, please contact your Service Coordinator to discuss if more hours are needed.