Eliminating Waiting Lists for Long-Term Care in Wisconsin
Wisconsin has long been a
national leader in the area of long term care, but we are about to go one step
further with a statewide expansion of our Family Care and IRIS programs.
By offering these
long-term care programs throughout the state, we will eliminate wait lists and
provide community services to all people who need home care, transportation,
and employment assistance.
Currently, we are
among just a few states that offer these community-based, long-term care
services to children, people with disabilities, and the elderly who need them…
but once fully implemented, we will be among the only states to offer these
services with no waiting list.
Once the expansion is
complete, every county in Wisconsin will have access to community-based,
long-term care services and 77,000 people will be served.
Moving from Government Dependence to True Independence
Workforce development
remains a top priority.
Over the past two years,
thousands of people have moved from government dependence to true independence
through the FoodShare Employment and Training Program (FSET). This program
removes barriers to work, provides skills training, and successfully helps
participants get good paying jobs.
According to a new report
by the Wisconsin Department of Health Services (WDHS), FSET participants who gained
employment worked an average of 33 hours per week and earned an average wage of
$12.21 per hour – well above the state minimum wage of $7.25 per hour.
We’re good and decent
people in the State of Wisconsin. We’ll help our neighbor when he or she is
down and out. But we believe public assistance should be a trampoline, not a
hammock.
FSET provides
Wisconsinites with the extra bounce they need to get back on their feet and
enjoy the dignity that comes from work.
Kicking Off the New School Year
Earlier this week I
joined students, teachers and members of the Milwaukee Public School District
in the first day of school bell ringing ceremony at Walt Whitman School in
Milwaukee.
It’s always exciting to
see these motivated young students return to class, eager to learn. As the
father of two grown boys, I fondly remember seeing Matt and Alex off on their
first days, watching as they headed off to learn the skills they would need to
succeed.
As the school year begins
again this year, our higher-than-ever investment in K-12 education ensures all
of Wisconsin’s students will excel in the classroom and grow into
highly-skilled and hardworking individuals.
We enjoy sharing all the great news about our state with you. It is an honor to serve as your Governor and represent the people of Wisconsin.
Sincerely,
 Governor Scott Walker
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