September 26, 1996
Impact of federal welfare reform on W-2 and child care to be studied
A working group of state policy makers and child care professionals created by Gov.Tommy G.
Thompson will begin analyzing the impact of federal welfare reform block grants on child care in the
Wisconsin Works welfare-to-jobs program.
The 13-member Child Care Working Group is co-chaired by Richard C. Wegner, acting
secretary of the Wis. Department of Workforce Development, and Joseph Leean, secretary of the
Wis. Department of Health and Family Services.
To assist the work group in meeting its charge, the co-chairs are asking for written suggestions on
how to:
Make the most efficient use of up to $25 million in federal funds to successfully transition into
W-2. This would include direction on how best to balance building child care supply where
absolutely necessary and providing funding needed now for subsidized day care.
Design a co-pay scale which provides equity for all working poor up to 165 percent of the
federal poverty level within reasonable, available resources without creating waiting lists.
Serving in addition to the co-chairs are:
David Linsmeier, director, Children's Programs Inc., Milwaukee
Mary Gallo, child care coordinator, Kenosha County Job Center
Mark Rogacki, executive director, Wisconsin Counties Association
Wanda Montgomery, director of development, Gray's Child Development Center, Milw.
Wendy Hinrichs Sanders, executive director, Lake States Forestry Alliance, Hayward
JoAnn Brandes, vice president, S.C. Johnson & Co., Racine
State Sen. Carol Buettner, R-Oshkosh
State Rep. John Gard, R-Lena
State Rep. Margaret Krusick, D-Milwaukee
Corey Hoze, Governor's Milwaukee Office
Jean Rogers, administrator, Wis. Division of Economic Support
The Committee is asking for writtten submissions for the group's consideration to be made to: Child
Care Working Group, Room 400X, P.O. Box 7946, Madison, WI 53707-7946. Its first meeting is
10 a.m. Friday, Sept. 27, in Room 751, 1 W. Wilson St., Madison. The group's findings will be
submitted to the governor by Dec. 31, 1996.