PIER of Wisconsin
(Parents Information and Education Resource)
(Parents Information and Education Resource)
Updated: 4/5/16
Birth to 3
Birth to 3 Program: Child Development
https://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/birt.../family/development.htm
Birth to 3 Program Information for Families
https://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/birthto3/family/index.htm
Children’s Long-Term Support Waiver Program
https://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/clts/waiver/family/index.htm
Birth to 3 Program: Child Development
https://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/birt.../family/development.htm
Birth to 3 Program Information for Families
https://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/birthto3/family/index.htm
Children’s Long-Term Support Waiver Program
https://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/clts/waiver/family/index.htm
Bright by Text
Bright by Text is a free program that provides helpful tips, information, activities and resources to parents/caregivers to promote child development. These text messages are sent to pregnant individuals and parents and adults who care for young children up to 8 years of age. Each text message offers age-appropriate information based on the child’s birthdate. Service is available in English and Spanish.
To get started text BADGER to 274448, and you will receive information about each child’s age directly to your cell phone.
DHS has release resources below to help families who have children with suspected delays or disabilities access the Birth to 3 Program.
New family-focused materials include:
Please check out this web site through the Waisman Center for resources and connections to information you should be aware of.
http://www.waisman.wisc.edu/cedd/early.php
Developmental Milestones -http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/actearly/milestones/index.html
Essentials for Parenting Toddlers and Preschoolers is a free, online resource developed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Designed for parents of 2 to 4 year olds, the resource addresses common parenting challenges, like tantrums and whining. http://www.cdc.gov/parents/essentials/
Birth to Five: Watch Me Thrive: To promote healthy development and early identification of developmental delays and behavioral health issues, several agencies within the Health and Human Services Administration, including the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), and the U.S. Department of Education have partnered to launch a public outreach campaign highlighting the importance of universal developmental and behavioral screening, and support for young children.
http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/ecd/child-health-development/watch-me-thrive
In Wood County Human Services
https://www.co.wood.wi.us/Departments/HumanServices/Default.aspx?DivisionID=0
Children and Families
Mental Health
Community Resources and Assistance Programs
Adults at Risk
Partner Resources
------------------------
Services for Children with Delays or Disabilities https://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/children/index.htm
Birth to Three https://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/birthto3/index.htm
Katie Beckett Program - for children with long term medical needs https://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/kbp/index.htm
Children's Community Options - coordinated approach to supporting families who have a child with a disability.
https://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/ccop/index.htm
Children's Long Term Waiver Program https://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/clts/waiver/family/index.htm
------------------------
Early Childhood Special Education
This page on the DPI site offers great information on early childhood special education information including part B, referrals, standards and much more. http://dpi.wi.gov/sped/early-childhood
------------------------
IDEA Part C (Birth-3) Regulations
An unofficial version of the Part C Final Regulations was released on September 6th. Please note, this document has been delivered to the Office of the Federal Register, but has not yet been scheduled for publication. The revised Part C Regulations are to be implemented 30 days after publication in the Federal Register. The pre-publication version is at: http://www2.ed.gov/policy/speced/reg/idea/part-c/index.html
------------------------
Call 2-1-1 for a Headstart in your area!!
Head Start - https://eclkc.ohs.acf.hhs.gov/
Head Start promotes the school readiness of young children from low-income families through agencies in their local community.
Head Start and Early Head Start programs support the mental, social, and emotional development of children from birth to age 5. In addition to education services, programs provide children and their families with health, nutrition, social, and other services. Head Start services are responsive to each child and family's ethnic, cultural, and linguistic heritage.
--------------------------------
Kinship Care- https://dcf.wisconsin.gov/kinship
The WCDSS administers a Federal and State funded program called Kinship Care, which provides money to people who are raising the children of their relatives.
Children's Comprehensive Community Services
Comprehensive Community Services (CCS) provides an array of psychosocial rehabilitation services to consumers up to age 19 (if in high school) with mental health or substance use disorders. The program uses a wrap-around model that is flexible, consumer directed, recovery oriented, and strengths-based. The intent of services is to reduce the effect of the youth’s mental and substance disorders, restore youth to the best possible level of functioning, and to facilitate recovery. Medical Assistance is billed for services. Referrals are accepted from child welfare, education, juvenile justice, mental health programs, parents and caregivers.
In order to be enrolled in the CCS program, children must have a:
Coordinated Services Team (CST) is a wraparound model of care for children with behavioral health issues. CST is targeted to children that are involved in two or more systems of care (such as mental health, long term care, juvenile justice, child welfare, substance abuse or special education) and who have complex needs.The wraparound process is based on family and community values, is committed to creatively addressing child and family needs and focuses on community-based supports. The development of relationships within the community is critical to the success of CST in the support of the child and family.
Support teams are developed in collaboration with the family and include:
Progress is monitored by reviewing the plan regularly. When progress is not apparent, the team works together to problem solve what could be done to help.
Safety and Crisis Plans are developed as needed to ensure safety for the child, family and community.
http://www.co.wood.wi.us/Departments/HumanServices/CoordinatedServicesTeam.aspx
------------------------
Family Voices https://familyvoiceswi.org/
Fact Sheets on Health Care and Related Topics - (Links have changed: go to main link above Go to Resource Library)
GREAT FACTS sheets and How to!!! Go to and mark this site!!!
Go to a Did You Know - Now You Know Training near you!!!
We support families by providing information, training and leadership opportunities so that families can be informed and effective partners in their child's care and in the systems that support them.
------------------------
Tiered Instruction | Online Module
Check out CONNECT's newest module, designed to help learners understand the purpose, use, and potential benefits of tiered instruction to promote positive behaviors and academic learning in young children in early care and education programs.
http://fpg.unc.edu/node/2848
------------------------
Getting ready for Kindergarten - http://getreadytoread.org/images/content/downloads/Kindergarten_Readiness_Toolkit/getting_to_know_my_child-english.pdf
Updated 2-19-2020
Bright by Text is a free program that provides helpful tips, information, activities and resources to parents/caregivers to promote child development. These text messages are sent to pregnant individuals and parents and adults who care for young children up to 8 years of age. Each text message offers age-appropriate information based on the child’s birthdate. Service is available in English and Spanish.
To get started text BADGER to 274448, and you will receive information about each child’s age directly to your cell phone.
DHS has release resources below to help families who have children with suspected delays or disabilities access the Birth to 3 Program.
New family-focused materials include:
- Family newsletter articles (see the Articles section of the Family Materials webpage)
- Early Intervention Services: booklet that explains Birth to 3 Program services, natural environments, and the team
- Services at a Glance: document that lists Birth to 3 Program services and supports
- Provider newsletter articles (see the Newsletter Content section on the Health and Child Care Professionals Materials webpage): pre-made articles to help develop a story in your next bulletin, newsletter, email, or website update for health and child care providers.
- Conversation Checklist for Health Care Providers: resource to help doctors, nurse practitioners, therapists, and other health care professionals talk with families about the Birth to 3 Program
- Conversation Checklist for People Who Work With Children: resource to help child care providers, child welfare staff, advocates, and others talk with families about the Birth to 3 Program
Please check out this web site through the Waisman Center for resources and connections to information you should be aware of.
http://www.waisman.wisc.edu/cedd/early.php
Developmental Milestones -http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/actearly/milestones/index.html
Essentials for Parenting Toddlers and Preschoolers is a free, online resource developed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Designed for parents of 2 to 4 year olds, the resource addresses common parenting challenges, like tantrums and whining. http://www.cdc.gov/parents/essentials/
Birth to Five: Watch Me Thrive: To promote healthy development and early identification of developmental delays and behavioral health issues, several agencies within the Health and Human Services Administration, including the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), and the U.S. Department of Education have partnered to launch a public outreach campaign highlighting the importance of universal developmental and behavioral screening, and support for young children.
http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/ecd/child-health-development/watch-me-thrive
In Wood County Human Services
https://www.co.wood.wi.us/Departments/HumanServices/Default.aspx?DivisionID=0
Children and Families
Mental Health
Community Resources and Assistance Programs
Adults at Risk
Partner Resources
------------------------
Services for Children with Delays or Disabilities https://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/children/index.htm
Birth to Three https://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/birthto3/index.htm
Katie Beckett Program - for children with long term medical needs https://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/kbp/index.htm
Children's Community Options - coordinated approach to supporting families who have a child with a disability.
https://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/ccop/index.htm
Children's Long Term Waiver Program https://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/clts/waiver/family/index.htm
------------------------
Early Childhood Special Education
This page on the DPI site offers great information on early childhood special education information including part B, referrals, standards and much more. http://dpi.wi.gov/sped/early-childhood
------------------------
IDEA Part C (Birth-3) Regulations
An unofficial version of the Part C Final Regulations was released on September 6th. Please note, this document has been delivered to the Office of the Federal Register, but has not yet been scheduled for publication. The revised Part C Regulations are to be implemented 30 days after publication in the Federal Register. The pre-publication version is at: http://www2.ed.gov/policy/speced/reg/idea/part-c/index.html
------------------------
Call 2-1-1 for a Headstart in your area!!
Head Start - https://eclkc.ohs.acf.hhs.gov/
Head Start promotes the school readiness of young children from low-income families through agencies in their local community.
Head Start and Early Head Start programs support the mental, social, and emotional development of children from birth to age 5. In addition to education services, programs provide children and their families with health, nutrition, social, and other services. Head Start services are responsive to each child and family's ethnic, cultural, and linguistic heritage.
--------------------------------
Kinship Care- https://dcf.wisconsin.gov/kinship
The WCDSS administers a Federal and State funded program called Kinship Care, which provides money to people who are raising the children of their relatives.
Children's Comprehensive Community Services
Comprehensive Community Services (CCS) provides an array of psychosocial rehabilitation services to consumers up to age 19 (if in high school) with mental health or substance use disorders. The program uses a wrap-around model that is flexible, consumer directed, recovery oriented, and strengths-based. The intent of services is to reduce the effect of the youth’s mental and substance disorders, restore youth to the best possible level of functioning, and to facilitate recovery. Medical Assistance is billed for services. Referrals are accepted from child welfare, education, juvenile justice, mental health programs, parents and caregivers.
In order to be enrolled in the CCS program, children must have a:
- Mental health or substance use diagnosis
- Determination of functional eligibility via the children’s long term functional screen
- Residence in Wood County
Coordinated Services Team (CST) is a wraparound model of care for children with behavioral health issues. CST is targeted to children that are involved in two or more systems of care (such as mental health, long term care, juvenile justice, child welfare, substance abuse or special education) and who have complex needs.The wraparound process is based on family and community values, is committed to creatively addressing child and family needs and focuses on community-based supports. The development of relationships within the community is critical to the success of CST in the support of the child and family.
Support teams are developed in collaboration with the family and include:
- The child
- Parents
- Individuals who are important in the life of the child and family – examples include: relatives, neighbors, caregivers, pastor or spiritual leader, social worker, teachers, friends, AODA provider, law enforcement, therapists and the service facilitator
Progress is monitored by reviewing the plan regularly. When progress is not apparent, the team works together to problem solve what could be done to help.
Safety and Crisis Plans are developed as needed to ensure safety for the child, family and community.
http://www.co.wood.wi.us/Departments/HumanServices/CoordinatedServicesTeam.aspx
------------------------
Family Voices https://familyvoiceswi.org/
Fact Sheets on Health Care and Related Topics - (Links have changed: go to main link above Go to Resource Library)
- Children’s Community Options Program (Dec. 2015)
- Insurance and Medicaid Prior Authorizations (Dec. 2015)
- Supported Decision Making for Transition Age Youth with Disabilities
- Insurance Prior Authorizations (PAs) – What Families Need to Know about PAs
- SSI and Children with Disabilities
- Toma de decisiones asistida (Assisted Decision Making en Espanol)
- Appealing a Medicaid or BadgerCare Denial / Apelación de un rechazo de Medicaid o BadgerCare
- Medicaid and Incontinence Supplies (for those not in an HMO) / Pañales/Provisiones de Incontinencia Y Medicaid
- Incontinence Supplies for those Covered by Medicaid HMOs
- Finding the Right Doctor Fact Sheet / Eligiendo al Doctor Correcto
- Finding and Funding Respite / Ubicación y financiamiento de cuidados de relevo para su hijo con necesidades especiales
- What is HealthCheck Other Services / ¿Qué es HealthCheck Other Services (HCOS)?
- Private Insurance Changes that Impact Families / Cambios en las Compañías de Seguros Privadas que afectan a las familias
- Making the Most of Doctor’s Appointments
- Medicaid and Transportation to Medical Appointments (MTM) ) / Medicaid y el transporte a citas médicas
- What Are Outcomes | Creando Metas Y Objetivos
- Personal-Care Services and Medicaid | Servicios de Cuidado Personal y Medicaid
GREAT FACTS sheets and How to!!! Go to and mark this site!!!
Go to a Did You Know - Now You Know Training near you!!!
We support families by providing information, training and leadership opportunities so that families can be informed and effective partners in their child's care and in the systems that support them.
------------------------
Tiered Instruction | Online Module
Check out CONNECT's newest module, designed to help learners understand the purpose, use, and potential benefits of tiered instruction to promote positive behaviors and academic learning in young children in early care and education programs.
http://fpg.unc.edu/node/2848
------------------------
Getting ready for Kindergarten - http://getreadytoread.org/images/content/downloads/Kindergarten_Readiness_Toolkit/getting_to_know_my_child-english.pdf
Updated 2-19-2020
PIER is an informational site. It is not a legal services agency and cannot provide legal advice or legal representation. Any information contained on this site is not intended as legal or medical advice but only as an informational resource. This web site was created to inform and educate. The content should not be used as a substitute for professional medical advice, recommendations, diagnosis or treatment.
You are encouraged to confirm all information with other sources and a physician. If you have health concerns, please call or see a qualified health care provider without delay. .
We do not endorse any treatments, providers, or product information in this site.
As with any program - we strongly encourage you to thoroughly check out references.
You are encouraged to confirm all information with other sources and a physician. If you have health concerns, please call or see a qualified health care provider without delay. .
We do not endorse any treatments, providers, or product information in this site.
As with any program - we strongly encourage you to thoroughly check out references.