Leo Podoski, Child Welfare Division Manager, Winnebago County Dept. of Human Services
"I am writing this testimonial to express our appreciation and continued need and support of the CESA 6 Individual Youth Services program we purchase from CESA 6. In the early 2000s Winnebago County Human Services Department was looking to increase our local/community-based services for youth and families. One area of need was to provide an intensive community-based service to our younger youth struggling with emotional developmental challenges. Our efforts to define the service need and selecting a provider resulted in a purchase of service agreement with CESA 6.
We view the initial positive affect of our program as allowing several of our targeted youth to live at home while receiving significant and effective wrap-around type services that were specialized to meet this population’s needs. Since the program started we have expanded the program and the number of youth served as our local youth and family needs continue to be significant and we find our program effective, and well-received by our youth and families.
The areas of service, and costs, we view our Individual Youth Services program as having positive impact on are the areas of out-of-home placement, short-term holds to address mental health needs, legal or court ordered rule violations, family respite, youth mentoring, youth living skills development, and parent support.
Through the years as State service regulations have changed we found CESA 6 to be responsive, respectful and flexible as they continue to provide a much valued service. We continue to have significant needs for local effective services for our youth and families and plan to continue our purchase of services with CESA 6."
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