Compliance

PREA, Civil Rights & State of Wisconsin Caregiver Law

PREA

WCS works to achieve compliance with all applicable local, state and federal laws, as we deliver high-quality services to thousands of individuals each year. The compliance statements listed here are not exhaustive.

Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA) Policy & Reporting Procedure

Wisconsin Community Services, Inc. (WCS) has zero tolerance for sexual abuse and sexual harassment in all of its facilities. The PREA officers (see below) at WCS coordinate implementation, compliance and audit activities for all WCS facilities and work to prevent, detect and respond to all incidents of sexual abuse and sexual harassment.

PREA Officers at WCS

Joy Fitzsimons
PREA Compliance Manager & Program Director at the Joshua Glover Residential Reentry Center (through the Wisconsin Department of Corrections)
414-442-3700
EMAIL

Kim Tardin
PREA Compliance Manager & Program Director at Parson House Residential Reentry Center (through the Federal Bureau of Prisons)
414-445-3301
EMAIL

Felicia Wilkins
PREA Coordinator & Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) Coordinator for WCS Residential Services
414-840-3085
EMAIL

TO REPORT SEXUAL ABUSE OR SEXUAL HARASSMENT AT ONE OF THE WCS RESIDENTIAL FACILITIES 

    • WCS investigates all allegations of sexual abuse and sexual harassment of inmates and residents in our custody. We accept allegations in many forms from inmates and residents, including verbally to any staff member, in writing, by reporting via the link below, anonymously, and from any third party on behalf of an inmate or resident. All allegations will be assumed to be credible and will result in an immediate investigation. 
  • If you wish to report an allegation of sexual abuse or sexual harassment on behalf of any inmate or resident who is, or was at the time of the incident, in WCS custody, please click the report button below to send an e-mail and the allegation will be investigated. 

Please provide as much information as possible including:

  • Inmate or resident full name
  • Inmate or resident date of birth
  • Inmate or resident identification number
  • Facility in which the incident occurred 
  • Facility in which inmate or resident is/was living when the incident occurred (if different from above)
  • Description of incident including date, locations, circumstances
  • Suspect information
  • Your information, if you wish to be contacted regarding this allegation

Sexual Abuse or Sexual Harassment at Joshua Glover, Parsons House, Sankofa OR Swigart House

Pursuant to PREA 115.222, WCS will refer all allegations of sexual abuse or sexual harassment involving potentially criminal behavior for investigation to the local law enforcement agency that has the authority to conduct criminal investigations.  In cases where the investigation is referred to the local law enforcement agency:

WCS staff shall cooperate fully with the investigating agency during the course of the investigation:

  • If a WCS staff member, intern, volunteer or contractor is involved in the alleged incident, that person shall be placed on administrative leave pending the investigation.
  • If a resident of the WCS community confinement program is involved in the alleged incident, that person shall be transferred to a different WCS confinement facility under the same contract OR placed on community confinement IF he or she is eligible and with the approval of the Bureau of Prisons.

The WCS PREA Compliance Manager shall:

  • Provide copies of reports and turn over all evidence collected to the investigating agency;
  • Maintain contact with the investigating agency during the course of the investigation to be informed of the progress and outcome; and
  • Notify all required agencies of the progress and outcome of the investigation, including the Bureau of Prisons

Civil Rights Compliance

  • Wisconsin Community Services, Inc. (WCS) and its subrecipients/subcontractors do comply with the Civil Rights Compliance (CRC) Requirements.

  • WCS completes a Civil Rights Compliance Plan (“CRC Plan”) as required by law.

  • WCS completes and maintains a Civil Rights Compliance Plan (“CRC Plan”) which can be made available upon request.

  • Federal civil rights laws prohibit discrimination of members, applicants, enrollees and beneficiaries in programs and activities that receive Federal financial assistance.

  • Agency members shall demonstrate respect to co-workers, agency members, supervisors, individual participants, family members and visitors. At no time will their civil and legal rights be purposely abridged. Criticisms of agency and staff will be offered in a constructive manner and shall be addressed internally.

  • One of the WCS core values is Justice.  WCS strongly advocates for and upholds each person’s basic human and civil rights as demonstrated through acceptance and promotion of diversity, fairness and impartiality.

  • The WCS Code of Ethics states in part: Agency members shall demonstrate respect to co-workers, agency members, supervisors, individual clients, patients, service consumers, family members and visitors. At no time will their civil and legal rights be purposely abridged. Criticisms of agency and staff will be offered in a constructive manner and shall be addressed internally.

State of Wisconsin Caregiver Law

  • State of Wisconsin Background Check Requirements:  “Entities must complete these background checks for any of their employees and contractors meeting the definition of a “caregiver” under Wis. Stat. § 50.065(1)(ag)1. These caregiver background checks are required at the time of hire and at least every four years thereafter.”

  • To comply with WI state law and to ensure that WCS employees are well qualified with strong potential to be productive and successful, program directors conduct background checks and employment references of candidates considered for hire.

  • Every four years caregiver background checks are run on any employee meeting the definition of “caregiver.”

  • Additional caregiver background checks may be run in order to comply with the specific requirements of a WCS funding source.

WCS Agency Licenses

  • DCF 52 – Residential Care Center for Children and Youth – Bakari Center Residential Care Center (RCC)

  • DCF 54 – Treatment Foster Care: Child Placing Agency

  • DCF 59 – Youth Shelter Care Program – Bahiya House

  • DCF 59 – Youth Shelter Care Program – Rashid House

  • DHS 35 – Mental Health Outpatient Clinic

  • DHS 50 – Youth Crisis Stabilization Facility

  • DHS 63 – Mental Health Community Support Program

  • DHS 75.11 – Medically Monitored Treatment Services – Joshua Glover Residential Reentry Center

  • DHS 75.13 – CSAS Community Substance Abuse Service – Outpatient Treatment SUD (Substance Use) Treatment – Unlimited Potential Outpatient Mental Health and Substance Use Clinic

  • DHS 75.13 – CSAS – Outpatient Treatment SUD (Substance Use) Treatment– Milwaukee County Day Reporting Center

  • DHS 83 – CBRF Community-Based Residential Facility License– Joshua Glover Residential Reentry Center (RRC)

  • DHS 83 – CBRF – Parsons House Residential Reentry Center (RRC)