COMMUNITY BUILDING VIRTUAL CIRCLES OF SUPPORT “Community Building Circles of Support” are a chance for members of our community to come together in a shared space for safety, support, and connection. During these times of social distancing there can be a tendency to isolate and be alone, Circle Time ensures we care…

CLASP is a community-based WCS Peer Specialist program that provides strength-based and individualized services for people in Milwuakee County who are beginning the process of recovery from their mental health, substance use, or co-occurring needs. You can directly help these individuals during the current COVID-19 crisis by donating through our website,…

WCS is excited to be included in the 2019 Mutual of America Annual Report and on the Mutual of America website. WCS Executive Director Clarence Johnson, WCS Associate Executive Director Sara Carpenter, and WCS Human Resources Director Lori Sheets are featured! We encourage you to take a look at their annual…

Below are websites and local resources that may be helpful during the COVID-19 crisis: COVID-19 Information Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Provides guidance on COVID-19 related health issues Local Emergency Resources Impact 211 Accepting calls for questions related to the Covid-19 crisis that are non-medical in nature. This includes needs such as food delivery…

SAFER AT HOME ORDER In accordance with Governor Ever’s Safer At Home Order, WCS continues to serve all individuals in programs that are considered essential services. Under this order, in the Human Service Operations section it says, “For purposes of this Order, individuals may leave their residence to work for or obtain…

SAFER AT HOME PROGRAM PARTICIPANT QUESTIONS In accordance with Governor Ever’s Safer At Home Order, beginning on Tuesday March 24th, WCS will be carrying out only essential services. This means our Administrative offices will be closed until further notice or until such time as the Governor’s order is lifted. If you are a…

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  The WCS Center for Driver’s License Recovery and Employability (CDLRE) was honored to be one of three programs across the country that was recognized by Mutual of America (MOA) with a 2019 Community Partnership Award. On November 13th, a delegation from Milwaukee representing Legal Action of Wisconsin (LAW), the City…

The Center for Driver’s License Recovery and Employability (CDLRE) has been positively impacting the lives of low-income Milwaukee County residents since it began in 2007.  Over the years, CDLRE has provided case managment and legal assistance to more than 7,000 individuals.  To date, 4,000+ individuals have been able to obtain…

  Share Your Heart! Heart of Canal Street is Potawatomi Hotel & Casino’s signature community program, and this year’s campaign is underway! Half of each $3 or $7 Canal Street Bingo game purchased goes to the Heart of Canal Street fund, which totaled more than $1.1 million last year and provided funding to…

The WCS Black Male Advisory Council (BMAC) hosted its 5th Annual Community Resource & Job Fair on Wednesday, August 28th.  More than 150 job seekers attended and 20 of the attendees received job offers onsite!  In addition to meeting with prospective employers, participants also received information about healthcare, parenting, education…

Mediation & Dispute Resolution Skills Workshop September 26th & 27th, 2019 Workshop Location Citizens Bank of Mukwonago in Waukesha 2109 Corporate Drive Waukesha, WI 53188 This workshop is a “hands-on” experiential training that will give participants an opportunity to test their skills in helping others to resolve disputes and find peaceful solutions to their differences. CLICK HERE…

Both WTMJ-TV Milwaukee and Wisconsin Public Radio recently featured stories about how the Waukesha Alcohol Treatment Court (ATC) truly saves lives. A collaborative effort between Waukesha County and Wisconsin Community Services(WCS), the Waukesha ATC provides intensive supervision and case management of third and fourth offense drunk drivers post conviction with intensive…

Michael Balda, Director of Electronic Monitoring and Drug Testing Services at WCS, recently received the Waukesha County Exceptional Victim Advocacy Award from the Waukesha County District Attorney’s Office and Victim/Witness Assistance Program. Mike was recognized for his outstanding dedication and service to victims of crime on April 10, 2019 during…

The Role Driver’s Licenses Play in Black Male Incarceration

WCS Site Manager Torre Johnson   WCS' Torre Johnson was a guest panelist at a recent forum hosted by WUWM and MPTV. On March 11, 2014, more than 125 people attended the forum about Wisconsin’s disproportionatley high rate of black male incarceration. A recent UW-Milwaukee study showed that Wisconsin has the highest rate (one…

In a recent article on MSN.com, WCS' Director of Policy Research Nichole Yunk Todd provides insight into Wisconsin's driver's licence revocation and recovery system.  Molly Gena, a lawyer with the Legal Action of Wisconsin, was also interviewed for the article. http://www.msn.com Retrieved April 20, 2015 Bad drivers probably shouldn't be on the road.…

On October 13, 2014, the Center for Driver’s License Recovery & Employability (CDLRE) won the 2014 Greater Together Challenge with its proposal to restore universal driver’s education in Milwaukee! On October 15, 2014, the Common Council of Milwaukee unanimously passed a resolution supporting the proposal by CDLRE in the Greater Together…

Our WCS family has lost a longtime colleague and friend. Steve Swigart was employed by Wisconsin Community Services from 1973-2007, serving as Executive Director from 1997 until his retirement in 2007.  To help us celebrate Steve’s life and honor his memory, you can donate here. A tribute to Steve was featured in…

"The Society for the Friendless . . . was first organized in Topeka, Kansas in 1901.  Its chief work is the care of prisoners who leave the penitentiaries and are placed in positions of self-support . . . "  Kansas: a cylopedia of state history, 1912