Wisconsin ADRC and Caseworker Help for Kinship Caregivers

Two Resources Most Kinship Caregivers Don't Know About

Wisconsin has two in-person support systems built for people in your situation — the Aging and Disability Resource Center (ADRC) network and the county kinship care caseworker. Most grandparents raising grandchildren never contact either one, often because they don't realize they qualify. Both provide real, practical help that goes beyond the monthly Kinship Care payment.

Your County Kinship Care Caseworker

When your Kinship Care application is approved under Wis. Stat. § 48.57(3m), the county human services department (or DMCPS in Milwaukee) assigns your case to a caseworker. For voluntary kinship arrangements, this isn't the same level of supervision as foster care — there are no mandatory home visit schedules. But the caseworker is your primary contact for:

• Questions about your annual eligibility review (Form DCF-F-5369-E, due every 12 months)
• Reporting changes in household composition or the child's circumstances
• Navigating background check issues for new household members
• Understanding how a change in legal status (getting guardianship, for example) affects your benefits
• Connecting you to other programs the child may qualify for

The caseworker doesn't make eligibility decisions alone — those follow the criteria in Wis. Admin. Code ch. DCF 58 — but they're the person who can explain what the agency needs from you and flag potential problems before they become denials.

If you don't know who your caseworker is, call your county human services department and ask for the kinship care unit.

The ADRC: Specifically for Caregivers 55 and Older

Wisconsin's Aging and Disability Resource Centers operate in every county. If you're 55 or older and raising a minor child (under 18) as the primary caregiver, you qualify for services through the National Family Caregiver Support Program (NFCSP) under Title III-E of the Older Americans Act.

This isn't another application for cash — the ADRC provides direct services:

Respite care. The ADRC can arrange and reimburse temporary caregiving relief so you can attend medical appointments, rest, or handle personal business. Respite providers might come to your home or care for the child at an approved facility.

Caregiver training. Workshops on child development, managing behavioral challenges, navigating the school system, and understanding benefits programs — specifically designed for older relatives raising children.

Support groups. Peer groups connecting you with other grandparents and kinship caregivers in your area. These are often the most valuable resource, because the people in the room understand exactly what you're dealing with.

Emergency funding. Small grants for adaptive equipment, emergency supplies, or immediate caregiving needs that other programs don't cover. These aren't ongoing payments — they're one-time crisis supports.

Referrals. The ADRC connects you to county social services, legal aid (Legal Action of Wisconsin in southern counties, Judicare Legal Aid in northern counties and tribal communities), meal programs, transportation assistance, and other community resources.

How to Contact Your Local ADRC

Every county has one. Search "ADRC [your county name] Wisconsin" online, or call the statewide ADRC referral line at 844-WIS-ADRC (844-947-2372). You don't need a referral from another agency — walk in or call directly.

The ADRC operates independently from the child welfare system. Using ADRC services doesn't affect your Kinship Care eligibility, trigger a child welfare investigation, or change your relationship with the county human services department.

Using Both Systems Together

The strongest position for a kinship caregiver is using the caseworker for benefit-specific questions and the ADRC for everything else — respite, training, community connections, and crisis supports. Neither replaces the other.

The Wisconsin Kinship Financial Help guide maps out which agency handles each benefit program and includes an Agency Communication Log to track every call, email, and appointment across all of them.

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