1. Agency Updates
• Freeman reported two recently hired Adult Protective Services investigators have
completed training and are being assigned cases. APS has received 2,200 contacts
since January, with approximately 1,900 involving time spent consulting with citizens and
stakeholders and 352 reports established. APS will increase efforts to raise awareness
about abuse of adults in 2022, including training with EMS staff through a pilot program
with the Department of Justice. The Collaborative Stabilization Steering Committee
continues its work to assist adults with dementia and intellectual and development
disabilities. A crisis summit is being planned for February 2022. Effective November 8,
APS is located at the South Madison Office on Park Street following a move from the
Northport Drive building.
• Brown reported County Executive Parisi included two FTE positions in the 2022
Dane County Budget to provide services mandated by Marsy's Law -- a victim witness
case manager and a trauma specialist. In addition, the County Board increased a .6 FTE
administrative legal assistant position to FTE status. The District Attorney's Office
continues to conduct trials for pre-pandemic charges due to the suspension of court
activities in 2021. A higher percentage of sensitive crimes trials are seeing not-guilty
verdicts than was the case prior to the pandemic.
• Pellebon reported Rape Crisis Center (RCC) has seen an increase in the number of
forensic nurse exams (FNEs). RCC is now responding to FNEs at University Health
Services (UHS). Since mid-September, there have been 14 FNEs at UHS. A therapy
expansion is underway with three full-time therapists, including one who is bilingual and
bicultural (Spanish). Efforts are underway to hire a fourth therapist and a Development
Coordinator. RCC is seeking to hire two bilingual, bicultural advocates, a multicultural
advocate and a youth advocate, and has hired four on-call advocates to help alleviate
staff burnout. RCC is in the process of getting approved for CCS expansion, with one
person hired and two open positions. RCC is working with Madison Metropolitan School
District (MMSD) to place advocates in the schools and to provide more educational
opportunities. The plan is to hire five youth advocates who are assigned to the high
schools and will also work with the middle schools.
• Kato reported The Rainbow Project, Inc. has hired a nurse and is strengthening its
staff wellness policy as staff resiliency wanes during the pandemic. Groups are meeting
in schools throughout the county and the agency's other groups also have resumed
meeting after a pause earlier in the pandemic. The wait list continues to grow with
students back in schools.
• Barry reported Virginia Escudero has left the Legal Advocate Program at Domestic
Abuse Intervention Services (DAIS) to become Executive Director at UNIDOS. DAIS is
in the hiring process for two legal advocates, with one of the positions being bilingual,
and a case manager. Kianna Hanson was promoted to Legal Program Coordinator. The
shelter continues to operate at capacity. DAIS is placing some people seeking shelter in
hotels. The agency's case management program has seen a 250% increase in services
provided since it began going into the community as opposed to offering only in-house
services.
• Crowley reported the inability of DCDHS to hire and retain Child Protective Services
Initial Assessment social workers is creating high stress levels for incumbent staff.
Youth Justice continues to support MMSD schools as the district deals with escalated
violence. A Youth Justice Coordinator position has been approved to support outreach
and coordination of services for 10- to 16-year-olds.
• Ginsburg reported Safe Harbor Child Advocacy Center's service delivery increased
as students resumed having contact with mandatory reporters as pandemic restrictions
