Children First
Children First is an employment and training program for Non-Custodial Parents (NCPs) who have a court-ordered support obligation. The goal of Children First is to help customers gain and retain employment while strengthening their relationship with their children.
CW Solutions, through a sub-contract, provides Children First services in Wood, Portage and Oneida counties.
Wood & Portage Counties
Case Manager: Lue Chang
(Cell) 715-540-6676
(715) 421 - 8617
lchang@co.wood.wi.us
Oneida County
Case Manager: Ruthie Lesch
(715) 362-1463
lesch@changewithin.net
Supervisor: Nikki Holder
(715) 216 - 9310
holder@changewithin.net
Locations
Wood County Locations
Wisconsin Rapids: Wood County Human Services Department
River Block Building
111 W Jackson St, 2nd Floor
Wisconsin Rapids, WI 54495
Hours: 8:30am - 6:00pm
Tuesdays, Thursdays
9:30am - 2:30pm
Every other Friday
Marshfield: Wood County Human Services Department
City Hall Plaza
630 S. Central Ave.
Marshfield, WI 54449
Hours: 9:30am - 2:30pm
Every other Friday
Portage County Location
Stevens Point: Portage County Health & Human Services
Ruth Gilfry Building
817 Whiting Ave
Stevens Point, WI 54481
Hours: 8:30am - 6:00pm
Mondays and Wednesdays
Oneida County Location
Rhinelander: Oneida County County Courthouse
1 S. Oneida Street
Rhinelander, WI 54501
Hours: 8:00am - 4:30pm
Monday - Friday
Program Activities
Children First has the following activities available to help NCPs achieve their goals and comply with their court order.
| Employment Search | Job Readiness Activities |
Resume Development Application/Online Application skills Targeted job leads | Budgeting Classes Computer Basics Job Readiness Activities Parenting Classes
|
| Education and Training | Work Experience |
Adult Basic Education Driver's Education English as a Second Language GED or HSED Job Skills Training Literacy Skills
| Unpaid Work Experience Working full or part-time |
Program Requirements
Children First participants are first and foremost subject to the specific requirements in his/her court order. In order for a participant to satisfy Children First program requirements, s/he must complete one of the following within 12 months of enrollment:
- Make three consecutive monthly child support payments for the court-ordered amount (partial payments do not count); -or-
- Successfully and fully complete all assigned activities for 16 weeks in the Children First program.
If you do not complete all of your assigned activities for a given week (even if there is good cause), it cannot count as a completed week towards the 16 weeks of program engagement.
Support Services
The Children First program has limited funding to assist participants with their activities. A participant is eligible for up to $25 in transportation reimbursement (either gas cards or taxi tickets) per month. We work closely with community resources to help with other needs.
Children First participants who are receiving FoodShare assistance can co-enroll in the FoodShare Employment & Training (FSET) program which has significantly more resources to help with support services including additional transportation reimbursement assistance, interview clothing, uniforms and other job-related needs.