CCF Referrals

CCF Referrals

There are two ways to refer a child to the Children Come First program.  If the child is currently involved with Dane County Department of Human Services (either through Child Protective Services or the Delinquency unit) the child's Dane County Social Worker must initiate the CCF referral.

If the child is not currently involved with Dane County Department of Human Services, the child's parent/legal guardian can contact Community Partnerships to request a voluntary CCF referral.   

Referral Process for DCDHS Clients

  1. Contact your child's Dane County Social Worker and inform him/her that you would like your child referred to the Children Come First program.
  2. Your child's DCDHS Social Worker will schedule an Administrative Review Board (ARB) meeting.  ARB is a multi-disciplinary board made up of DCDHS and community representatives that meets once per week and gatekeeps all CCF enrollment.  The DCDHS Social Worker will present your child's referral at ARB and ARB members vote to decide whether or not to approve CCF enrollment.  Families are welcome to participate in the ARB meeting.
  3. If CCF enrollment is approved by ARB, your child's DCDHS Social Worker will then send your child's referral information to Community Partnerships and the process to assign a CCF Coordinator to your child will begin.  

If you have questions about your child's referral you should contact your child's Dane County Social Worker.   

Referral Process for Children NOT Open with DCDHS

  1. For children not involved with DCDHS, a parent or legal guardian must initiate a Voluntary Referral by contacting Community Partnerships at (608) 250-6634.
  2. A Community Partnerships staff member will talk with the parent/legal guardian to do an initial review of eligibility criteria and screen referrals.
  3. If your child's referral appears to meet eligibility criteria and is screened in, the referral information will be passed on to a Community Partnerships Referral Coordinator.
  4. The Referral Coordinator will contact you within approximately one week to do an in-person or phone interview to gather additional information.
  5. If, after gathering additional information, the Referral Coordinator continues to believe your child meets eligibility criteria, the Referral Coordinator will schedule an Administrative Review Board (ARB) meeting.  ARB is a multi-disciplinary board made up of DCDHS and community representatives that meets once per week and gatekeeps all CCF enrollment.  The Referral Coordinator will present your child's referral at ARB and ARB members will vote to decide whether or not to approve CCF enrollment.  Families are welcome to participate in the ARB meeting. 
  6. If CCF enrollment is approved by ARB, the Referral Coordinator will send your child's referral information to Community Partnerships and the process to assign a CCF Coordinator to your child will begin.
If you have questions about your child's Voluntary Referral you should contact Community Partnerships. 

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