Wisconsin Community Services, Inc

Court Liaison Service

is a program of

Wisconsin Community Services, Inc.

3732 W Wisconsin Avenue

Suite 300A

Milwaukee, WI 53208

Phone: (414)239-7825 or 303-7547

Fax: (414)239-7859

Wisconsin Community Services, Inc.

Supporting the Wisconsin Department of Health Services

Court Liaison Service

WCS-Court Liaison Service

3732 W Wisconsin Avenue

Suite 300A

Milwaukee, WI 53208

Phone: (414)239-7825 or 303-7547

Fax: (414)239-7859

Court Liaison Mission Statement: The Court Liaisons will uphold the core values of Wisconsin Community Services, Inc. (WCS) and apply them in every aspect of our interactions with the Court personnel and all of the State Department of Health Services (DHS) contracted service providers we work with. We will strive to:

Provide quality service through consultation, education and resource materials
Ensure statutory compliance and efficiency
Explore and implement new strategies to create cost savings
Develop and maintain collaborative working relationships
Create trust and promote mutual respect

Court Liaison Program Description: WCS is the DHS contracted service provider for the statewide Court Liaison and Forensic Tracking services. This program provides case consultation and education to the court, maintains tracking and collects data for DHS on all the phases of court proceedings under WSS 971 and works collaboratively with the various stakeholders involved to address system issues as needed.

Services Provided: Educational and reference materials are provided for the various DHS processes under WSS 971, specifically: Competency Examinations; Treatment to Competency Commitments; and accessing the Outpatient Competency Restoration Program (OCRP). The liaisons also educate the Court on the Not Guilty by Reason of Mental Disease or Defect (NGI) commitment process, review the tools available to assist the Court in determining placement under the NGI commitment, and outline the process for a Petition for Conditional Release (CR). These different phases are tracked through the Court process in an effort to ensure statutory compliance, and promote procedural efficiency.

Vision for the Future: Since the inception of the Court Liaison position in 2004, there have been many modifications and advancements in the way this position is utilized by the DHS. The primary focus remains on educating and assisting the various members of the judicial system, while also serving the DHS contracted service providers. Over the years our agency has worked with DHS to streamline this position, ensuring the professionals we serve receive consistent information regarding process and procedure, as well as providing detailed data that illustrates the cost-savings benefit this position was intended to generate for the State. We have identified many new areas where this position can have a significant impact on ensuring best practice strategies are being applied. We have also collaborated with many different service providers and stakeholders to identify various system issues, and then apply evidence-based decision making strategies to address these issues. This approach will ensure DHS is meeting the treatment needs of the individuals it serves and assist the Courts in following the proper processes and procedures in the most efficient and effective manner possible.