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Wisconsin News Release: Governor's Task Force to Target Drug and Alcohol Abuse

TOMMY G. THOMPSON

Governor
State of Wisconsin

For Immediate Release - April 2, 1999
Contact: Darrin Schmitz (608) 266-9806
Jean Rogers (608) 266-3035

GOVERNOR’S W-2 TASK FORCE TO TARGET
DRUG AND ALCOHOL ABUSE
Task Force to tackle chemical dependency as a barrier to employment

MADISON - Gov. Tommy G. Thompson today announced the formation of the Governor’s Wisconsin Works and Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse (AODA) Task Force to assist W-2 participants in breaking free of chemical addictions.

Gov. Thompson said alcohol and drug abuse is a challenging barrier that must be overcome by many W-2 participants before they can become self-sufficient and provide for themselves and their families.

"Dependence on alcohol and drugs undoubtedly has a negative impact on finding and sustaining employment for many W-2 participants," Gov. Thompson said. "The recommendations of the task force will assist caseworkers in detecting substance abuse early, make an assessment and better help participants receive the treatment necessary so they can live a higher quality of life."

The governor named Jean Rogers, Administrator of Division of Economic Support at the Department of Workforce Development, as chairperson and charged the task force to study and make recommendations regarding the AODA programs needs of W-2 participants.

The governor’s task force consists of 17 individuals from diverse fields of expertise to study the AODA program needs of W-2 recipients. The governor charged the task force to:

Develop an up-front AODA screening process for W-2 participants and a corresponding training program for the caseworkers.
Measure the availability of treatment placement slots in communities having 50 or more W-2 employment program participants and, where necessary, develop strategies to increase the number of treatment placement slots.
Develop a guide that encourages AODA providers to develop innovative, outcome-based out-patient treatment programs that can be combined with job training.

The efforts of the task force will coincide with additional initiatives contained in the governor’s budget that combat drug and alcohol abuse, including:

$2 million for rehabilitation programs in prisons.
Enlisting the help of faith-based organizations to combat the devastation of broken families by fighting the ills of drug abuse.
$2 million in grants for tribes to supplement existing law enforcement programs or develop new ones to combat crime and drug abuse on Indian reservations.

The task force will submit a report on its findings and recommendations to the governor.

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GOVERNOR’S W-2 AND AODA TASK FORCE MEMBERSHIP

Chair J. Jean Rogers Administrator Department of Workforce Development Division of Economic Support
Mr. Norm Briggs - Traditional Service Provider (SCAODA Intervention & Treatment Prevention Member and Governor’s AODA Blue Ribbon Task Force Member) WADTPA, St. Clare Center 707 14th Street Baraboo, WI 53913 Telephone: (608) 356-1555 FAX: (608) 356-1365 E-Mail:	Ms. Terry Bucheger - Women’s Treatment Provider Director of AODA Services 1409 Emil Street, Suite 200 Madison, WI 53713 Telephone: (608) 283-6426 FAX: (608) 278-2313 E-Mail:
Al Castro - Community United Community Center 1028 South 9th Street Milwaukee, WI 53204 Telephone: (414) 643-8530 FAX: (414) 649-4411 E-Mail:	Ms. Mae Demps - Women’s Treatment Provider SAFE GROUP 3500 N. Sherman, Suite, 305 Milwaukee, WI 53216 Telephone: (414) 449-2283 FAX: (414) 449-0111 E-Mail:
Dr. Francine Feinberg, - Women’s Treatment Provider Meta House 1200 Capitol Drive Milwaukee, WI 53212 Telephone: (414) 962-1200 FAX: (414) 962-2305 E-Mail: francine@naspa.net	Ms. Donna Kahl - Urban W-2 Agency Employment Solutions, Inc. 4055 North 34th Street Milwaukee, WI 53216 Telephone: (414) 663-4956 or (414) 874-7801 FAX: (414) 444-8793
Ms. Renee LaFleur - Traditional Treatment Provider (SCAODA Intervention & Treatment Prevention Member) American Indian Council of Alcoholism 2240 West National Avenue Milwaukee, WI 53204 Telephone: (414) 671-2200 FAX: (414) 671-4570 E-Mail: lafleur1@exec.pc.com	Ms. Fannie LeFlore - Urban W-2 Agency United Migrant Opportunity Services 929 West Mitchell Milwaukee, WI 53204 Telephone: FAX: (414) 671-4833 E-Mail: FannieL@umos.org
Ms. Geri Lyday - County Human Services Department Milwaukee Co. Combined Community Services 235 West Galena, Suite 270 Milwaukee, WI 53212 Telephone: (414) 289-5948 FAX: (414) 289-8522 E-Mail:	Mr. Norm Lynch, Community Advocate MICAH Milwaukee Substance Abuse Services Network 1915 North 53rd Street Milwaukee, WI 53208 Telephone: (414) 476- 6252 FAX: (414) 414) 476-6252 E-Mail:
Ms. Anne Paczesny - Urban W-2 Agency YW Works W-2 Agency 1915 N. Martin Luther King Drive Milwaukee, WI 53212 Telephone: (414) 374-9922 FAX: (414) 374-3688 E-Mail: apaczesn@ywcaogm.org	Mr. Dave Rohlfing - Prevention/Intervention Advocacy Provider Milwaukee Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence 1126 South 70th Street, Suite 116 Milwaukee, WI 53214 Telephone: (414) 475-2363 FAX: (414) 475-2380 E-Mail: mcadd@aol.com
Ms. Mark Strosahl - County Human Service Agency (SCAODA Intervention & Treatment Prevention Member and Governor’s AODA Blue Ribbon Task Force Member) Human Service Center Forest, Oneida & Vilas Counties 705 East Timber Drive, Box 897 Rhinelander, WI 54502-0897 Telephone: (715) 369-2215 FAX: (715) 369-2214 E-Mail:	Ms. Carey Tradewell - Women’s Treatment Provider (SCAODA Diversity Committee Chair) Milwaukee Women’s Center 611 North Broadway, #230 Milwaukee, WI 53202 Telephone: (414) 272-6199 FAX: (414) 272-0757 E-Mail: careymwc@aol.com
Ms. Vincent Ritacca Department of Health and Family Services Division of Supportive Living Bureau of Substance Abuse 1 West Wilson Street, Room 433 Madison, WI 53707 -7851 Telephone: (608) 266-2754 FAX: (608) 266-1533 E-Mail: ritacvj@dhfs.state.wi.us	Mr. Jeff Veneman - Non Urban W-2 Agency Representative Rock Co. Department of Human Services 1900 Center Avenue Janesville, WI 53546 Telephone: (608) 741-3495 FAX: (608) 741-3429 E-Mail: veneman@co.rock.wi.us
Committee Consultants
Barbara Johnson Department of Corrections Bureau of Offender Programs 149 E. Wilson Street Madison, WI 53702 Telephone: (608) 266-5443 FAX: (608) 267-1751	Michael Thompson Department of Public Instruction 125 South Webster Street, P.O. Box 7841 Madison, WI 53707-7841 Telephone: (608) 266-3584 FAX:
Sherilyn Smith Neal PrimeCare Health Maintenance Organization 2300 Mayfair Road Milwaukee, WI 53226 Telephone: (414) 256-6734 FAX: (414) 471-3973	Angela Dombrowicki Department of Health and Family Services Bureau of Health Care Financing 1 West Wilson Street, Room 237 Madison, WI 53707 Telephone: (608) 266-1935 FAX:
Committee Staff Coordinator
Susan Larsen Department of Workforce Development Division of Economic Support Bureau of Welfare Initiatives 201 East Washington Street Madison, WI 53707 Telephone: (608) 266-3288 FAX: (608) 261-6968

Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development