Community Connections

Community Connections Collaboration

On any given day there is an average of 175 individuals incarcerated in the Sauk County Jail and many of these individuals have families and small children.  Evidence has proved that incarceration not only has a negative impact on the incarcerated individual in terms of re-incarceration rates, employment rates, and gross salary rates, but can also have devastating effects on children and the family unit.

Sauk County is committed to moving forward in a capacity that addresses the special circumstances and needs of these families, and while incarceration cannot always be avoided, extending support to the families and increasing their knowledge of community services that offer support can be attained.

In a collaborative new partnership between the Sauk County Jail, Criminal Justice Coordinating Council, Health Department and UW Extension we hope to increase the support offered to families struggling with incarceration.  This partnership seeks to provide referrals to those family members who fill the role of primary caretaker to children while a parent or guardian is incarcerated.  This partnership also seeks to better inform the incarcerated parent on communication techniques that can be used to alleviate some of the negative impact that incarceration will have on their children.

With the permission of the incarcerated individual this partnership will gather basic data to evaluate what services a family, child, and/or caretaker may qualify for and begin the referral process; allowing more access to resources that are often underutilized.

Nurse Family Partnership, Head Start, Birth to 3, Pre-Natal Care Coordination, Resource Nurse, and Women Infant Children (WIC) are some of the valuable resources that will be referred to those families in need.

Pregnant with your first baby? 

Are you less than 29 weeks gestation?  Ask about our Nurse Family Partnership Program (NFP).  NFP works to empower first-time mothers by working one-on-one with a registered nurse in the home starting during pregnancy and continuing with the family until the infant turns two years of age.  NFP covers any topic the mother chooses and encourages the participation of the father-to-be.  NFP’s goals are to improve prenatal care, improve child health and development, and parent’s economic self-sufficiency.  We also provide relevant community resource information as needed. If you qualify for WIC or Medicaid, give us a call! NFP is about changing lives—for generations.

Pregnant with your second baby or past 29 weeks gestation? For a healthy baby, ask about our Prenatal Care Coordination Program (PNCC). PNCC is a Medicaid and BadgerCare Plus benefit that helps pregnant women get the support and services they need to have a healthy baby. PNCC includes monthly contact with a Public Health Nurse during the pregnancy and up to two months after delivery. PNCC can assist with finding a physician, referral to WIC (Women, Infants and Children) and other resources for food, nutritional information, breastfeeding advice and support, newborn information and childbirth classes. PNCC also assists with problem-solving for social, financial and transportation issues.

Concerned about your baby/toddler's development?  Ask about our Birth To 3 Program. 

The Birth To 3 Program is Wisconsin's early intervention program for infant and toddlers with developmental delays or disabilities and their families.  The Birth To 3 Program is for children ages birth to 36 months.  Eligibility is based on a diagnosed disability or developmental delay of 25 percent in one or more areas of development determined through an evaluation.  The Birth To 3 program provides support to parents and caregivers in identifying and building upon their child's participation in everyday routines and activities unique to that particular family.  Services that enhance early childhood development are provided in the child's natural environment, including home, child care or other settings.   All families and children are supported by an early interventionists (EI) team that consists of professionals that are trained in all areas of early childhood development.  The Birth To 3 Program is available in every county in Wisconsin.

Do you want to keep your family healthy and strong?  Ask about the WIC program.

Women, Infant, Children.   A WIC nutritionist will talk with you about your family nutrition, help you buy nutritious foods, provide help to breastfeeding moms and share information about other helpful services. To qualify for WIC you must the WIC income guidelines, along with having an infant or child under the age of 5 or are pregnant, breastfeeding, or have had a baby in the past 6 months.

Is the health of your children important? 

Ask about a Resource Nurse:  Working with a resource nurse consists of home visits for at risk families with children aged 0-21.  Resource nurses provide education, which includes newborn/infant care, breastfeeding, growth and development, home safety, car seat education, nutrition, parenting, immunizations and connection to community resources. Referrals to community services are also provided as needed.

Head Start & Early Head Start Services 

Head Start 0-5 services are free of charge and open to prenatal mothers and children ages 0-5 who meet our income guidelines. We offer family services and support families in achieving goals. Our developmentally appropriate activities support every child and children with special needs are welcome.

Home Visiting Program:

Provides year-round services for prenatal mothers and children through 90 minute weekly home visits and weekly playgroups.

Center-based Program:

3-5 year old children attend classes four days per week (M-Thurs) from September through May. Meals, snacks, and transportation are provided for children enrolled in our Center-based Program.

Family Resource Center:

Provides free parent trainings, playgroups, lending library access, and family activities for all families in the county. The Resource Center is open to the public.