Dane County Health and Human Needs and Public Protection and Judiciary Committee to Hold Joint Meeting
February 20, 2024
County Board Supervisor Heidi Wegleitner, (608) 333-3676
County Board
On Thursday, February 22 at 5:30pm, Dane County’s Health and Human Needs and Public Protection and Judiciary Committees will hold a joint public meeting. At the meeting, the committees will hear presentations and updates on topics of interest to both committees.
“So many of the issues residents face cut across county departments and programs. The more we can look at coordination and addressing root causes, the better, and this meeting gives us an opportunity to do just that on a range of topics,” said County Board Supervisor Richelle Andrae (District 11), Chair of the Public Protection and Judiciary Committee.
The first presentation will provide an overview of youth justice and prevention and corrections to include information on alternatives to Lincoln Hills and Copper Lake placements.
The presentation will be followed by an update on behavioral health and crisis services including county efforts to expand the CARES non-law enforcement crisis response team.
The final topic will be a review of the Fair Chance Housing Fund application. The County Board created the $4M fund in 2023 to create housing opportunities for people with criminal record barriers. The Board added $217,000 in operating funds in the 2024 budget for supportive services. The budget resolution requires county staff to present the draft RFP for public and committee input.
“As the County Board leans into upstream, preventative strategies to stop the cycle of incarceration and associated multi-generational trauma, it’s critical to keep the board and the public engaged in our progress," said County Board Supervisor Heidi Wegleitner (District 2), Chair of the Health and Human Needs Committee. "The unmet needs are significant and regulatory and funding limitations pose challenges, but these joint meetings help reinforce the committees' shared priorities."