Dane County committee backs contract with Racine for secure residential care center for youth

On Aug. 7, 2025, the Dane County Health and Human Needs Committee recommended approval of Resolution 85, a major-contract authorization with Racine County to secure placements at a secure residential care center for children and youth (SRCCY). The committee voted unanimously to recommend the contract, and the item will move to the full county board for final action.

The resolution authorizes the county to contract with Racine County for referrals to the SRCCY and establishes an initial 2025 expense authority of $150,000 for the Department of Human Services. John Schluter, director of the department, said the dollar figure was calculated from the SRCCY’s daily rate and recent referral patterns. Committee members were told the SRCCY’s current published rate is $1,200 per day.

The SRCCY model and the requirement to consider such placements were created by state law. Connie Batten, out‑of‑home care division administrator for the department, summarized that the SRCCY option was codified in Wisconsin statute chapter 938 and that counties were notified about the opening of Racine County’s facility in May 2025. “That is a flat daily rate that is charged by this facility,” Batten said when a supervisor asked whether the $1,200 charge is the same regardless of referral volume.

Committee members asked how the Racine facility fits into the larger juvenile corrections system. Dr. Stacker, department staff who joined Batten, described the SRCCY as a “step‑down” placement intended to be considered before referrals to longer‑term correctional facilities such as Lincoln Hills or Copper Lake. “What the statute reads is that every referral requires consideration by the [SRCCY] prior to going to a more secure facility,” Dr. Stacker said. He also said the SRCCY may determine that a youth is appropriate for the step‑down placement or may refer the case to Lincoln Hills depending on assessed needs and public‑safety considerations.

Supervisors pressed department staff about whether the new contract would increase or decrease placements to Lincoln Hills; staff said the county’s current rate of youth being sent to Lincoln Hills is low and that the effect on future referrals is uncertain. Dr. Stacker said local diversion and reintegration programs — including a small pilot diversion program planned for late 2025 — may reduce the number of youths entering high‑security placements. He noted that other SRCCYs are planned around the state, including a facility in Oregon projected for 2028.

Committee members discussed budget implications. Schluter and Batten said the $150,000 is a starting budget authority for the remainder of 2025 based on the facility’s daily rate and recent referral rates; it does not guarantee that amount will be spent. Department staff estimated Dane County’s average daily population (ADP) for corrections has been low in recent years (roughly 2–4 youths on average), and they expect to carry the expense authority into 2026 as the county’s corrections budget is finalized.

Several speakers placed the contract in a broader advocacy context. Dr. Stacker and Schluter described state budget actions that affected correctional daily rates; Schluter noted the governor’s biennial budget reduced an earlier proposed increase and that county officials had advocated against higher proposed rates. Committee members expressed support for investing in prevention and community services as an alternative to high‑cost correctional placements.

The committee voted without recorded opposition. Supervisor Welsh moved the recommendation; the clerk noted no objections and declared the motion carried unanimously. Res. 85 is now recommended to the full county board for approval.