About Us

The Department of Children and Families (DCF) provides or oversees county administration of programs to assist children and families. DCF also administers the Wisconsin Works (W-2) public assistance program, including the Wisconsin Shares child care subsidy program, the YoungStar child care quality improvement program, the child support enforcement and paternity establishment program, and programs related to the federal Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) income support program. The department works to ensure that families have access to high quality and affordable early childhood care and education and administers the licensing and regulation of child care centers.

Who We Serve

DCF serves children, families, and child care providers. DCF provides assistance for children in need of protection or services, adoption and foster care services, the licensing of facilities that provide out-of-home care for children, background investigations of child caregivers, child abuse and neglect investigations, and community-based juvenile justice services.