What is Ongoing? 

Ongoing is the longest phase of the CPS system. During this phase, child welfare professionals continue to assess child safety and determine what services and supports will help a family maintain a safe home environment and thrive. If a child has been removed the home, this is the phase where we work diligently to support families in working towards reunification and safe case closure. During this phase, there may be involvement from the court system, parent partners, treatment providers, Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA), foster parents, and other service providers, just to name a few. Child welfare workers will walk along side families to help them navigate the system in addition to working towards achieving their set goals. In instances where reunification is unable to occur, the Department works on creating a permanency plan for the child that may include adoption, guardianship, or other means of permanency.

There are multiple ways in which Ongoing workers collaborate with other programs under the CPS umbrella, including Family Team Meetings and Parents Supporting Parents. To learn more, visit the Family Support page. 

For additional information and resources regarding the Ongoing and CPS process and philosophy, visit the following sites: 

• Wisconsin Department of Children and Families 
• Ongoing Standards 
• Wisconsin Family First