Children's Long-Term Support Program

What are the Children’s Long-Term Support (CLTS) Medicaid Waivers?

Wisconsin has three approved CLTS waivers for children with developmental disabilities, physical disabilities, and severe emotional disabilities. The purpose of the waivers is to help families support their children with severe disabilities in their own home.

The CLTS waivers are funded through Medicaid and local funding. They are known as Medicaid Waivers because the federal government “waived” certain regulations so that Medicaid dollars can pay for services in the community. The CLTS Waivers began in 2003 and were developed as a part of the Children’s Long-Term Support Redesign Project in Wisconsin. The CLTS program is based on the principles of being family-centered, individualized for each child and family, outcome-based, flexible, and to promote quality of life.

Who is eligible for the CLTS Waivers?

The CLTS Waivers are available to children and youth under the age of 22 who have a developmental disability, physical disability, or severe emotional disturbance. They are available in all counties in Wisconsin.

A child’s eligibility may be determined by contacting your local human services agency responsible for administering the CLTS Waiver program. For more information regarding CLTS Waivers in Forest, Oneida, and Vilas Counties, please contact:

The Human Service Center (715) 369-2215 or fill out the referral form and email it back to referrals@thehumanservicecenter.org

What possible services do the CLTS Medicaid Waivers pay for?

The CLTS Waivers cover a broad range of services, depending on a child’s and family’s identified needs. Some examples include:

• Assistive Technology

  Assistive technology are items, pieces of equipment, software or application, service animals, product systems, or services that increase, maintain, or improve functional capabilities of participants at home, work, and in the community.

• Daily living skills training

  Daily living skills training services provide education and skill development or training to support the participant’s ability to independently perform routine daily activities and effectively use community resources.

• Day Services

  Day services include coordination and intervention to target skill development and maintenance for participants. This service includes supplementary supports and supervision services to meet the participant’s exceptional emotional or behavioral needs or physical or personal care needs.

• Health and Wellness

  Health and wellness services support the child’s inclusion with the family and peers in health and wellness activities within their community. Health and wellness services focus on healthy habits thereby preventing or delaying higher cost institutional care.

• Home Modifications

  Home modifications maximize a participant’s independent functioning in their home through services to assess the need for, arrange for, and provide modifications and/or improvements to the home.

• Personal Emergency Response Systems (PERS)

  PERS services secure an immediate response and access to assistance in the event of a physical, emotional, or environmental emergency. A PERS uses a community-based telephonic, global positioning system, or other electronic communications device to provide a direct electronic communications link between the child or youth and emergency responders.

• Respite

  Respite care services maintain and strengthen the participant’s natural supports by easing the daily stress and care demands for their family, or other primary caregiver(s), on a short-term basis.

• Service Coordination

  Support and service coordination assists a participant and their family to achieve an inclusive, interdependent, and self-empowered life. The participant’s support and service coordinator (SSC) uses their knowledge of available programs, resources, and services to create an individualized service plan that best supports the participant and family in pursuit of their desired outcomes. This includes connecting families to supports throughout the community and promotes the participant’s self-determination and involvement in all facets of community life.

• Therapeutic Supplies & Services

  Specialized medical and therapeutic supplies maintain the participant’s health, manage a medical or physical condition, improve functioning, or enhance independence.

• Vehicle Modifications

  Vehicle modifications are physical adaptations or alterations to the vehicle that is the participant’s primary means of transportation. This service includes the purchase of vehicle modifications that allow the vehicle to be used by the participant to access the community, or those costs associated with the maintenance or repair of these items. Examples include but are not limited to vehicle lift/transfer units (manual, hydraulic, or electronic) and vehicle hand controls.

What is the role of the county and state?

The county’s role is to assist families and children in the application process and service coordination when a child is receiving CLTS Waiver services. This includes working with the family to develop an Individualized Service Plan (ISP) that will include the services and supports that are needed to address the child and family’s unique needs. Service Coordinators continue to work with families to ensure that all needs are being met over time and under changing circumstances.

The state reviews and approves CLTS waiver plans and provides consultation and training for families, providers, and counties.

What is the role of the family?

Guardians are active members of the treatment team and must maintain monthly contact with their support and service coordinator throughout their child’s enrollment in the program. Families assist in identifying the outcomes based on the needs of the family and child.

How much does the CLTS Program cost?

The parental fee to participate in the CLTS program is based on family size, household income, and the cost of services that are received. Over 90% of families participating in the CLTS program have no monthly fees.