More than 29,000 children are currently enrolled in Wisconsin’s Children’s Long-Term Support (CLTS) Program. For families who have a teen in CLTS, transition to adulthood means many changes, including the move from CLTS to adult long-term care programs. This transition can feel sudden and overwhelming, especially when families are already juggling school, health care and daily life.

In Wisconsin, adults with disabilities who qualify for long-term support can enroll in one of three programs; Include, Respect, I Self-Direct (IRIS), Family Care or Family Care Partnership (Partnership). Each option offers different structures and levels of flexibility. Understanding how each works makes a big difference toward a smooth transition.

Timing of the Transition from CLTS to Adult Programs  

In most cases, the move from CLTS to adult long-term care programs happens around age 18. The timing may depend on your child’s diagnosis and the county where they receive services. Assuming they are found to be eligible for adult programs, the Aging and Disability Resource Center (ADRC) usually works together with CLTS so one program doesn’t end until the other is ready to begin. It could be when the teen turns 18, but it’s more likely to happen within a few months after their 18^th birthday. 

If a youth qualified for CLTS based solely on a mental health diagnosis, they may not be eligible for adult long-term care programs, like IRIS or Family Care. CLTS may sometimes continue until their 21^st birthday in this situation. There may be other county-based adult programs focused on those who need support for mental health or behavioral health conditions, and the ADRC can offer referrals to these programs. 

More Information: The Family Voices Fact Seet, Transition Planning for Youth with Mental Health Needs

Where to Begin

Wisconsin’s ADRCs  are key resources for the move from CLTS to adult long-term care programs. Your child’s service coordinator can be your bridge to the ADRC. They are available to you no matter where you live in the state. ADRC staff can begin working youth and their families starting at age 17 ½. They can also assist with connecting you to other community programs, like housing, employment, and public benefits.

How to access ADRC services:

• • • Call or visit your local ADRC in person.
    • Request a home visit from your local ADRC.
    • Call 844-WIS-ADRC (844-947-2372) to find your local ADRC or Tribal Aging and Disability Resource Specialist (ADRS).

What the Transition to Adult Long-Term Care Looks Like   

For most families whose child is enrolled in CLTS, the transition to adult programs starts with a meeting for a coordinated connection between systems—We sometimes refer to this as a warm handoff.  Your CLTS service coordinator will set up a home visit with your family, including your child, when they are around the age of 17½. The service coordinator will bring someone from the ADRC to this home visit. 

The ADRC will complete an adult functional screen. Adult programs have their own version of the screen, and the questions are a little different. Even if you just did this recently for other programs, it will need to be done again to establish eligibility for adult programs.

Adult Functional Screen: This tool is used to determine eligibility for adult long-term care programs in Wisconsin. The screen will look at your transition-age youth’s ability to do activities of daily living like eating, bathing, toileting and other living-related activities including preparing meals, managing and taking their own medication, managing money, using a phone and accessing transportation. 

If a teen is not currently enrolled in CLTS, families should call their ADRC directly to set up an appointment. ADRC staff can explain the program options and complete a function screen to determine if the teen is eligible for adult long-term care programs or other county-based supports.  

How Long-term Care Programs Differ from CLTS

One important difference between CLTS and adult programs is that IRIS, Family Care and Partnership focus on the person. CLTS focuses not just on the child, but the whole family, so often covered services include caregivers (parents or other family members) who support the CLTS-enrolled child.  

In addition, there are items that CLTS can cover that adult programs cannot. One common difference relates to sensory equipment at home for body regulation, which is something CLTS may cover. It is generally, however, not allowable in adult programs.  

Another difference is access to funding from the Children’s Community Options Program (CCOP) for children regardless of their enrollment in CLTS. The purpose of these funds varies by county but are often available to families for things that cannot be paid by the CLTS Program. CCOP rules are flexible, so county agencies can cover things like a recreational activity, lodging at a conference or other one-time expenses. However, there is no adult version of CCOP. Adults who are enrolled in one of the long-term care programs can access funding and support based on Medicaid rules similar to the CLTS Program, but there isn’t a related program to cover one-time expenses for adults.  

More Choices and Options: The move from CLTS to adult long-term care programs also include selecting the program and the agencies that support the person. Adults must decide between IRIS (a self-directed program), Family Care (a managed care program) and Partnership (combining health care and long-term care services). Note Partnership is not available in all Wisconsin counties – Partnership map

In addition, for those who want to self-direct their services, a Fiscal Employer Agent needs to be selected. Some families find that having more choices is refreshing. But, for others, this may be overwhelming as they navigate all the changes to their adult child’s care during transition.     

Tip: While ADRC staff can offer families guidance on program options, they cannot provide recommendations or insights about which program or agency is best. We recommend talking with other families in your area to hear about their experiences with specific IRIS Consultant Agencies and Family Care Managed Care Organizations (MCOs). The timeline is usually short to make these decisions, so it’s best to do your homework before your teen turns 18.

Learn More: Transition to Adult Long-Term Care | Wisconsin Department of Health Services

Next Steps

The Family Voices’ What’s After High School? Learning Session is a great place to start for families who have a teen age 14 and older. It covers  all the pieces of transition, including the move from CLTS to adult long-term care programs. See Family Voices website Events Calendar for dates and registration details. The sessions are free.