News Flash

Posted on: March 11, 2024

Kenosha-area state lawmakers honored for child support advocacy

Group photo at awards ceremony

Two of Kenosha County’s state lawmakers were honored recently for their support of the child support system. 

Reps. Tip McGuire and Amanda Nedweski received “Friend of the Wisconsin Child Support Program” awards durin...

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Human Services News
Posted on: December 18, 2023

State DHS secretary-designee visits Kenosha County Job Center

Photo of people talking during tour

When it came to getting a firsthand view of human services agencies working collaboratively to serve the people, Wisconsin Department of Health Services Secretary-designee Kirsten Johnson needed to look no further than her hometown. 

Johnson, a Ke...

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Human Services News
Posted on: December 9, 2023

DCFS staff serve community with annual Feed 100 Families Food Drive

Photo of Youth Justice staff members with trophy

A friendly competition among staff in Kenosha County’s Division of Children and Family Services is again putting food on the table for local families in need. 

The Feed 100 Families Food Drive contest, held Friday, is holiday season trad...

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Human Services News
Posted on: November 1, 2023

Kenosha County Caregiver Coalition to offer Family Caregiver Appreciation Luncheon

2023 Family Caregivers Appreciation Lunch graphic

In recognition of National Family Caregivers Month, the Kenosha County Caregiver Coalition is offering a free luncheon for family caregivers.

November is an important time to honor and recognize those who often go unnoticed yet have taken on the extra resp...

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View News Release Human Services News
Posted on: October 23, 2023

Local Drug Take Back Day events to be held throughout Kenosha County on Oct. 28

Photo of medications in a box at a Drug Take Back Day event

National Prescription Drug Take Back Day events will be held at four Kenosha County locations Saturday, Oct. 28, County Executive Samantha Kerkman announced today.

The events will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at these sites:

  • Probation and Parole Office, 1...
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View News Release Human Services News
Posted on: October 10, 2023

Kenosha County Summer Youth Employment Program wraps up 2023 season

Summer Youth Employment Program group photo

Kenosha County’s Summer Youth Employment Program completed its 15th season recently, coming to an official close with the Oct. 4 dedication of two murals that were created by student workers.

In this year’s program, 129 at-risk youth worked an average of 2...

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Human Services News
Posted on: October 5, 2023

Kenosha County DCFS employees receive honors from Child Advocacy Center

Photo of Al Smith and Jean Abell holding award certificates

The Children’s Wisconsin Kenosha County Child Advocacy Center recently honored two county staff members with awards for their efforts to protect children who are endangered by the presence of drugs in their homes.

Al Smith and Jean Abell, are Ini...

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Human Services News
Posted on: September 27, 2023

Kenosha County, project partners break ground on Human Services Building relocation

Group shot of participants in the Human Services Building groundbreaking ceremony

Construction work on Kenosha County’s Human Services Building project is now officially underway.

County Executive Samantha Kerkman joined other officials and project partners Sept. 26, at a groundbreaking ceremony for the long-awaited project.

The county, ...

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View News Release Human Services News
Posted on: September 26, 2023

Brookside Care Center to host open house this Thursday

brookside logo FB LINK

Kenosha County’s Brookside Care Center will host an open house from 4 to 6 p.m. this Thursday, Sept. 28.

This is an opportunity for the public to tour the award-winning skilled nursing facility, and it comes as Brookside is accepting applications...

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View News Release Human Services News
Posted on: July 28, 2023

Kenosha County to mark National Night Out with events on Tuesday, Aug. 1

2023 National Night Out logo

Kenosha County is coordinating National Night Out events at five locations this coming Tuesday, Aug. 1, County Executive Samantha Kerkman announced today. 

All events will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. and will include free food, games, activities, pri...

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View News Release Human Services News
Posted on: July 7, 2023

County Human Services resources to be available at July 12 Movie Night at ELCA Outreach Center

Graphic with text "FAMILY MOVIE NIGHT - WEDNESDAY, JULY 12"

Kenosha County will offer Narcan training and information about other Human Services resources during a free Family Movie Night event on Wednesday, July 12, County Executive Samantha Kerkman announced today.

The event will begin at 7 p.m. at the ELCA Outre...

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View News Release Human Services News
Posted on: June 27, 2023

Kenosha County sees new string of suspected overdose deaths; updated 2022 total ties prior record

Medical Examiner's Office door

Kenosha County Medical Examiner Patrice Hall is reporting another recent series of suspected drug overdose deaths, as well as updated figures that indicate 2022 has tied the county’s previous annual record for toxicity deaths.

“These ne...

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View News Release Human Services News
Posted on: May 19, 2023

Kenosha County Job Center to host 2023 Success Fair on June 2

Kenosha County Success Fair graphic

A June 2 event at the Kenosha County Job Center will showcase the many available resources that are available to help families and residents be successful.

These resources will include agencies that provide food assistance, public benefit assistance, insur...

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View News Release Human Services News
Posted on: April 29, 2023

Kim Kurklis honored as 2023 Connie Reyes Award winner

Kim Kurklis speaks at the 2023 Connie Reyes Award ceremony

A renowned advocate for children with special needs in the Kenosha Unified School District is the recipient of the 2023 Connie Reyes Award for Excellence in Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention.

Kim Kurklis received the honors Thursday at the Kenosha County ...

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View News Release Human Services News
Posted on: April 25, 2023

Drug Take Back Day events result in hundreds of pounds collected, at least one life saved

Photo of staff and county officials standing behind resource table

Local efforts on National Prescription Drug Take Back Day helped to collect roughly 1,500 pounds of unused medications, organizers announced today.

Furthermore, county officials learned that Narcan that was distributed at one of Saturday’s two local events...

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View News Release Human Services News
Posted on: April 19, 2023

Local Drug Take Back Day events to be held Saturday in Kenosha, Bristol

Drug Take Back Day logo

National Prescription Drug Take Back Day events will be held at two Kenosha County locations this Saturday, April 22, County Executive Samantha Kerkman and Sheriff David Zoerner announced today.

The events will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the newly r...

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View News Release Human Services News
Posted on: April 5, 2023

Kenosha County Public Health Clinic-West to open April 6

Kenosha County Public Health logo and text "Kenosha County Public Health Clinic-West"

A new Kenosha County Public Health clinic established to serve western Kenosha County will open this Thursday, April 6.

The Kenosha County Public Health Clinic-West will offer targeted services focusing on reproductive health and family planning, to compli...

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View News Release Human Services News
Posted on: March 28, 2023

Pinwheel display to honor children involved in cases of abuse, neglect

Photo of pinwheels in Job Center lawn

The public is invited to join this Saturday, April 1, in the planting of pinwheels in the lawn outside the Kenosha County Job Center to commemorate National Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention Month.

Pinwheels representing each child in Kenosha County who w...

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View News Release Human Services News
Posted on: March 10, 2023

New pact allows for Kenosha County mental health detentions at nearby Lake County facility

Group photo of agreement signing ceremony

Kenosha County Executive Samantha Kerkman today signed into effect an intergovernmental agreement that enables Kenosha County and its local law enforcement agencies to send involuntary mental health detentions to a nearby facility in Illinois.

This will al...

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View News Release Human Services News
Posted on: February 17, 2023

Health Officer Dr. Jen Freiheit to leave position March 16

Kenosha County Public Health logo

Kenosha County Health Officer Dr. Jen Freiheit today announced she will leave her position for another career opportunity effective March 16, 2023.

Freiheit joined Kenosha County as Health Director in December 2019. Since then, she steered Kenosha County P...

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View News Release Human Services News
Posted on: January 12, 2023

Brookside to host open interview events for several employment positions

brookside logo FB LINK

Kenosha County’s Brookside Care Center will host open interview employment events next week as it is actively recruiting for a host of positions, Administrator Lynda Bogdala announced today.

Available positions include Resident Assistant, Certifi...

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View News Release Human Services News
Posted on: September 28, 2022

Kenosha County ADRC showcasing play about Alzheimer's

"Unforgettable" play image

Please join the Kenosha County Aging and Disability Resource Center, the National Alzheimer’s Association and Garrett Davis Productions for "Unforgettable," a heart-warming, honest and humorous play about a family thrust into managing life with ...

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Human Services News
Posted on: September 27, 2022

Brookside Care Center offering new incentives to successful CNA applicants

brookside logo FB LINK

Kenosha County’s Brookside Care Center is now participating in a state program that offers educational support and cash incentives to successful certified nursing assistant applicants.

The WisCaregiver program provides free training to candidates...

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Human Services News
Posted on: August 30, 2022

Kenosha County provides over 400 Narcan packs during Human Services on the Go

Human Services on the Go team photo at the County Fair

In an effort to provide more visibility of behavioral health services within the community, the Kenosha County Division of Aging, Disability & Behavioral Health Services in partnership with Kenosha County Public Health offered a mobile human services ...

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View News Release Human Services News
Posted on: August 10, 2022

Kenosha County’s Summer Youth Employment Program marks another season of success

County Executive Samantha Kerkman talks with Summer Youth Employment Program participants

Some put their paychecks in the bank to save up for necessary life expenses as they become adults. Others help their families to get by. And, of course, some like to use their hard-earned money to treat themselves a bit.

No matter how they approach it, par...

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View News Release Human Services News
Posted on: June 13, 2022

Sheriff's Department, Joint Services to host employment open house

KSD logo

The Kenosha County Sheriff's Department and Kenosha Joint Services will host an employment open house from 5 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, June 15, in the north parking area of the county Administration Building, 1010 56th St.

Corrections professionals, deputies an...

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Human Services News
Posted on: June 8, 2022

Brookside Care Center, Willowbrook Assisted Living offering employment incentives

brookside logo FB LINK

Kenosha County is now offering increased wages and employee referral bonuses in an effort to fill vacant positions at Brookside Care Center and Willowbrook Assisted Living, County Executive Samantha Kerkman announced today.

Under a plan studied over recent...

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View News Release Human Services News
Posted on: June 8, 2022

Kenosha County’s Rhodes receives Hillcrest School’s Courage to Care Award

Donna Rhodes and some of her DCFS colleagues

Kenosha County Gang Intervention Supervisor Donna Rhodes’ work is dedicated to changing the lives of at-risk youth and setting them on the right path for productive adulthoods.

Little did she know that an awards ceremony last week at Hillcrest Sc...

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View News Release Human Services News