CLTS respite care in Milwaukee County is arranged through the Children's Long-Term Support waiver, and the parent or guardian makes the referral, not a provider. Families can search the state's CLTS provider directory by service and county to find respite options. Abide Supportive Living offers CLTS non-medical respite in Milwaukee, Waukesha, Ozaukee, and Washington counties.

Table of Contents

  • [What is CLTS respite care in Wisconsin?](#what-is-clts-respite-care-in-wisconsin)
  • [Who is eligible for CLTS in Milwaukee County?](#who-is-eligible-for-clts-in-milwaukee-county)
  • [How do I make a CLTS referral in Milwaukee County?](#how-do-i-make-a-clts-referral-in-milwaukee-county)
  • [How do I search the Wisconsin CLTS provider directory?](#how-do-i-search-the-wisconsin-clts-provider-directory)
  • [What does CLTS cover, and does it include respite?](#what-does-clts-cover-and-does-it-include-respite)
  • [What should I ask a CLTS respite provider before choosing one?](#what-should-i-ask-a-clts-respite-provider-before-choosing-one)
  • [How do families fund respite care in Wisconsin?](#how-do-families-fund-respite-care-in-wisconsin)
  • [How do I become a CLTS respite provider in Wisconsin?](#how-do-i-become-a-clts-respite-provider-in-wisconsin)
  • [Key Takeaways](#key-takeaways)
  • [References](#references)

What is CLTS respite care in Wisconsin?

CLTS is a Medicaid home and community-based waiver program that funds services for children with disabilities. The goal is to keep kids at home rather than in an institution, according to the Wisconsin Department of Health Services.

Families enrolled in CLTS often use waiver funds to cover the cost of respite care. Respite gives caregivers a planned break while their child stays engaged and supported, according to Family Voices of Wisconsin.

Respite through CLTS is non-medical. It is support and engagement for the child, not nursing or personal care. The focus stays on keeping the child safe, active, and connected while the family rests.

Abide Supportive Living provides CLTS non-medical respite for children on the waiver. You can read the service details at CLTS Non-Medical Respite.

Who is eligible for CLTS in Milwaukee County?

To be eligible in Milwaukee County, a child must live in Milwaukee County, have a verified diagnosis or significant developmental delay, meet functional eligibility, and meet financial eligibility, according to Milwaukee County DHHS.

Children diagnosed with an Autism Spectrum Disorder, including Autism, Pervasive Developmental Delays, or Asperger's, must provide additional information to the Options Counselor. That extra step helps determine mental health diagnosis and eligibility.

Children can be dually enrolled in CLTS and Comprehensive Community Services, or CCS, in Milwaukee County. Dual enrollment means a child may access supports through both programs at the same time.

Eligibility is determined by the county, not by a provider. Abide cannot confirm or guarantee eligibility or waiver enrollment for any child or family.

How do I make a CLTS referral in Milwaukee County?

Referrals to Milwaukee County CLTS can be made by phone from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Monday through Friday at (414) 289-6799, the Children's Resource and Referral Line, according to Milwaukee County DHHS.

Referrals must come from the parent or guardian. A provider may not make a CLTS referral on someone's behalf, so families start the process themselves.

Milwaukee County's CLTS program is administered by the Milwaukee County Department of Health & Human Services, Disabilities Services. That county office handles enrollment and ongoing coordination.

Support and service coordinators come from local county health and human services agencies, according to the Wisconsin Department of Health Services. Your coordinator is your main contact once enrollment is complete.

How do I search the Wisconsin CLTS provider directory?

The CLTS provider directory lets you filter by an individual county or choose a Statewide option showing providers who indicated they will serve all 72 counties, according to the CLTS Provider Directory.

Search fields include Service, County, Provider Name, Address, and Search Radius. You can narrow results to respite care and to your specific area or a wider radius around your home.

Directory listings show what a provider has indicated they offer. It is still worth calling to confirm current availability, scheduling, and whether the provider is a good fit for your child.

Abide Supportive Living serves Milwaukee, Waukesha, Ozaukee, and Washington counties and appears in the same neutral directory context as any other provider.

What does CLTS cover, and does it include respite?

CLTS is a home and community-based service waiver that uses Medicaid to fund services for kids with disabilities, according to the Wisconsin Department of Health Services.

Respite care is one of the services families commonly fund through CLTS, according to Family Voices of Wisconsin. The full service list is defined in the state's "Support and Services at a Glance" document rather than in a short summary.

Your county support and service coordinator can confirm which services are on your child's individual plan. Each plan is built around the child's goals and family situation.

Abide provides skill instruction and respite, not housekeeping, personal care, or nursing. The focus is on teaching skills alongside the person rather than doing tasks for them.

What should I ask a CLTS respite provider before choosing one?

Ask what ages and needs the provider supports, how they schedule respite hours, and how they keep the child engaged during sessions. Clear answers help you judge whether the provider fits your family's routine.

Ask how the provider teaches and builds skills alongside your child rather than doing things for them. Abide's approach is skill instruction with the person, not for them.

Ask which funding routes they work with. CLTS, IRIS, Family Care, and private pay are the four common sources for respite providers in Wisconsin, according to Respite Care Association of Wisconsin.

Ask about availability windows and whether they serve your county. Coverage varies by provider and region, so confirm the practical details before making a choice.

How do families fund respite care in Wisconsin?

Respite providers can be funded through four sources: IRIS, Family Care, CLTS, and Private Pay, according to Respite Care Association of Wisconsin.

CLTS is the route for children on the Children's Long-Term Support waiver. IRIS is a self-directed option some adults use for skill-building and respite support.

Abide's adult skill-building services are funded through IRIS, including Daily Living Skills Instruction, Life Skills Training and Education, Money and Planning Skills, and Community Access Skills.

Funding source affects who you contact first. County waiver staff handle CLTS, while your IRIS consultant is the starting point for IRIS-funded services.

How do I become a CLTS respite provider in Wisconsin?

The Respite Care Association of Wisconsin offers a course on becoming an approved CLTS provider as a sole proprietor, according to Respite Care Association of Wisconsin.

Provider registration requirements and steps are handled through the state. The CLTS Provider Directory is where approved providers are listed after they complete the process.

Providers cannot make CLTS referrals on behalf of a family. That step stays with the parent or guardian, even after a provider is approved and listed.

If you are exploring this path, start with the state CLTS program page and the provider directory to see how listings are structured and what services providers indicate.

Key Takeaways

  • CLTS is a Medicaid home and community-based waiver program for children with disabilities, administered in Milwaukee County by the Milwaukee County Department of Health & Human Services, Disabilities Services.
  • Milwaukee County CLTS referrals are made by the parent or guardian by phone at (414) 289-6799, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
  • Milwaukee County eligibility requires living in the county, a verified diagnosis or significant developmental delay, and meeting functional and financial eligibility.
  • The state CLTS provider directory can be searched by Service, County, Provider Name, Address, and Search Radius, with a Statewide option for providers serving all 72 counties.
  • Respite providers in Wisconsin can be funded through four sources: IRIS, Family Care, CLTS, and Private Pay.
  • Abide Supportive Living provides CLTS non-medical respite for children and IRIS-funded skill instruction for adults in Milwaukee, Waukesha, Ozaukee, and Washington counties.
  • Abide provides skill instruction and respite only, not housekeeping, personal care, or nursing, and cannot guarantee eligibility or waiver enrollment.

References

  1. Children's Long Term Support Program | Disabilities Services — Milwaukee County DHHS
  2. Children's Long-Term Support Program — Wisconsin Department of Health Services, page last revised September 4, 2026
  3. Respite Services for Children with Disabilities — Family Voices of Wisconsin
  4. Children's Long-Term Support: Find a Provider — Wisconsin CLTS Provider Directory
  5. KIT For Respite Providers — Respite Care Association of Wisconsin