FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 3, 2025
WISCAP Statement regarding the Social Development Commission
Madison, WI – Wisconsin Community Action Program Association (WISCAP) is a network of 16 community action and special purposes agencies whose mission is to fight poverty across the state of Wisconsin. We are a strong network of agencies that support each other as much as we support our communities. To this end, we have been closely monitoring the State of Wisconsin’s recent decision to de-designate of the Social Development Commission as a Community Action Agency, recognizing that further developments may follow. For over a year, our network has offered our support to SDC and has supported the Milwaukee community as SDC worked through its challenges.
WISCAP’s top priority is — and has always been — serving the residents of Wisconsin, including those in Milwaukee County. Since SDC closed its doors in April of last year, our network of agencies has stepped in to ensure continued access to vital services across the county. For example, CAP Services has been providing Skills Enhancement post-secondary degree program services, Couleecap has been providing Medical Skills programming to clients enrolled in nursing school, and UMOS has been providing a host of services in Milwaukee County, such as the Transform Milwaukee Jobs Program and the Wisconsin Home Energy Assistance Program.
With SDC facing an uncertain future because of financial difficulties, our network of agencies stands ready to work with the state, city, and county governments, community partners, and the board of SDC to provide interim services to the Milwaukee County community. We are also committed to continuing to work to provide support while SDC works through its challenges during and after the de-designation process has concluded.
This is an unfortunate situation where a beloved community action agency is facing challenges and an uncertain future. As a network, we want what’s best for Milwaukee County, and resuming vital services in Milwaukee County as soon as possible is our main priority, so the individuals and families who need those services can have access to them. The WISCAP network will work with community and state partners to ensure we collaborate in a way that ensures the community understands that we are ultimately there to help.
Milwaukee County residents deserve access to services that will address the causes of poverty, and our network stands ready to step wherever necessary to ensure they do.
For more information, please contact:
Courtney Hayward
Executive Director, WISCAP
(608) 244-4422
chayward@wiscap.org
Cheryl Detrick
Chief Executive Officer, Newcap
920-834-4621
cheryldetrick@newcap.org
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About WISCAP: The Wisconsin Community Action Program Association (WISCAP) is the statewide association for Wisconsin’s sixteen (16) Community Action agencies and two single-purpose agencies with statewide focus. You can learn more about WISCAP at www.wiscap.org