WI FACETS

MISSION: To provide and to broaden opportunities
that enhance the quality of life for children and adults with disabilities, with emphasis on support for underserved parents/families in the community.

VISION: WI FACETS will be a strong, sustainable, highly visible, high-capacity agency well-positioned to achieve its mission for children with disabilities and their families.

Description:
Wisconsin Family Assistance Center for Education, Training and Support, Inc. (WI FACETS) was founded in June 1995 by a small group of parents working on a volunteer basis out of their homes.

WI FACETS has developed into a leading source of information and support for children and youth who have special needs, their families and those who support them in Wisconsin. WI FACETS has enriched the lives of many thousands of families and others.

We currently have 18 staff and over 50 volunteer Parent Leaders who provide a variety of free services to parents and others in Wisconsin, including: information and referral assistance with questions about the rights of parents and individuals with disabilities and about Wisconsin programs, services, resources, problem-solving and brainstorming options; workshops, individual assistance, support groups; and parent leadership development. WI FACETS does provide some fee-for-service family supports as a Wraparound Services provider agency for Milwaukee County. WI FACETS does not provide legal advice.

The volunteer Board of Directors of WI FACETS, a majority of which is parents of individuals with disabilities, provides expertise and guidance to the organization.

The growing volunteer leadership base of WI FACETS encompasses a diverse group of parents, family members, Volunteer Parent Leaders, special and regular educators, administrators, countless others involved in the education, care, treatment, and support of individuals with the full spectrum of disabilities, and community members interested in our mission.

Recognizing and respecting the diverse range of options, needs and desires of individuals with disabilities, WI FACETS embraces the overall philosophy that seeks to empower individuals with disabilities, their parents, or caregivers, to make choices best suited to the needs of the person with the disability, recognizing that no single program or treatment will benefit all individuals with disabilities.

At the very core of this philosophy is the belief that the strengthening of collaborative parent/school/provider/community partnerships and early conflict resolution is paramount.

In 2009, we provided 300 workshops for 4,712 individuals (2,625 parents and 1,271 professionals, and 813 students with disabilities; including 27% culturally/racially diverse); responded to 45,014 requests for help and information (18,263 parents and students, 26,751 professionals, including 29% culturally/racially diverse); attended over 200 school meetings with families; provided information about IDEA and services to over 27,678 through resource fairs, exhibits, conferences and meetings; and reached over 688,692 through e-newsletters, listserves, mailings, and media. We had over 61,917 website visits (www.wifacets.org).

Contact people:

Janis Serak, Executive Director, (414) 374-4645, (email)
Courtney Salzer, Program Director, (414) 374-4645, (email)
Sandra McFarland, Administrative Assistant, (414) 374-4645, (email)

Main office number: (414) 374-4645
TDD number: (414) 374-4635
Office fax number: (414) 374-4655

Address:

2714 N. Dr. Martin Luther King Drive
Milwaukee, WI 53212
(See a map)

Web Site: http://www.wifacets.org

Directions:

Take I-43 to Locust Street exit, turn right (east) onto Locust St, and go two blocks to Martin Luther King Drive. Turn right (south)on to MLK and go 2 blocks to 2714. Our building is on the east side of. . . (more)
Nearest Bus Stop: MLK Drive , 1/2 block minute walk

Last updated on October 30, 2009

Agency Details:

THE VOLUNTEER CENTER IS MILWAUKEE'S PRIMARY RESOURCE FOR VOLUNTEERISM