By Shereen Siewert | Wausau Pilot & Review

Marathon County’s residential and adult day services programs will transfer fro North Central Health Care to a nonprofit organization next month, an operational decision approved by NCHC Executive Director Gary Olsen.

Opportunity Inc., a nonprofit organization that has offered licensed family homes, community living spaces and adult day services in Marathon, Wood and Portage Counties since 1952, will provide operational and administrative oversight beginning Nov. 1.

The move took some employees by surprise. Two employees told Wausau Pilot & Review they believed they will be required to reapply for their jobs and are concerned about potential pay rate changes as well as the loss of county-provided benefits. NCHC says 65 NCHC employees have been offered positions at Opportunity Inc., effective Nov. 1. NCHC will continue to offer health insurance coverage to the employees through the end of the calendar year, at which time they will be eligible for benefits offered through Opportunity Inc. 

In a prepared statement, NCHC officials said services provided for the developmentally disabled  population are “most effectively delivered by experienced, community-based organizations like Opportunity Inc.” NCHC’s  primary mission is to deliver behavioral health and substance use disorder treatment to the tri-county area, the statement read.

Olsen said guardians and managed care organizations were notified by mail this week, while employees were notified on Tuesday, Oct. 24. He said he is confident the changes will have “little to no impact on the individuals served in these programs.”

NCHC’s residential and day service programs in Marathon County provide adults with physical and developmental disabilities services such as supportive apartments, community-based residential facilities, or CBRFs, and adult day services. Today, the organization serves 76 residential clients and 58 clients who participate in adult day services, officials said. Supportive apartment services are provided at Riverview Towers and Riverview Terrace in Wausau as well as the Jelinek Street location in Schofield. CBRFs include facilities on Andrea Street in Weston and on Chadwick Street and Heather Street in Schofield.

Residents receiving care and services in  these programs will be able to remain in their current living arrangements and receive the same level of service, NCHC officials said.

Adult day service programming provided by NCHC in Wausau will be transferred and administered at an existing Opportunity Inc. location. Langlade County adult day services will continue to be managed by NCHC and will not be not included in the transfer of  services. 

NCHC will remain responsible for providing services in these programs through November 1, 2023, when Opportunity Inc.  will assume responsibility.