for the wausau times

WAUSAU, WI – North Central Health Care (NCHC) has partnered with Opportunity Inc. to transfer ownership and administration of Residential and Adult Day Services programs in Marathon County, effective November 1, 2023. Individuals served in these programs will continue to receive the same type and level of care and programming that they are accustomed to under the operational and administrative oversight of Opportunity Inc., a non-profit organization that has provided licensed Family Homes, Community Living, and Adult Day Services in Wood, Marathon, and Portage counties since 1952.

NCHC continually evaluates the programs and services required to provide on behalf of Lincoln, Langlade, and Marathon counties. It has been determined that, like in most Wisconsin counties, 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.

“NCHC and Opportunity Inc. are working very closely together to ensure the highest levels of care and services during this transition and are confident these changes will have little to no impact on the individuals served in these programs. Both NCHC and Opportunity Inc. are prioritizing the support of the residents, their families, and the staff during this transition,” states Gary Olsen, NCHC Executive Director.

NCHC’s Residential and Adult Day Services in Marathon County provides services for adults with physical and developmental disabilities in a variety of settings including supportive apartments, Community-Based Residential Facilities (CBRF’s), and Adult Day Services. Currently, NCHC serves 76 total clients through Residential programming and 58 total clients who participate in a variety of programming through Adult Day Services in Wausau. The transfer to Opportunity Inc. will include the administration and operation of the Supportive Apartments, Community-Based Residential Facilities (CBRF’s), and Adult Day Services in the Wausau area. Supportive Apartments services include those provided at Riverview Towers (Wausau), Riverview Terrace (Wausau), and Jelinek Street (Schofield). Community-Based Residential Facilities (CBRF’s) include Andrea St. (Weston), Chadwick St. (Schofield), and Heather St. (Schofield). Individuals receiving care and services in these programs will be able to remain in their current living arrangements and receive the same level of service. Adult Day Services programming provided by NCHC in Wausau will be transferred and administered at an existing Opportunity Inc. location. Adult Day Services in Langlade County will continue to be managed by NCHC and is 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. There are currently 65 NCHC employees who have been offered positions at Opportunity Inc., effective November 1, 2023. NCHC will continue to offer health insurance coverage to the employees through December 31, 2023, at which time they will be eligible for benefits offered through Opportunity Inc.