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COVID-19

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1. Why can’t more information be disclosed on positive cases, such as location?

Privacy laws prevent the disclosure of protected health information. Individually identifiable information (e.g., name, address, phone number, or email) of individuals infected with or exposed to COVID-19 may not be disclosed to the public or media.

As a result, Door County must be careful when communicating the status of specific COVID-19 cases with the public or media. We may disclose aggregate information about the number of individuals infected with or exposed to COVID-19, but must be careful about revealing information about how the patient was exposed to COVID-19 or general information about where the individual lives, as this may allow the public or media to identify the individual through publicly available sources.

Some health departments have elected to map out individual cases or provide zip codes, age ranges, and more. We are not able to give out that level of demographic information. Doing so, because Door County’s population and number of cases is small, would run the very real risk of allowing the public or media to identify the individual.

We are able to disclose that the positive cases in Door County are not concentrated in any one locality. Rather, they are scattered throughout the county.

We appreciate that everyone wants as much information as possible. Please understand that we must use our professional judgment to determine how much information may be disclosed under the applicable privacy laws.

We need to all continue to follow Governor Evers’ Safer at Home guidelines to stop the spread of COVID.

2. Should I be wearing a mask to protect myself?

New guidelines as of April 6, 2020 from the Center of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and WI Department of Health Services (DHS) include the recommendation that there may be a benefit to reducing asymptomatic transmission and reinforcing physical distancing from the use of face covers. 

It is now recommended that everyone wear a face mask at all times when in public while still while maintaining physical distancing.

Wearing a cloth face cover may be beneficial as it may help to protect others from germs you may be spreading without knowing it. It does not protect you from others who are not wearing a face masks and does NOT reduce the need for physical distancing and handwashing.  

Face covers should be cloth and not surgical or N95 to reserve those critical supplies for medical personnel.  A cloth face cover is material that covers the nose and mouth while being secured to the head with ties, straps or simply wrapped around the lower face. These coverings can be made by a variety of materials.

To wear a mask, keep these things in mind:

• Before putting on a mask, clean your hands with soap and water or an alcohol-based hand rub.
• Make sure your mask covers your mouth and nose with no gaps between your face and the mask.
• Do not touch your mask while wearing it; if you do, clean your hands with soap and water or an alcohol-based hand rub. 
• Replace the mask with a new one as soon as it is damp.
• Always wear your cloth reusable mask with the same side facing outwards.

Keep in mind that a mask does not provide full protection. Therefore, remember to continue to do the following:

• Clean your hands frequently with soap and water or an alcohol-based hand rub.
• Continue staying at least 6 feet away from other people.
• Continue following the recommendations for social distancing: avoid crowds, stay at home as much as possible, and just leave for essential tasks (e.g. work, grocery shopping, going to the doctor, getting medications).

How should I clean my cloth mask? 

• It’s a good idea to wash your cloth face covering frequently, ideally after each use, or at least daily.
• Have a bag or bin to keep cloth face coverings in until they can be laundered with detergent and hot water and dried on a hot cycle. 
• If you must re-wear your cloth face covering before washing, wash your hands immediately after putting it back on and avoid touching your face.

Additional Information about Cloth Face Covers can be found here: https://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/covid-19/protect.html 

3. How do I know if I have COVID 19 or just a cold or allergies?

Patients with COVID-19 can experience mild to severe respiratory illness. 

If you are experiencing MILD or MODERATE symptoms, such as fever, runny nose or cough, do NOT go to the Emergency Room. Call your primary health care provider prior to going to a clinic. 

Your primary care provider will evaluate if testing is necessary, and direct you to a facility that can conduct sampling.

This will ensure that healthcare professionals can prepare in advance should you need to receive testing or treatment. Seeking the most appropriate level of care will help protect the community and minimize exposure to other patients and staff. 

If you have symptoms and feel you need testing call the Door County Medical Center COVID-19 Screening Hotline at 920-746-3700.

4. May Tourists Still Visit Door County?

Because COVID-19 is widespread in Wisconsin, everyone should reduce their contact with others by staying home when possible, practicing physical distancing, and being alert for symptoms of COVID-19. Staying home is the best way to protect yourself and others from getting sick. DHS recommends that all travel plans are canceled or postponed, including travel within the state.

Should you decide to travel despite these recommendations, some things to consider include:

• Is COVID-19 spreading where you’re going? You can get infected while traveling.
• Is COVID-19 spreading in your community? Even if you don’t have symptoms, you can spread COVID-19 to others while traveling.
• For each traveler, pack: cloth face coverings, gloves, hand sanitizer, soap, disinfectant wipes
  
  
• You should practice enhanced personal hygiene at all times. This includes avoiding close contact with other
  and practice physical distancing by staying at least 6 feet away from others at all times, avoid crowds, wear a
  cloth face covering when in public, avoid touching your face, eyes and mouth and wash your hands regularly.
• Call the hotel, restaurant, or rest area to make sure they are open, as many may have reduced hours.
• Do not travel if you are sick, or if you have been around someone with COVID-19 in the past 14 days. Do not
  travel with someone who is sick.
  
  Older adults and people with chronic medical conditions
  Talk with your doctor before you go, especially if you are 65 years or older or have medical issues. If you are at risk for
  serious illness from COVID-19, you should

5. Are religious services and places of worship able to resume services?

"Interim Guidance for Communities of Faith"

"CDC offers the following general considerations to help communities of faith discern how best to practice their beliefs while keeping their staff and congregations safe.  Millions of Americans embrace worship as an essential part of life.  For many faith traditions, gathering together for worship is at the heart of what it means to be a community of faith. But as Americans are now aware, gatherings present a risk for increasing spread of COVID-19 during this Public Health Emergency. CDC offers these suggestions for faith communities to consider and accept, reject, or modify, consistent with their own faith traditions, in the course of preparing to reconvene for in-person gatherings while still working to prevent the spread of COVID-19."

6. As a business owner, will I be notified by Public Health if one of my employees tests positive for COVID-19?

The health and safety of our community is our number one priority in Public Health. If there is a concern at your business that needs your attention, we will call to discuss it. For example, if an employee of yours tests positive andwas at work during their infectious period, we will discuss with them who would have been in close contact with them at work. This is done through an extensive interview process. If they are unable to identify everyone or do not have the contact numbers, we will call their employer for help with contact information. If an employee tests positive, but was not at work during their infectious period, Public Health will not call their employer because there is no concern for exposure within the workplace. You may have employees calling to say that they were in close contact with a confirmed case and they are being asked to stay home for 14 days from the last time they were in close contact with that person.  In this situation where your employee is just a contact and has no symptoms, you would not be notified by Public Health because there is no concern for exposure at your workplace.

7. What is serologic COVID-19 antibody testing? If I get it, can I go back to work?

As this disease is evolving, new tests are being developed. Unfortunately, they are not yet proven to be reliable and the
results cannot be used on their own to diagnose or prove that someone is not infected with COVID-19. People develop
antibodies when their body’s immune system responds to an infection. These antibodies can be detected in blood. A
positive COVID-19 antibody test may be able to detect if someone has previously been or is currently infected with the
virus. What it cannot tell us is if the person is unable to transmit the virus any longer or if the person is immune to the
virus. A negative result does not indicate that a person has never had it because it may be too early in the infection for
their body to have made antibodies yet. Until the validity of these test can be proven, they should not be used for
diagnosis or to allow people to return to work, and do not negate the need for local Public Health investigation and
intervention.

For more information, please visit: https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/WIDHS/bulletins/2897e5f

8. What do I do if an employee is ill?

If an employee is ill with a fever, cough, shortness of breath or symptoms of illness the employee should stay home or be sent home and contact their healthcare provider. Individuals who have symptoms should be tested for COVID-19. They may contact the Door County Medical Center COVID Screening hotline at 920-746-3700. Testing may be billed to their insurance when available. They will not be charged for testing, regardless of insurance status.

If an employee is tested for COVID-19 they need to isolate at home and not have any contact with anyone until the results have been reported.

If the results are negative, Public Health suggests that employees should not return to work until they are symptom free for at least 24 hours. If the results are positive, the employee will be contacted by Public Health. The employee will need to stay isolated at home for a minimum of 10 days after symptoms started and have three days without fever and improvement of symptoms.

Public Health will contact employers when there is a risk that employees or others were exposed, and we need the cooperation of the employer to locate those individuals.

If there are employees who have had close contact with the confirmed COVID-19 case, the exposed individual will need to stay home, and quarantine for 14 days from the last time they had close contact with the confirmed case. Even if the exposed individual is tested and it is negative, they will still need to finish the14 day quarantine.

Your business can make a difference in our community by continuing to promote hand washing, social distancing, and allowing and encouraging sick individuals to stay home.

9. Are international workers or students coming to Door County for the summer required to quarantine upon arrival?

According to the Department of Health Services (DHS), all international travelers arriving into the U.S. should stay home for 14 days after their arrival. At home, they are expected to monitor their health and practice physical distancing. To protect the health of others, these travelers should not to go to work or school for 14 days.

https://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/covid-19/travel.htm

10. What is Badger Bounce Back and what phase are we currently in?

The state is using data to make recommendations that protect the health and safety of Wisconsinites.

Badger Bounce Back is Wisconsin’s plan to reopen and contains the recommendations of our public health experts. Based on the science of the virus and public health practices, a gradual, phased process continues to be the safest way to open Wisconsin.

COVID-19 remains very contagious and our data and metrics (below) tell us that we should continue to limit our interactions with others as much as possible to protect ourselves and our communities and reduce the spread of COVID-19. In order to safely reopen Wisconsin, we continue to work with our partners across the state to increase our testing and expand our contact tracing. We are also working with local leaders to help ensure access to safe isolation, shore up our hospital capacity, and monitor the prevalence of COVID-19. We will continue to maintain and update the statewide gating criteria and provide consistent localized data for use in local decision-making for reopening plans.

Click here to see current status of Wisconsin in meeting the Badge Bounce Back gating criteria.

The next generation of Badger Bounce Back: Determining COVID-19 activity level in our local communities

COVID-19: Activity Level Door County

11. Is it safe to plan or attend events such as festivals, parades, weddings or parties?

Large group gatherings of any size are not recommended at this time. 

Follow social distancing, cloth face coverings and sanitation guidelines when in public settings and consider the following guidance for planning, scheduling or attending events or gatherings.

Risk of COVID-19 spreading at events and gatherings increases as follows:

The purpose of these guidelines is to limit the spread of COVID-19. COVID-19 is a respiratory illness that spreads through person-to-person contact, or (less likely) by contact with surfaces contaminated with the virus. People infected with COVID-19 may become symptomatic anywhere from 2 to 14 days after exposure. Limiting the number of people gathered in one area limits the spread of disease, reduces the number of people who become severely ill and protects our health care system.

These guidelines apply to all public and private gatherings. A “gathering” is any event that brings together people in a single room, or space at the same time such as auditoriums, stadiums, large conference rooms, meeting halls or any other indoor or outdoor space. There is no evidence to date that demonstrates that outdoor gatherings are completely safe. The more people an individual interacts with at a gathering and the longer that interaction lasts, the higher the potential risk of becoming infected with COVID-19 and COVID-19 spreading.

The impact of a pandemic—such as that presented by COVID-19—can be best managed through limiting exposure to the virus. This imperative requires public health to recommend that all citizens and businesses limit the situations where the virus can spread rapidly

By “social distancing,” and not offering or attending events that bring large groups of people together, we will save lives, particularly of those most vulnerable to the virus, such as older residents.

CDC Considerations for Events and Gatherings

12. Questions, answers and information about popular summer activities and events

Can we go to the beach? 

As summer approaches, many Wisconsinites are excited to spend time at our state’s many beaches. We are providing guidance to help you enjoy beaches while still protecting yourself from COVID-19. However, if beach operators cannot maintain a safe environment by ensuring physical distancing among beachgoers, DHS recommends that the beach close to the public. 

General Recommendations for the Public

• If you decide to visit a beach, keep at least 6 feet between yourself and others, including on the beach, in the parking lot, and in the water. 

• Do not wear a mask in the water. Continue to wear a mask when physical distancing is difficult while outside of the water. 

• Wash your hands often with soap and water. 

• Avoid touching your face with unwashed hands. Wash your hands with soap and water before and after putting on sunscreen, or use hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol if soap and water are unavailable. 

• Avoid using a public rest room. Keep beach visits short enough and close enough to home so that you won’t need a bathroom break. 

• Change into your swimsuit before leaving home. • Plan ahead in case you need to use a public bathroom. 

• Bring hand sanitizer and disinfectant wipe 

• Close the toilet lid before flushing 

• Air dryers or paper towel dispensers may be unavailable; bring disposable towels for drying hands if needed 

• There is more risk for catching or spreading COVID-19 while traveling. If you choose to visit a beach, do so in your local community. 

Can I have a rummage sale? 

You and your community should cancel or postpone all in-person yard and rummage sales. It is not safe to go to public gatherings, such as yard or rummage sales, because COVID-19 is still spreading in Wisconsin. You should avoid all in-person gatherings with people who are not a part of your home. This applies to events like yard, garage, or rummage sales. Some alternatives to a traditional garage sale include, holding a no-contact yard or rummage sale by posting and selling items using a virtual community, garage sale apps, or online sales platform. These options allow sellers to sell items without physical contact with the buyer. You should consider using online payments or outdoor pickup without any close contact. 

Camping 

The best way to stay safe is to stay home and limit outings to essential trips only. There are other, safer, options compared to camping. You can try: backyard camping, virtual tours of national parks, or building blanket forts indoors. 

Planning and Preparing 

• Plan to stay local. Camp in your own community. Buy supplies and groceries in your own area to bring with you. Don’t go to stores near the campsite to get supplies. Measures like these helps to reduce the possibility that you spread COVID-19 to other areas, especially ones with fewer resources, doctors, or hospitals. 

• Minimize trips away from your campground. Bring extra supplies with you such as sunscreen, insect repellent, food, and toiletries. 

• Keep camping groups limited to people that you live with. If camping with others who don’t live with you, set up camp with physical distancing in mind and plan for activities that will allow you to maintain 6 feet or more of physical distance from those whom you don’t live with. 

• Plan for a "Leave No Trace" camping experience. Assume garbage and recycling bins are not provided. Visitors are asked to take all of their garbage, recyclables, and other waste with them when they leave. 

• Check the weather ahead of time so you can be sure to bring all the camping equipment you will need to be safe. 

• If you or anyone in your group feels sick or believes they have been in contact with a confirmed case of COVID-19, do not visit a campground. 

Public Pools, Splash Pads and Water Parks 

At this time, the Department of Health Services (DHS) recommends that all public pools, splash pads, and water parks remain closed due to the spread of COVID-19. Until we meet the benchmarks established in the roadmap to reopen Wisconsin, it is not safe to bring together groups of individuals that are not part of a single household or living unit into an environment where sustained and close contact could occur. You can track the state’s progress on these benchmarks on the DHS COVID-19 Response website. This is a rapidly evolving situation, but it is unlikely that this recommendation would be changed unless significant progress in meeting gating criteria are met. DHS understands that there are many positive benefits from visiting public pools, splash pads, and water parks. While it isn’t the same, there are other fun outdoor activities individuals and families can participate in while waiting for it to be safe to return to pools and water parks. Families or households can still enjoy bike rides, walks, and other outdoor physical activities that allow for safe physical distancing. 

https://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/covid-19/community.htm

13. What is contact tracing and what happens during the process?

Contact Tracing

What is contact tracing?
Contact tracing is used by health departments to prevent the spread of infectious disease. In general, contact tracing involves identifying people who have an infectious disease (cases) and their contacts (people who may have been exposed) and working with them to interrupt disease transmission. For COVID-19, this includes asking cases to isolate and contacts to quarantine at home voluntarily.

Will my information be kept private?

All aspects of case investigation and contact tracing must be voluntary, confidential, and culturally appropriate. Efforts to locate and communicate with clients and close contacts must be carried out in a manner that preserves the confidentiality and privacy of all involved. This includes never revealing the name of the client to a close contact unless permission has been given (preferably in writing), and not giving confidential information to third parties (e.g., roommates, neighbors, family members).

Contact tracing for COVID-19 typically involves

• Interviewing people with COVID-19 to identify everyone with whom they had close contact during the time they may have been infectious,

• Notifying contacts of their potential exposure,

• Monitoring contacts for signs and symptoms of COVID-19, ( I switched places of the monitoring bullet and the referring bullet)

• Referring contacts for testing (if symptomatic or at the end of their 14 day quarantine, if requested), and

• Connecting contacts with services they might need during the self-quarantine period.

To prevent the further spread of disease, COVID-19 contacts are encouraged to stay home and maintain social distance (at least 6 feet) from others until 14 days after their last exposure to a person with COVID-19. Contacts should monitor  themselves by checking their temperature twice daily and watching for symptoms of COVID-19.

What happens during contact tracing?

Generally, contact tracing includes the following steps:

• Case investigation: Public health staff work with a patient to help them recall everyone with whom they have had close contact during the time when they may have been infectious.

• Contact tracing: Public health staff begin contact tracing by notifying exposed individuals (contacts) of their potential exposure as rapidly and sensitively as possible, not revealing the infected patient’s identity.

• Contact support: Contacts are provided with education, information, and support to help them understand their risk, what they should do to separate themselves from others who are not exposed, and how to monitor themselves for illness. In addition, they are informed of the possibility that they could spread the infection to others even if they do not feel ill.

• Self-quarantine: Contacts are encouraged to stay home, monitor their health, and maintain social distance (at least 6 feet) from others until 14 days after their last exposure to the infected patient, in case they also become ill.

14. Who is considered a close contact to someone with COVID-19?

For COVID-19, a close contact is defined as anyone who was within 6 feet of an infected person for at least 15 minutes starting from 48 hours before the person began feeling sick until the time the patient was isolated.

What can a person diagnosed with COVID-19 expect to happen during contact tracing?

If you are diagnosed with COVID-19, a case investigator from the health department may call you to check-in on your health, discuss who you’ve been in contact with, and ask where you spent time while you may have been infectious and able to spread COVID-19 to others. You will also be asked to stay at home and self-isolate, if you are not doing so already.

• Your name will not be revealed to those you may have exposed, even if they ask.

• Self-isolation means staying at home in a specific room away from other people and pets, and using a separate bathroom, if possible.

• Self-isolation helps slow the spread of COVID-19 and can help keep your family, friends, neighbors, and others you may come in contact with healthy.

• If you need support or assistance while self-isolating, your health department or community organizations may be able to provide assistance.

Symptoms of COVID-19* can include fever or chills, cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, fatigue, muscle or body aches, headache, new loss of taste or smell, sore throat, congestion or runny nose, nausea or vomiting, and diarrhea. If your symptoms worsen or become severe, you should seek medical care. Severe symptoms include trouble breathing, persistent pain or pressure in the chest, confusion, inability to wake or stay awake, or bluish lips or face.

*This list is not all inclusive. Please consult your doctor or medical provider for any other symptoms that are severe or concerning. If you need emergency medical attention, call 911 and tell them you are having COVID-19-like symptoms.

15. Are seasonal Door County residents and tourists/visitors counted in our confirmed case numbers?

Seasonal residents are counted in our Door County numbers. If anyone that tests positive will be residing here, even for just the summer, they will be counted here. Tourists and brief visitors to our county are a little different depending on their situation. As their stay here is often minimal, when Public Health follows up with them, we may determine that their case should be transferred to the county or state in which they are returning to, instead of being counted toward our case count. In almost all cases like this, we will still conduct contact tracing and determine who may have be in close contact with the positive within our county borders.

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COVID-19 Easter

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1. Are religious services and places of worship considered to be essential services or count towards essential travel?

Businesses defined in the Governor’s Order as essential businesses and operations do not include faith-based organizations or places of worship. The intent of the order is to limit gatherings of people and person-to-person contact in an effort to protect the health and safety of all Wisconsinites by slowing the spread of COVID-19. It is not a statement against the essential nature of faith and fellowship. Taking time at home to be mindful, meditate, and pray are great ways to practice spiritual beliefs individually or as a family. You can also safely view or listen to almost any form of religious services through television, radio, online video recordings, live streams, or podcasts. Speak to your religious or spiritual leaders to learn about other ways you can practice from your home.

2. Can our congregation gather in the church’s parking lot if we stay in our cars?

Wisconsin’s Safer at Home order does not allow for gatherings of more than 10 people in a confined space at a time.
Governor Evers April 9 Press Release does allow for religious services to be conducted via:

• Parking lots with congregants staying in cars, avoiding person-to-person contact;
• Streaming online; and
• Having small gatherings (fewer than 10 people in each room) with multiple services.

While an individual is safe in their car with the windows rolled up, it is extremely difficult to manage these types of gatherings. Areas such as parking lots also have limited access to restrooms, and participants may be tempted to get out of their cars to stretch and enjoy the weather, creating potential for the virus to spread through interaction. If you participate in any gatherings such as this, please be mindful to follow the Safer at Home guidelines including physical distancing of 6 feet and wearing of cloth face coverings.

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Door County Child Support

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1. How do I apply for services?

You must complete an application for services, and mail it to the Door County Child Support Agency, 1211 S. Duluth Ave Sturgeon Bay, WI 54235 . You may pick up an application in person at the Child Support Agency, request an application be mailed to you by phoning 920-746-2231, or download an application.

2. What are the case management services offered by child support?

Case management services are available for both the parent paying child support as well as the parent getting child support. Case management services are provided by county and tribal child support agencies, and can be obtained by applying for services. After an application is received, the child support agency will provide case management services to you. These services may include:

• Locating the other parent and his or her financial assets;
• Scheduling genetic tests for the child and the potential father(s) of the child;
• Preparing the papers and taking the case to court to legally identify the father and set up a support order;
• Ensuring that one or both parents provide health insurance for the child(ren);
• Using all available and appropriate enforcement tools to collect support owed;
• Reviewing the support order, when necessary, in case it needs to be changed; and
• Ending the support order, when necessary.

3. What are the financial management services offered by child support?

All families paying and receiving child support, family support or maintenance get "financial management" services. These services include:

• Entering the information about the court case and support orders into the Wisconsin child support computer system;
• Working with employers to withhold income for support payments;
• Processing payments;
• Collecting, recording and sending payments;
• Collecting, recording and sending fees;
• Providing monthly account statements;
• Providing payment coupons;
• Providing different ways to pay for customers;
• Providing a direct-deposit and debit card option for parents receiving child support;
• Providing payment information by phone and online; and
• Correcting errors on account balances.

4. How do I check my child support balances? (payer or payee)

You can call the Wisconsin Support Collections Trust Fund (WI SCTF) at 800-991-5530 and request a participant account history.  It will be mailed to you at the address that is current in the KIDS system at no charge.  Or you can register for your own access to your case at https://csos.wisconsin.gov/login

5. What is a CP or NCP?

CP - Custodial parent, or the person who receives the child support money (payee). NCP - non-custodial parent, or the person who pays child support (payer).  

6. How do I change my support order?

In order to change an existing order, a new court order must be entered. The following are a few options:

1. If it has been over three years since your order was entered or last reviewed you can request that the Child Support Agency review your case to see if it warrants a financial adjustment.  Call the Door County Child Support Agency at 920-746-2231. If your case has been reviewed and determined that it does not warrant a financial adjustment by the Child Support Agency at this time, you will receive a written statement. If you would still like to pursue a review, the following actions are available to you:
2. You may file your own motion with the court to modify your court order through the Clerk of Courts office. See Forms and Publications > Forms to Change a Current Order > Parties Do Not Agree to Change An Order, for more information.
3. You may hire an attorney for this action.
4. If you and the other parent AGREE, you can file a Stipulation and Order agreeing to modify the current child support order. See Forms and Publications > Forms to Change a Current Order > Parties Agree to Change an Order.

7. I want to change the physical placement order or custody (decision making). What do I do?

Please keep in mind that matters of legal custody and visitation (physical placement) are separate from the financial support of children. Wisconsin’s Child Support Program has no authority to create or enforce custody or visitation orders, and child support agencies do not handle these matters.

Wisconsin’s Child Support Program has no authority to create or enforce custody or visitation orders. Please contact the Family Court Commissioner’s Office for more information. For those wishing to change their placement or custody order, please visit our Forms and Publication site for more information.  Either party may hire an attorney, consult with a pro se organization to help prepare the paper work or file your own motion with the court. 

8. I have been laid off or can’t work due to injury. Can my support be lowered?

Only the court can make a decision about ending/lowering support due to injury/unemployment. The agency will not bring a motion to end the support, but you have the ability to bring a motion before the court yourself. See Forms and Publications for more information on options to change child support. 

9. My ex is remarried and the new spouse makes a lot of money. Can I get more money?

No. The responsibility for supporting a child rests with the parents of the child. Under Wisconsin law a stepparent has no legal responsibility to support the children of his/her new spouse.  

10. My ex is making a lot more money now, does my child support automatically go up?

In order to change an existing order, a new court order must be entered. The following are a few options:

1. If it has been over three years since your order was entered or last reviewed you can request that the Child Support Agency review your case to see if it warrants a financial adjustment.  Call the Door County Child Support Agency at 920-746-2231. If your case has been reviewed and determined that it does not warrant a financial adjustment by the Child Support Agency at this time, you will receive a written statement. If you would still like to pursue a review, the following actions are available to you:
2. You may file your own motion with the court to modify your court order through the Clerk of Courts office. See Forms and Publications > Forms to Change a Current Order > Parties Do Not Agree to Change An Order, for more information.
3. You may hire an attorney for this action.
4. If you and the other parent AGREE, you can file a Stipulation and Order agreeing to modify the current child support order. See Forms and Publications > Forms to Change a Current Order > Parties Agree to Change an Order.

11. Do I have to pay my child support if the other parent won't let me see the child?

The issue of placement/visitation is separate and distinct from the requirement to meet your child support obligation. The child support agency does not have the authority to address custody and placement issues. The Family Court Commissioner’s office can assist with placement and custody and potentially may make a referral for mediation.  If you need to bring a motion before the court to have the matter addressed, documents for this purpose are available on our Forms and Publications page.

12. My employer is deducting the child support from my checks, but they aren't sending in the money. What should I do?

You are ultimately responsible for making child support payments. If you notice that the payments are being deducted by your employer, but they are not being credited to your account, you need to keep copies of your paystubs to prove the deductions were made by your employer. Your Support Specialist may then take action against the employer for failure to send in the payments. Call the Door County Child Support Agency for more information 920-746-2231.

13. My ex doesn't spend the money on the kids. What can be done?

The money a parent spends on housing, utilities and food are expenses that are shared with the children. If you believe your children are not being adequately fed, clothed and housed, you may contact the county social services agency where your children live. Neither the state nor the federal government has jurisdiction over how the child support payments are spent.

14. My kids are being neglected when they are with the other parent. What should I do?

Please keep in mind that matters of legal custody and visitation (physical placement) are separate from the financial support of children.  Wisconsin’s Child Support Program has no authority to create or enforce custody or visitation orders, and child support agencies do not handle these matters.

If you are concerned about safety issues or the environment at the other parent’s home, you should contact the Door County Department of Health and Human Services.  This agency is responsible for investigating suspected child abuse or neglect cases reported to them.  The phone number for the Door County Department of Health and Human Services is (920) 746-2588.

15. I want the other parent in jail for not paying. Why does the agency keep sending letters?

Child support agencies have many tools to help them enforce child support orders. Some tools, such as charging interest on past-due support, are done automatically. For the most efficient and effective use of staff time, child support agencies use their experience to choose what tools (actions) they take and when. For instance, they might write warning letters before they take a more drastic action. Some enforcement tools and actions require due process or a court action. Jail is not always the best way to get money for your children.

16. What happens when my child turns 18?

Months before the youngest child’s 18th birthday, a letter is system-generated and sent to both parents at the last address on record informing both parents that the child is turning 18 and contact must be made with the Child Support Agency to confirm the child’s attendance in high school. If no contact is made from either parent, the order ends  at the end of the month of the child’s 18th birthday and payments received after that are applied to any unpaid past child support and unpaid court costs and fees. If the Child Support Agency receives a letter on the school’s letterhead confirming that the child is enrolled and pursuing an accredited course of instruction leading to a high school diploma, the order will end at the end of the month on the date that is stated on the letter that the course work was completed or at the end of the month of the date of graduation that is stated on the letter. If the graduation date extends beyond the child’s 19th birthday, child support will end at the end of the month of the child’s 19th birthday. However, payments will not be stopped until all unpaid past child support and unpaid court costs and fees are paid in full per Wisconsin statute.

17. I am worried about the other parent knowing my whereabouts. What can I do?

If the release of your address, phone number, employer, or other location information would put you or your children at risk, ask your child support worker for privacy protection. Click here to download the privacy protection form. 

18. How can I get a statement of all the support I received last year?

You can view and print your payment history from the Child Support Online Services site. (Registration is required). You can pick a statement for one or for all of your cases. You can choose from the following time frames:

• the past 90 days
• year-to-date
• past calendar year

You may also call the KIDS Information Line and ask to have a payment history mailed to you.

19. If the other parent pays support for two families, how much support will each family get?

Federal rules and state law dictate how support collections are paid out. For information on Serial-Family Orders, click here.

20. After my child support is paid, when will I get it?

In most cases, support is paid out within two business days of the Trust Fund receiving a payment. New income withholdings, the first payment on a debit card, and payments from tax returns can take longer. Additionally, payments that come in on the weekend, or over a holiday can also take an extra day or two to be sent.

21. Can my child support agency help with medical support the court ordered?

Yes. Medical support may include health insurance, and/or payment of medical costs. Both parents are responsible to provide medical support for their children.

22. Can my child support agency help if the other parent moves to another state or country?

Yes. Most child support services are available locally. Parents may apply for child support services regardless of where the other parent lives or where their order is from.

23. I received a notice that the other parent has filed for bankruptcy. What do I have to do?

Child support is not discharged by a bankruptcy action. A child support order will remain in place and past-due support owed cannot be forgiven or reduced by the bankruptcy action. However, your child support agency’s ability to enforce your child support order will be limited by federal and state law during the course of the bankruptcy. Please contact your child support agency for more information on how bankruptcy may affect your individual case.

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SBLGFD CPR and First Aid Training

Show All Answers

1. How long are the classes?

Most classes run about 3 hours; however, we have found that students feel the time goes by very quickly because of the amount of interaction and hands on time that is available.

2. Do I get certified?

Yes, you will receive a certification via email usually within 7 days of the completion of the class. If you do not receive an email, we suggest you check your spam folder. If it is not there, please feel free to contact the program coordinator.

3. Who is the certification through?

The certification is through the American Health and Safety Institute (ASHI) and is accepted by most organizations.  For example, the State of Wisconsin recognizes the ASHI certification for all EMRs, EMTs and Paramedics in Wisconsin. There are some specific organizations that don’t recognize ASHI, if you need help with this please feel free to contact the program coordinator.

4. How often do I need to take the classes?

The ASHI certification, like all other certifications, is good for two years. We strongly encourage you not to wait for the full two years to get recertified, especially if this certification is required for your employment.

5. Is this the same as American Heart (AHA) CPR?

The AHSI program and the AHA follow the same guidelines and teach the same techniques. Each program is updated frequently to stay in line with the current trends and teachings in CPR and resuscitation.

6. Can we have the class at our location?

Maybe. Due to the amount of equipment, technology and space needed to provide a quality learning experience we try to hold all of our classes at the Sister Bay Fire Station. We have, on occasion, been able to move the class to a different location if all of the overall technical and space needs of the class are met. Due to the fact that our instructors are compensated for there time there are additional costs associated with moving the class to a location other than the Sister Bay Fire Station.

7. How many people have you taught?

When this program was first discussed we had hoped to provide 4 classes per year. In 2019 alone, we provided 22 classes. To date we have trained over 600 residents and guests of Door County including the majority of the EMRs, EMTs and Paramedics.

8. Is the class all lecture or is there some hands on?

We pride ourselves in a very interactive hands on learning approach with a strong student to instructor ratio. Overall the class is about 50/50 hands on and lecture and is broken into multiple opportunities to practice what you are learning.

9. I want to have a class for my business, what are the minimum and maximum number of people you will hold a special class for?

Two of the founding goals of our program are accessibility and a high instructor to student ratio. With these goals in mind we try to have a minimum of four students per class and not exceed twelve.