FINALIST
Lad Lake
W350 S1401 Waterville Road, Dousman
Lad Lake has been providing residential services for at-risk youth on its 365-acre campus in Dousman since 1902. In 2010, Lad Lake joined forces with St. Rose Youth and Family Services of Milwaukee, and since then has offered expanded home services to both boys and girls throughout Milwaukee and Waukesha counties. St. Rose has a longstanding relationship with the community as well, and has been meeting the needs of at-risk girls since 1848.
Each year, Lad Lake provides more than 1,500 troubled youth safety, individualized therapy, skill building and hope through four unique program areas. They include: out of home care; residential treatment for exploited girls; education and academic support; and independent living and outreach.
Staff members throughout the organization seek to create long-term success through the growth and development of real relationships, said Bridgett Brown, development coordinator at Lad Lake.
“As Shelter Care providers, staff members show that same dedication to the youth and families in hopes that they can play some role in the youth’s reintegration into the community.”
In July, Lad Lake took over the responsibilities of providing Waukesha County’s Shelter Care from the Waukesha County Department of Health and Human Services.
The program established a new building to provide non-secure detention services for Waukesha County boys and girls.
It is estimated that Lad Lake will save the department approximately $130,000 in annualized savings in its first full year. These funds will be used to maintain existing, direct services to Health and Human Services clients while also helping to keep the county’s property tax levy low. Additionally, savings are estimated to grow by three percent each year succeeding the contract.
Longtime president and chief executive officer Gary Erdmann retired in January 2014, and Dan Magnuson, former president and CEO of Pathfinders, took on the role.
