Welcome from Jim Canales,CCCW CEO

Hello and welcome to the Community Care of Central Wisconsin (CCCW) website. My name is Jim Canales and I have recently been selected by the CCCW Board of Directors to serve as the inaugural Chief Executive Officer (CEO) for CCCW.

CCCW will become the managed long term care organization operating the State of Wisconsin Family Care program in the counties of Marathon, Portage, and Wood. Family Care provides a package of long term care benefits to meet identified outcomes of eligible participants. These participants, known as members, must meet functional and financial requirements of the Family Care program and either be elderly or be an adult with a developmental or physical disability.

I have worked in the field of long term care since 1977, and most recently have been employed by Portage County as the Director of Community Care of Portage County. Community Care of Portage County has been operating as one of the five pilot sites delivering the Family Care program in Wisconsin since 2000.

I have been married to Nancy for the past 21 years, have two daughters in college, and own a 4 pound Yorkshire Terrier and an 80 pound Golden Doodle. We reside in the Stevens Point area on a quarter acre lot that boasts a multitude of perennials, trees and shrubs that I tend to when I am not at the best volunteer job in the world – hosting jazz and acoustic radio shows at the UWSP Campus Radio Station, 90FM WWSP (home of trivia!).

I am excited and honored to have accepted the position of CEO. Family Care has been a successful program operating in Portage County for the last 8 years and I am pleased to provide the leadership that will help to bring Family Care to residents of Marathon and Wood Counties.

My initial responsibilities will include:

- Creation of the infrastructure and systems needed for CCCW to operate.
- Hiring of qualified, expert, and enthusiastic staff.
- Working with the Board to develop and carry out policies and procedures necessary for CCCW to operate effectively and efficiently.
- Assuring that CCCW meets all certification standards as set by State contract prior to implementation. Assuring that CCCW meets the expansion timelines as set by the Board.
- Working with the CCCW Board of Directors to set organizational values and developing an organizational culture that reflects these values while promoting collaboration, respect and responsiveness to all stakeholders.


There are many great opportunities ahead for CCCW and the residents of our region. They include the elimination of wait lists for individuals with long term care needs, the development of new and expanded provider options for our membership, and an ability to develop and provide quality services that meet the outcomes of our members in a cost effective manner.

I look forward to meeting you over the next months to hear how CCCW is working, or could work for you. In the meantime, please feel free to call me directly at (715) 345-5800 with any questions or concerns you might have regarding this program, or complete the stakeholder interest form on this website and someone will get back to you.

Thank you.
Jim Canales, CEO Community Care of Central Wisconsin