Wis. Stat. § 46.001

The purposes of this chapter are to conserve human resources in Wisconsin; to provide a just and humane program of services to children and unborn children in need of protection or services, nonmarital children and the expectant mothers of those unborn children; to prevent dependency, mental illness, developmental disability, mental infirmity and other forms of social maladjustment by a continuous attack on causes; to provide effective aid and services to all persons in need thereof and to assist those persons to achieve or regain self-dependence at the earliest possible date; to avoid duplication and waste of effort and money on the part of public and private agencies; and to coordinate and integrate a social welfare program.