Johner Allison Law

02/04/2026

Honored to have been featured in last week's WisLawNOW.

In the article, I discuss how modern neuroscience continues to shape how we should think about youth sentencing and disposition. It is critical that we recognize that adolescents are developmentally and fundamentally different from adults and have a unique capacity for growth and rehabilitation.

In recent years, advancements in neuroscience have shaped and reshaped how we understand the adolescent brain and psyche. For most of our nation’s legal

05/21/2025

May is Foster Care Awareness Month!

In Wisconsin, over 6,500 children are currently in out-of-home care. Over a thousand are awaiting adoptive families.

Wisconsin's foster care system operates under a state-run, county-administered model. This means that while the state sets overarching policies, individual counties manage day-to-day operations. Foster care provides a temporary, safe, and nurturing environment for kids when their families are unable to care for them due to any number of challenges. The primary goal of foster care is to reunify children with their families whenever safely possible.

Foster parents are vital partners in the child welfare system. They provide stability and support to children during times of uncertainty, helping them heal and thrive. Foster parents also work collaboratively with birth families and child welfare professionals to facilitate reunification or, when necessary, pursue adoption or guardianship.

To support foster parents, Wisconsin offers the Uniform Foster Care Rate, a reimbursement program that covers the cost of caring for a foster child. This includes a basic maintenance rate, supplemental and exceptional rates for children with higher needs, and an initial clothing allowance.

Maintaining connections with relatives and familiar caregivers is a priority in Wisconsin's foster care approach. Kinship care, where children are placed with relatives or close family friends, helps preserve family bonds and cultural ties. This practice supports children's emotional well-being and can lead to more stable placements.

Despite the dedication of many, Wisconsin faces challenges in its foster care system. There is a critical shortage of licensed foster homes, particularly for older youth and sibling groups. In Dane County, for example, the number of foster homes has decreased significantly over the past decade.

How You Can Help:

Become a Foster Parent: Open your home to a child in need. Learn more about the process at the Wisconsin Department of Children and Families.

Support Foster Families: Offer respite care, donate supplies, or provide mentorship to foster families in your community.

Advocate and Educate: Raise awareness about the needs of children in foster care and the importance of supporting the system that serves them.

By coming together as a community, we can ensure that every child in Wisconsin has the opportunity to grow up in a safe, loving, and supportive environment.

For more information and resources, visit:
Wisconsin Department of Children and Families.
https://dcf.wisconsin.gov/fostercare/parent

For Dane County:
https://www.danecountyhumanservices.org/Children-Youth-and-Family/Out-of-Home-Care

04/24/2025

Policy Spotlight: Where Do Our Foster Kids' Benefits Really Go?

I listened to a really interesting podcast yesterday (https://imprintnews.org/podcast) highlighting a big problem in the child welfare system.

Across the country, thousands of foster children are entitled to federal benefits (like Social Security survivor and disability payments). These funds are set aside as a means of support. To help them build a future. To provide some stability in a system that often leaves them with none.

But here’s the truth: many state child welfare agencies are quietly collecting those checks and using them to pay for foster care itself—without ever telling the youth or their guardians. This (hopefully) isn't due to any malicious motive but rather as a means to pad the department's budget or simply because "this is how it's always been."

But that means a child whose parent has died might be receiving survivor benefits... but never see a single cent of it. That means a disabled child might have money earmarked to support their unique needs... and instead it goes straight to the state.

This isn't just a technicality. It's a deep injustice. These are some of the most vulnerable kids in our society—many with no permanent family, no safety net, and few trusted adults in their corner. And yet, the very funds meant to support them are being intercepted, repurposed, and spent without transparency or consent.

Thankfully, the America First Policy Institute (AFPI) is calling for reform. They’ve proposed a model executive order that every state governor could sign today to fix this.

Here’s what it would do: 1) Prohibit state agencies from using foster kids’ federal benefits to reimburse foster care costs 2) Require that those funds be saved or used only for the youth’s direct benefit—like college, housing, mental health care, or support after aging out and 3) Mandate screening for all foster youth to identify eligibility and manage the benefits with transparency and integrity

This is not about politics. This is about basic fairness. If we truly care about the well-being of foster youth, we can’t allow the system to take what little they have left.

Extra Reading:
https://americafirstpolicy.com/issues/protecting-federal-benefits-for-foster-children
https://americafirstpolicy.com/issues/protecting-federal-benefits-for-foster-children

12/31/2024

We are thrilled to announce the launch of Johner Allison Law, a firm dedicated to providing compassionate, effective, and client-centered legal services.

At Johner Allison Law, we believe in standing by our clients every step of the way, delivering personalized solutions to navigate life's most challenging moments. Whether you're facing a complex legal issue or seeking guidance and advocacy, our team is here to help.

🔹 Our Mission: To empower individuals and families with knowledge, strong representation, and a path toward resolution and justice.

🔹 Our Practice: Specializing in criminal and youth defense, we are proud to serve our community with integrity and expertise.

🔹 Why Choose Us: A firm where every client is valued, every case matters, and every effort is made to achieve the best possible outcome.

💡 We invite you to follow us here on Facebook for updates, legal tips, and a behind-the-scenes look at our journey as a new law firm.

Thank you for supporting us as we take this exciting step forward! We are honored to serve you and our community.

👉 If you or someone you know needs legal assistance, don't hesitate to reach out. You can contact us at [email protected] or visit our website at jallisonlaw.com (website coming!).

Here’s to new beginnings and making a difference!