Achieve Center in Wausau announces closure, cites economic challenges

WAUSAU, Wis. (WSAW) - The Achieve Center, a treatment clinic in Wausau centered care around children with developmental disorders, chronic health problems, and physical challenges since 2007 has suddenly closed its doors.

According to the center’s website, the closure stems from several compounding factors, making it too difficult for the nonprofit to recover during the current economic climate. They faced challenges, including reimbursement issues for free services, staffing issues, management retirements, and closing childcare services.

7 Investigates reached out to center staff but did not hear back.

In May of 2022, Carol Wesley, the executive director of the Achieve Center, told 7 Investigates, “We turn no child away due to the family’s financial situation, and that is unusual for services-- the kinds of services that we provide, that are provided outside of the government, by a private nonprofit.”

Wesley said in that interview that services were covered through a variety of ways, including direct pay from families, insurance including Medicaid, some families had additional supports through programs like Wisconsin Shares and the Children’s Long Term Support Waiver, and they also took donations. Tax records show the center’s expenses for 2022 exceeded the amount of money it was bringing in, a roughly $175,000 difference.

The center will not be reopening, and staff will need to find employment elsewhere. A general email is providing information to people with questions at info@uachievecenter.com. However, the center cautions people not to share any confidential information via email.

The center stated all clients will receive a letter detailing how to request records so they can use other area resources for care. However, a client of the center who spoke to NewsChannel 7 said talks between them and the center have been slow, and little information is being disclosed.

In October, Achieve Center Inc. opened its child care center, which integrated treatment with child care needs for families; the staff said it was the first of its kind in Wisconsin.

The communications director for the Department of Children and Families said their licensing staff received a notice on May 8 that the child care portion of the center was temporarily closing due to staffing shortages. She said as of today, they have not received any communication from the licensee or board of directors about a permanent closure.

This is a developing story and will be updated as details become available.

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