Chapter DCF 56

Chapter DCF 56

FOSTER HOME CARE FOR CHILDREN

DCF 56.01   Authority and purpose.

DCF 56.03   Definitions.

DCF 56.04   Applying for a license.

DCF 56.05   Foster parent qualifications.

DCF 56.055   Background checks.

DCF 56.06   Notification requirements.

DCF 56.07   Physical environment.

DCF 56.072   Emergency preparedness.

DCF 56.074   Foster child’s additional needs.

DCF 56.076   Firearms and other dangerous weapons.

DCF 56.078   Transportation.

DCF 56.085   Capacity.

DCF 56.09   Care of a foster child.

DCF 56.10   Hearings.

DCF 56.12   Information for foster parents.

DCF 56.13   Foster home level of care certification for Levels 1 to 4.

DCF 56.135   Level 5 foster homes.

DCF 56.14   Foster parent training.

DCF 56.15   Supervising or placing agency.

DCF 56.16   Licensing agency responsibilities.

DCF 56.17   Child’s treatment team for Levels 3 to 5.

DCF 56.185   Agency contact with foster parent and foster child.

DCF 56.21   Respite care for foster parents.

DCF 56.22   Assessment of needs and strengths.

DCF 56.23   Supplemental payments, exceptional payments, initial clothing allowance, and retainer fee.

DCF 56.24   Exceptions.

DCF 56.25   Relative or like-kin foster homes.

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Ch. DCF 56 Note Note: Sections PW-CY 40.60 to 40.65 as they existed on March 31, 1983 were repealed and a new chapter HSS 56 was created effective April 1, 1983. Chapter HSS 56 as it existed on February 28, 2002, was repealed and a new chapter HFS 56 was created, Register February 2002 No. 554, effective March 1, 2002. Chapter HFS 56 was renumbered to chapter DCF 56 under s. 13.92 (4) (b) 1., Stats., Register November 2008 No. 635.

DCF 56.01 DCF 56.01 Authority and purpose.

DCF 56.01(1) (1) This chapter is promulgated under the authority of ss. 48.62, 48.64 (4), and 48.67, Stats., to establish licensing requirements for foster homes and foster parents directed at protecting the health and safety and promoting the welfare of children placed in the homes; to establish a fair hearing procedure for foster parents; to establish requirements for certification of a foster home with a level of care and requirements for assessment of a child’s needs and strengths; and to establish criteria for making supplemental and exceptional payments to foster parents.

DCF 56.01(2) (2) A license to operate a foster home does not entitle the holder to placements of children who need foster care since placement decisions are based on a variety of factors, including the compatibility of what a specific child needs with what a particular foster parent can offer.

DCF 56.01 History History: CR 00-020: cr. Register February 2002 No. 554, eff. 3-1-02; EmR0937: emerg. am. (1), eff. 1-1-10; CR 10-021: am. (1) Register September 2010 No. 657, eff. 10-1-10; EmR1050: emerg. am. (1), eff. 1-1-11; CR 10-148: am. (1) Register August 2011 No. 668, eff. 9-1-11.

DCF 56.03 DCF 56.03 Definitions. In this chapter:

DCF 56.03(1b) (1b) “Advanced practice nurse prescriber” has the meaning given in s. 50.01 (1b), Stats.

DCF 56.03(1d) (1d) “Age or developmentally appropriate activities” means activities that are generally accepted as suitable for children of a given chronological age or level of maturity or that are determined to be developmentally appropriate for a child based on the cognitive, emotional, physical, and behavioral capacities that are typical for children of a given age or age group or, in the case of a specific foster child, activities that are suitable for the foster child based on the cognitive, emotional, physical, and behavioral capacities of that foster child.

DCF 56.03(1g) (1g) “Algorithm” means a composite score based on items demonstrated to be relevant to decision making on a particular topic such as level of need or service provision.

DCF 56.03(1r) (1r) “Applicant” means a person who applies for a license to operate a foster home, for renewal of a license to operate a foster home or for modification of a license to operate a foster home.

DCF 56.03(2) (2) “Basement” means the portion of a foster home below the first floor.

DCF 56.03(3) (3) “Basic maintenance payment” means a payment to reimburse a foster parent for the cost of a foster child’s food, clothing, housing, basic transportation, and personal items, as established by s. 48.62 (4), Stats.

DCF 56.03(3m) (3m) “Biopsychosocial assessment” means an assessment of a foster child’s disability, measurement of the behavioral and cognitive correlates of the disability, assessment of how psychosocial and environmental factors influence how the foster child copes with the disability, a review of biological factors that affect the disability, and an identification of possible treatments for the disability.

DCF 56.03(6s) (6s) “Child welfare professional” means an individual who is responsible for ensuring the health, safety, and well-being of foster children and is employed by a county agency, tribal child welfare agency, licensed child-placing agency, or, in a county with a population of 750,000 or more, the department.

DCF 56.03(7) (7) “County agency” means a county department of social services under s. 46.215 or 46.22, Stats., or a county department of human services under s. 46.23, Stats.

DCF 56.03(8m) (8m) “Court order” means an order of a state court or tribal court.

DCF 56.03(9) (9) “Department” means the Wisconsin department of children and families.

DCF 56.03(10) (10) “Department exceptions panel” or “exceptions panel” means the group authorized to grant exceptions under s. DCF 56.24 (2).

DCF 56.03(10g) (10g) “Division of hearings and appeals” means the division of hearings and appeals in the department of administration.

DCF 56.03(10n) (10n) “Entity” has the meaning given in s. 48.685 (1) (b), Stats.

DCF 56.03(11) (11) “Exit” means a continuous and unobstructed means of egress from inside the foster home to the exterior of the foster home, including intervening halls, balconies, ramps, fire escapes, stairways, and windows.

DCF 56.03(11r) (11r) “Family interaction plan” means a plan developed by a placing agency to promote a foster child’s interaction with the foster child’s parent, siblings, and other identified persons and includes interaction by in-person or virtual face-to-face contact; telephone calls; texts; instant messages; letters; emails; and attendance at routine activities, such as, family gatherings, medical or treatment-related appointments, school events, and faith-related activities.

DCF 56.03(11s) (11s) “Final substantiated finding” means all of the following:

DCF 56.03(11s)(a) (a) A final determination made after January 1, 2015, that a person has abused or neglected a child under s. 48.981 (3) (c) 5m., Stats., and s. DCF 40.04 if the final determination has not been reversed or modified on appeal.

DCF 56.03(11s)(b) (b) A determination made before January 1, 2015, that a person has abused or neglected a child under s. 48.981 (3) (c) 4., Stats., if the determination has not been reversed or modified on appeal.

DCF 56.03(12) (12) “Foster care” means care and maintenance provided to a foster child in a foster home pursuant to a court order, voluntary placement agreement, or voluntary transition-to-independent-living agreement.

DCF 56.03(13) (13) “Foster child” means a person under 21 years of age who is placed for care and maintenance in a foster home by the department, a county agency, a tribal child welfare agency, or a licensed private child-placing agency by court order, voluntary placement agreement, or voluntary transition-to-independent-living agreement.

DCF 56.03(14) (14) “Foster home” means any facility operated by a person licensed under s. 48.62 (1), Stats.