Chapter DCF 57

DCF 57.02(21) (21) “Other employee or contractor” means an employee or contractor who works in a group home but is not a staff member.

DCF 57.02(22) (22) “Periodicity schedule” means a set of recommended screenings, procedures, and services for children at different stages of their development.

DCF 57.02(23) (23) “Permanency plan” means a plan required under s. 48.38 (2) or 938.38 (2), Stats., that is designed to ensure that a resident is safely reunified with their parent, guardian, or Indian custodian whenever appropriate or that the resident quickly attains a safe placement or home providing long-term stability.

DCF 57.02(24) (24) “Placing agency” means a private child-placing agency licensed under s. 48.66, Stats., county agency, tribal child welfare agency, the department, or an agency from another state authorized to place children in group homes.

DCF 57.02(25) (25) “Premises” means a group home, the tract of land on which the group home is situated, and any other building or structure on that land.

DCF 57.02(26) (26) “Program director” means a person responsible for overseeing program operations and group home development.

DCF 57.02(27) (27) “Reasonable and prudent parent standard” means a standard for use in making decisions concerning a resident’s participation in age or developmentally appropriate extracurricular, enrichment, cultural, and social activities that is characterized by careful and sensible parental decisions that maintain the health, safety, best interests, and cultural, religious, and tribal values of the resident while at the same time encouraging the emotional and developmental growth of the resident.

DCF 57.02(28) (28) “Resident” means a person who is under 21 years of age and is under the jurisdiction of the court under ch. 48 or 938, Stats., or other court order and who is admitted to and resides in a group home.

DCF 57.02(29) (29) “Resident care staff” means a person employed by a licensee to provide daily supervision and direct care to residents to ensure their safety and well-being.

DCF 57.02(30) (30) “Respite care” means a service provided to a youth with an emotional, behavioral, cognitive, or physical condition or other need and who is not admitted to the group home under a voluntary placement agreement or court order.

DCF 57.02(31) (31) “Staff member” means a program director, group home manager, or resident care staff.

DCF 57.02(32) (32) “Treatment plan” means a written plan of services to meet the specific treatment goals and care needs of a resident.

DCF 57.02(33) (33) “Universal precautions” means measures taken to prevent transmission of infection from contact with blood or other potentially infectious materials as recommended by the U.S. public health service’s centers for disease control and adopted by the U.S. occupational safety and health administration (OSHA) as 29 CFR 1910.1030.

DCF 57.02(34) (34) “Voluntary placement agreement” means a written agreement for the placement of the youth in a licensed group home under s. 48.63 (1), Stats., between a county agency, the department, or a licensed child welfare agency; the youth’s parent or guardian or Indian custodian; and the youth, if the youth is 12 years of age or older.

DCF 57.02(35) (35) “Wisconsin public purchaser” means a county agency, the department, or the department of corrections.

DCF 57.02(36) (36) “Youth” means a person under 21 years of age.

DCF 57.02 History History: CR 26-005: cr. Register May 2026 No. 845, eff. 6-1-26.

DCF 57.03 DCF 57.03 Compliance with applicable law and conditions of the license. A person who is licensed under this chapter shall operate the group home in compliance with this chapter; the provisions and conditions of the license; and all applicable local, state, and federal law.

DCF 57.03 History History: CR 26-005: cr. Register May 2026 No. 845, eff. 6-1-26.

DCF 57.04 DCF 57.04 Inspections, records, and requests for information.

DCF 57.04(1) (1) Inspection of premises. The department may visit and inspect a group home and shall be given unrestricted access to the premises, residents, paper or electronic resident records, personnel files, and all policies and procedures required under this chapter.

DCF 57.04(2) (2) Records. A licensee shall maintain the following records for 5 years:

DCF 57.04(2)(a) (a) Schedules for staff members that verify that the applicable staff-to-resident ratio in s. DCF 57.19 (2) or 57.38 (10) were met.

DCF 57.04(2)(b) (b) Staff member payroll.

DCF 57.04(3) (3) Requests for information.

DCF 57.04(3)(a) (a) A licensee shall respond to requests for information from the department, a placing agency, or any other governmental agency with statutory authority to see the information in a time frame specified by the requesting party.

DCF 57.04(3)(b) (b) A licensee shall ensure that all information and documentation submitted to or shared with the department, a placing agency, or any other governmental agency is current, accurate, and complete.

DCF 57.04 History History: CR 26-005: cr. Register May 2026 No. 845, eff. 6-1-26.

DCF 57.05 DCF 57.05 Program statement; policies and procedures.

DCF 57.05(1) (1) Program statement. Each licensee shall have a written program statement that includes all of the following:

DCF 57.05(1)(a) (a) A description of the group home’s purpose and philosophy.

DCF 57.05(1)(b) (b) A description of the resident population served by the group home.

DCF 57.05(1)(c) (c) A description of the services available to residents.

DCF 57.05(1)(d) (d) A description of the daily activities available to residents.

DCF 57.05(1)(e) (e) A nondiscrimination statement that indicates that the licensee does not discriminate against a resident because of race or cultural identification, sex, sexual orientation, age, color, creed, ancestry, national origin, disability, political affiliations, or religious beliefs.

DCF 57.05(2) (2) Policies and procedures. A licensee shall act in accordance with and ensure that staff members, other employees and contractors, and volunteers act in accordance with all applicable policies and procedures that the licensee is required to create under this chapter.

DCF 57.05 Note Note: DCF-F-CFS2378, Policy/Procedure Checklist – Group Homes, is available in the forms section of the department’s website at https://dcf.wisconsin.gov/forms.

DCF 57.05 History History: CR 26-005: cr. Register May 2026 No. 845, eff. 6-1-26.

DCF 57.06 DCF 57.06 Financial records and audits.

DCF 57.06(1) (1) A licensee shall do all of the following:

DCF 57.06(1)(a) (a) Arrange for an annual audit report prepared by a certified public accountant in accordance with guidelines available from the department’s bureau of finance and submit it to the department.

DCF 57.06 Note Note: The annual audit shall be emailed to [e-mail]. For further information contact the Department of Children and Families, Bureau of Finance, 201 W. Washington Avenue, P.O. Box 8916, Madison WI 53708-8916 or 608-422-7000.

DCF 57.06(1)(b) (b) Establish and maintain an accounting system that enables a group home to accurately report income and disbursements by the cost categories in the cost and service report in s. DCF 57.62 (1) (a).

DCF 57.06(2) (2) A licensee shall be responsible for the secure and judicious use of the funds of the group home. Policies and practices shall be in accord with sound budgeting, disbursement, and audit control procedures.

DCF 57.06 History History: CR 26-005: cr. Register May 2026 No. 845, eff. 6-1-26.

DCF 57.07 DCF 57.07 Department memos. A licensee shall do all of the following:

DCF 57.07(1) (1) Register to receive department memos on child welfare licensing and child welfare policy by email.

DCF 57.07(2) (2) Submit a new registration if the licensee’s email address changes.

DCF 57.07 Note Note: Sign up for child welfare licensing memos at https://dcf.wisconsin.gov/cwlicensing/signup. Sign up for child welfare policy memos at https://dcf.wisconsin.gov/cwportal/sign-up.

DCF 57.07 History History: CR 26-005: cr. Register May 2026 No. 845, eff. 6-1-26.

DCF 57.08 DCF 57.08 Insurance.

DCF 57.08(1) (1) A licensee shall annually provide the department with proof that the group home has general liability insurance coverage for the premises.

DCF 57.08(2) (2) For each motor vehicle that is used to transport a resident and owned by the licensee or the group home, the licensee shall maintain motor vehicle bodily injury and property damage liability insurance coverage in amounts that are no less than the amounts in s. 121.53 (1), Stats.

DCF 57.08 Note Note: See ss. DCF 57.10 (6) (c), 57.14 (2), and 57.15 (6) (d) on the insurance requirement for staff members, other employees or contractors, and volunteers driving a resident in their personal motor vehicles.

DCF 57.08 History History: CR 26-005: cr. Register May 2026 No. 845, eff. 6-1-26.

DCF 57.09 DCF 57.09 Licensee reporting requirements.

DCF 57.09(1) (1) Serious incidents.

DCF 57.09(1)(a) (a) A licensee shall report the following serious incidents to the department within 72 hours after the occurrence:

DCF 57.09(1)(a)1. 1. An incident of suspected or reported child abuse or child neglect by a staff member, other employee or contractor, or volunteer of the group home.

DCF 57.09(1)(a)2. 2. An incident requiring law enforcement services that occurs on the group home premises or at another location while the licensee has primary responsibility for the resident’s immediate care and supervision.

DCF 57.09(1)(a)3. 3. The use of a physical restraint on a resident. The report shall include the requirements specified in s. DCF 57.26 (4) (f).

DCF 57.09(1)(a)4. 4. A serious injury or trauma to a resident or staff member for which the resident or staff member requires the services of a medical provider.

DCF 57.09(1)(a)5. 5. A medication administration error that results in an adverse reaction.

DCF 57.09(1)(a)6. 6. A suicide attempt by a resident.

DCF 57.09(1)(a)7. 7. A case or suspected case of a communicable disease specified in ch. DHS 145 Appendix A in the group home.

DCF 57.09(1)(a)8. 8. Any damage to the premises or equipment failure that would affect compliance with this chapter and endanger a resident’s physical safety.

DCF 57.09(1)(a)9. 9. A fire on the premises that requires the services of a fire department.

DCF 57.09(1)(a)10. 10. An incident or condition that requires the relocation of residents from the group home or the closure of the group home.

DCF 57.09(1)(b) (b) The licensee shall report the death of a resident to the department within 24 hours after the occurrence.

DCF 57.09(1)(c) (c) The reports to the department under pars. (a) and (b) shall be made in a format prescribed by the department.

DCF 57.09 Note Note: Report a serious incident to the department using DCF-F-CFS2146, Serious Incident Report, and upload the completed form and any staff member statements to the webpage https://dcf.wisconsin.gov/cwlicensing/sirsubmittal.

DCF 57.09(1)(d) (d) The licensee shall notify the placing agency and the resident’s parent, guardian, legal custodian, or Indian custodian within 24 hours if a serious incident under par. (a) or (b) occurs that involves a resident.

DCF 57.09(2) (2) Child abuse or neglect. A licensee who knows or has reasonable cause to suspect that a resident has been abused or neglected shall immediately make a report using the procedures provided in s. 48.981 (2) and (3) (a), Stats.

DCF 57.09(3) (3) Licensee background reporting requirements. As soon as possible but no later than the department’s next business day, the licensee shall report to the department if the licensee meets any of the conditions in s. DCF 57.10 (8) (a).

DCF 57.09(4) (4) Discontinuing operation. A licensee shall notify the department in writing at least 30 days before discontinuing operation of a group home.

DCF 57.09 History History: CR 26-005: cr. Register May 2026 No. 845, eff. 6-1-26.

subch. II of ch. DCF 57 Subchapter II — Personnel

DCF 57.10 DCF 57.10 Staff members.

DCF 57.10(2) (2) Personnel policies. A licensee shall have written personnel policies that describe the roles and responsibilities of staff members.

DCF 57.10(3) (3) Required staff.

DCF 57.10(3)(a) (a) Program director.

DCF 57.10(3)(a)1. 1. Each group home shall have a program director who oversees program operation and development and does all of the following:

DCF 57.10(3)(a)1.a. a. Develops, reviews, and updates resident assessments and treatment plans under s. DCF 57.18.

DCF 57.10(3)(a)1.b. b. Periodically reviews and updates group home policies and procedures.

DCF 57.10(3)(a)2. 2. The program director shall have either of the following qualifications:

DCF 57.10(3)(a)2.a. a. A bachelor’s degree or higher and 2 or more years of supervised child welfare work experience.

DCF 57.10(3)(a)2.b. b. Five or more years of experience working in a licensed group care setting working with children or adults.

DCF 57.10(3)(b) (b) Group home manager.

DCF 57.10(3)(b)1. 1. Each group home shall have a group home manager who oversees the daily operations of the group home and the admission of each resident to the group home.