Chapter DCF 57

DCF 57.28(4)(f)6. 6. Represent the resident in legal actions or make other decisions of substantial legal significance.

DCF 57.28(4)(f)7. 7. Determine which school the resident attends or make a decision concerning the resident regarding an educational right or requirement that is provided in federal or state law.

DCF 57.28(4)(f)8. 8. Require or prohibit a resident’s participation in an age or developmentally appropriate activity solely for convenience or based solely on the RPPS decision-maker’s own values.

DCF 57.28(4)(g) (g) Procedure. A licensee shall develop a written procedure that specifies how staff members are to comply with the requirements in this section.

DCF 57.28 History History: CR 26-005: cr. Register May 2026 No. 845, eff. 6-1-26.

DCF 57.29 DCF 57.29 Health.

DCF 57.29(1) (1) Consent. Any medical examination or service provided to a resident shall be provided only by an individual licensed to perform the examination or service being provided. Before an examination or service is provided, written consent to perform the examination or service shall be obtained pursuant to the applicable law relating to the type of service and the age of the resident.

DCF 57.29 Note Note: DCF-F-CFS2379-E, Medical Services Consent – Child Welfare Facilities, is available in the forms section of the department website at https://dcf.wisconsin.gov/forms.

DCF 57.29(2) (2) Health care.

DCF 57.29(2)(a) (a) A licensee shall provide each resident with necessary and preventative medical, dental, and optical care consistent with the resident’s age-based periodicity schedule and whenever additional care is needed.

DCF 57.29(2)(b) (b) A licensee shall provide each resident with mental health care as needed based on the resident’s treatment plan and the recommendation of the resident’s mental health provider.

DCF 57.29(2)(c) (c) A licensee may not deny a resident access to confidential family planning and reproductive health services. 

DCF 57.29(3) (3) Medication storage. The licensee shall comply with all of the following requirements for storing medication:

DCF 57.29(3)(a) (a) Medication, including over-the-counter medication, shall be kept in the container in which it was purchased or prescribed.  

DCF 57.29(3)(b) (b) Medication shall be kept in a locked storage device in a location that is inaccessible to persons who do not have permission to access the medication.  

DCF 57.29(3)(c) (c) Medication shall be stored according to the requirements of each medication.  

DCF 57.29(4) (4) Medication administration.

DCF 57.29(4)(a) (a) Procedure. A licensee shall create a written procedure that specifies how a staff member is to do all of the following:

DCF 57.29(4)(a)1. 1. Administer a resident’s medication.

DCF 57.29(4)(a)2. 2. Observe the resident taking the medication.

DCF 57.29(4)(a)3. 3. Monitor the resident for side effects to the administered medication.

DCF 57.29(4)(a)4. 4. Monitor for reactions due to refusal of medication.

DCF 57.29(4)(a)5. 5. Abide by clinically acceptable standards for good medical practice.

DCF 57.29(4)(b) (b) Authorization.

DCF 57.29(4)(b)1. 1. The licensee may not allow a staff member to administer medication unless the staff member has received and reviewed the procedure under par. (a) and has been authorized in writing by the program director or group home manager to administer medication.

DCF 57.29(4)(b)2. 2. Prescription medication may be administered if there is a written order from the resident’s medical provider in the resident’s record authorizing the use of the medication.

DCF 57.29(4)(b)3. 3. Over-the-counter medication that is approved by the federal food and drug administration may be administered to a resident if it is not contraindicated with any other medication prescribed to the resident.

DCF 57.29(4)(b)4. 4. A licensee shall obtain approval from a medical provider before administering a dietary supplement, natural supplement, or vitamin that is not approved by the federal food and drug administration to a resident and shall follow the same procedure as specified in par. (c).

DCF 57.29(4)(b)5. 5. A licensee shall document the administration of the dietary supplement, natural supplement or vitamin as specified in sub. (5).

DCF 57.29(4)(c) (c) Medication instructions. A staff member shall review all of the following prior to administering a specific prescribed or over-the counter medication:

DCF 57.29(4)(c)1. 1. The condition for which the medication is being administered and the instructions for administering the prescribed medication as indicated on the label and any other instructions that came with the medication.

DCF 57.29(4)(c)2. 2. The instructions for administering an over-the-counter medication as indicated on the label, unless there are instructions in writing or verbally from a medical provider with alternative instructions on the dosage or how the medication should be administered.

DCF 57.29(4)(c)3. 3. Any other information that may be relevant to administration of the medication. 

DCF 57.29(5) (5) Medication administration record.

DCF 57.29(5)(a) (a) The staff member administering the medication shall document all of the following:

DCF 57.29(5)(a)1. 1. Full name of the resident to whom the medication was administered. 

DCF 57.29(5)(a)2. 2. Date and time the medication was administered and the method of administration. 

DCF 57.29(5)(a)3. 3. Name and dosage of the administered medication or medical treatment received. 

DCF 57.29(5)(a)4. 4. Refusal, adverse reaction, or error in medication administration.

DCF 57.29(5)(a)5. 5. Name of the staff member administering the medication.

DCF 57.29(5)(b) (b) The medication administration record shall be on a form prescribed by the department or a licensee’s electronic version that includes all of the information specified in par. (a).

DCF 57.29 Note Note: Form DCF-F-CFS2338, Medication Administration Record - Group Homes, is a voluntary form that may be used to comply with this subsection. The form is available at https://dcf.wisconsin.gov/cwlicensing/forms.

DCF 57.29(6) (6) Psychotropic medication.

DCF 57.29(6)(a) (a) Definition. In this subsection, “psychotropic medication” means any drug that affects the mind and is used to manage a resident’s behavior or psychiatric symptoms and may include an antipsychotic, antidepressant, lithium carbonate, or tranquilizer.

DCF 57.29(6)(b) (b) Rights of residents. A licensee shall comply with the provisions of s. 51.61 (1) (g) and (h), Stats., for each resident who is prescribed psychotropic medication.

DCF 57.29(6)(c) (c) Procedural requirements. A licensee serving a resident for whom psychotropic medication is newly prescribed shall ensure that all of the following requirements are met:

DCF 57.29(6)(c)1. 1. The licensee shall collaborate with the placing agency to ensure that the resident attends all medical evaluations and that the evaluation detailing the reason for the type of psychotropic medication prescribed is documented in the resident’s record within 7 days after the resident has been prescribed a new psychotropic medication.

DCF 57.29(6)(c)2. 2. Unless the medication is administered under a court order, written consent shall be obtained from the resident if the resident is 14 years of age or older and from the parent or guardian as required under s. DHS 94.03.

DCF 57.29(6)(c)3. 3. All staff members that administer psychotropic medication are informed of the medication’s potential benefits, side effects, and contraindicated medications.

DCF 57.29(6)(d) (d) Revocation of consent or refusal to take.

DCF 57.29(6)(d)1. 1. Unless the medication is administered under court order, a resident’s parent or guardian or a resident 14 years of age or older may revoke consent for nonemergency use of psychotropic medications to the extent permitted by law at any time, as provided under s. DHS 94.03.

DCF 57.29(6)(d)2. 2. When consent is revoked, the licensee shall inform the prescribing medical provider and the placing agency of the consent revocation and document the revocation in the resident’s record.

DCF 57.29(6)(d)3. 3. When a resident refuses to take a prescribed psychotropic medication, the licensee shall do all of the following:

DCF 57.29(6)(d)3.a. a. Document the reasons for refusal in the resident’s record.

DCF 57.29(6)(d)3.b. b. Notify the resident’s medical provider; the parent, guardian, legal custodian, or Indian custodian; and the placing agency. Notification shall be immediate if the resident’s refusal threatens the resident’s well-being and safety.

DCF 57.29(7) (7) Medication disposal.

DCF 57.29(7)(a) (a) The licensee shall dispose of medication at an authorized department of health services or law enforcement pharmaceutical drop-off site within one week after the medication’s expiration date or the date the medication is no longer in use by the resident for whom the medication was prescribed or purchased.

DCF 57.29 Note Note: The Department of Health Services’ authorized pharmaceutical drop-off sites are listed at https://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/opioids/permanent-drug-drop-boxes.htm.

DCF 57.29(7)(b) (b) The licensee shall maintain a log of medication that has been disposed of that includes all of the following:

DCF 57.29(7)(b)1. 1. Name of the resident to whom the medication belongs.

DCF 57.29(7)(b)2. 2. Name of the medication.

DCF 57.29(7)(b)3. 3. Amount of medication that was disposed.

DCF 57.29(7)(b)4. 4. Date and location where the medication was disposed. 

DCF 57.29(7)(b)5. 5. Name of the staff member who disposed of the medication.

DCF 57.29(8) (8) Release of medication. At the time of a resident’s discharge, the licensee shall release medication to a resident’s parent, guardian, legal custodian, or Indian custodian and document the medication release on the log of medication as specified in sub. (7) (b) 1. to 5.

DCF 57.29 History History: CR 26-005: cr. Register May 2026 No. 845, eff. 6-1-26; correction in (4) (b) 4. made under s. 35.17, Stats., Register May 2026 No. 845.

DCF 57.30 DCF 57.30 Food and nutrition.

DCF 57.30(1) (1) A licensee shall ensure each resident is offered enough food to meet their daily nutritional needs.

DCF 57.30(2) (2) A licensee shall allow youth access to food and beverages in a manner that is most home-like and least restrictive.

DCF 57.30(3) (3) A licensee may not lock or restrict a resident’s access to any food unless the food is being stored for future meals or snacks.

DCF 57.30(4) (4) A resident shall be given food choices that are in accordance with their cultural practices or dietary preferences.

DCF 57.30(5) (5) A licensee shall provide a resident with a diet that is prescribed or recommended by the resident’s medical provider, registered dietician nutritionist, or prenatal care provider to meet the needs of the resident, including a modification to the requirements in sub. (2) or (3). A statement outlining the prescribed or recommended diet shall be in the resident’s record.

DCF 57.30(6) (6) A licensee shall retain a written menu for at least 30 days after a meal has been served.

DCF 57.30 History History: CR 26-005: cr. Register May 2026 No. 845, eff. 6-1-26.

DCF 57.31 DCF 57.31 Hygiene.

DCF 57.31(1) (1) A licensee shall provide residents with their own soap, clean towels, toothpaste, shampoo, conditioner, deodorant, and other personal hygiene products, such as menstrual products, that are reasonably responsive to the requests of the residents and culturally appropriate for each resident.

DCF 57.31(2) (2) A licensee shall provide hair care products that meet the individual needs of a resident to protect, maintain, and style their hair.

DCF 57.31 History History: CR 26-005: cr. Register May 2026 No. 845, eff. 6-1-26.

DCF 57.32 DCF 57.32 Clothing.

DCF 57.32(1) (1) The licensee shall provide clothing for each resident that is individually selected and fitted, appropriate to the season, and comparable to that of peers in the community.

DCF 57.32(2) (2) Each resident’s clothing shall be regularly laundered and in good repair.

DCF 57.32 History History: CR 26-005: cr. Register May 2026 No. 845, eff. 6-1-26.

DCF 57.33 DCF 57.33 Education.

DCF 57.33(1) (1) A licensee shall ensure that each resident complies with the school attendance requirements under chs. 115 and 118, Stats., unless otherwise excused by school officials.

DCF 57.33(2) (2) The licensee shall provide internet access in the group home for residents to complete school assignments.

DCF 57.33(3) (3) The licensee may not provide a home-based private educational program to residents unless the program is approved by the department of public instruction as a private school under s. 118.165, Stats.

DCF 57.33 History History: CR 26-005: cr. Register May 2026 No. 845, eff. 6-1-26.

DCF 57.34 DCF 57.34 Household duties.

DCF 57.34(1) (1) Each resident shall have opportunities to share in responsibility for household duties or chores appropriate to the resident’s age, developmental level, health, and ability.