Chapter DCF 57

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.

DCF 57.34(2) (2) A resident’s household duties may not interfere with school attendance, family visits, sleep, study, or religious practice and may not violate the principles of nurturing care in s. DCF 57.23.

DCF 57.34(3) (3) A licensee may not rely solely on the household duties of residents to ensure compliance with s. DCF 57.39 (1) (b).

DCF 57.34 History History: CR 26-005: cr. Register May 2026 No. 845, eff. 6-1-26.

DCF 57.35 DCF 57.35 Money.

DCF 57.35(1) (1) Each resident shall be given a regular base amount of spending money appropriate to their age and developmental level.

DCF 57.35(2) (2) A resident’s base amount of spending money may not be withheld as a disciplinary action.

DCF 57.35(3) (3) A resident shall have access to any monies from employment, gifts, or allowance upon discharge.

DCF 57.35 History History: CR 26-005: cr. Register May 2026 No. 845, eff. 6-1-26.

DCF 57.36 DCF 57.36 Resident absence.

DCF 57.36(1) (1) A licensee shall notify law enforcement; the placing agency; and the resident’s parent, guardian, legal custodian or Indian custodian within 8 hours if a resident has been absent from the group home without permission or past the resident’s scheduled return time.

DCF 57.36(2) (2) Notwithstanding sub. (1), a licensee shall notify the parties specified in sub. (1) within one hour of the resident’s absence if the resident’s age, maturity, or emotional capacity indicate that the resident’s absence may place the resident in danger or result in serious bodily harm or death.

DCF 57.36(3) (3) A licensee shall create a written procedure on how the licensee and staff members comply with the requirements of this section.

DCF 57.36 History History: CR 26-005: cr. Register May 2026 No. 845, eff. 6-1-26.

DCF 57.37 DCF 57.37 Additional requirements for group homes providing respite care.

DCF 57.37(1) (1) Applicability. A licensee who is licensed to provide respite care for youth shall comply with the additional requirements in this section.

DCF 57.37(2) (2) Admission. A licensee may provide respite care to a youth whose needs coincide with the resident population served by the licensee, as indicated on their license. Prior to admitting a youth for respite care, a program director shall request the following information to ensure that the youth’s needs can be met:

DCF 57.37(2)(a) (a) A description of the youth’s current care needs, including mental health and medical needs that may require the administration of medication or therapy, and a list of known allergies.

DCF 57.37(2)(b) (b) Current activities.

DCF 57.37(2)(c) (c) Educational status.

DCF 57.37(2)(d) (d) Current and recent substance abuse use.

DCF 57.37(2)(e) (e) Personal strengths.

DCF 57.37(2)(f) (f) Family or sibling visitation scheduled to occur while the youth is receiving respite care service.

DCF 57.37(2)(g) (g) Phone numbers for emergency contacts, including the youth’s medical provider and mental health professional, if applicable.

DCF 57.37(3) (3) Exceptions. The provisions of this chapter that are applicable to residents are also applicable to youth receiving respite care, except for the following:

DCF 57.37(3)(a) (a) The reasonable and prudent parent standard under s. DCF 57.28.

DCF 57.37(3)(b) (b) Scheduling a medical and dental examination under s. DCF 57.16 (7).

DCF 57.37(3)(c) (c) Treatment plans under s. DCF 57.18.

DCF 57.37(4) (4) Respite care limit. A youth may not be in respite care for more than 28 consecutive days.

DCF 57.37 History History: CR 26-005: cr. Register May 2026 No. 845, eff. 6-1-26.

DCF 57.38 DCF 57.38 Additional requirements for group homes providing care for expectant and custodial parents and the resident’s child.

DCF 57.38(1) (1) Applicability. A licensee who is licensed to provide care to an expectant parent or a resident who is the custodial parent of a child who is residing in the group home shall meet the additional requirements of this section.

DCF 57.38(2) (2) Definitions. In this section, “custodial parent” means a resident whose child resides in the group home with the resident.

DCF 57.38(3) (3) Admission. An expectant or custodial parent under a voluntary placement agreement may not be admitted for longer than 180 days from the date on which the resident was removed from their home under the agreement. A voluntary placement agreement under this subsection may be extended if an independent reviewing agency, such as an agency licensed under s. 48.61 (3), Stats., or a county agency, determines that the extension would be in the best interests of the resident and if the resident and the resident’s parent, guardian, legal custodian, or Indian custodian consents to the extension, as specified in s. 48.63 (5) (d), Stats..

DCF 57.38(4) (4) Staff training.

DCF 57.38(4)(a) (a) Each staff member who works in a group home under this section shall successfully complete training in all of the following within 6 months after their date of hire or have documentation that training was completed prior their hire date:

DCF 57.38(4)(a)1. 1. Sudden infant death syndrome.

DCF 57.38(4)(a)2. 2. Shaken baby syndrome and abusive head trauma.

DCF 57.38(4)(a)3. 3. Certification in cardiopulmonary resuscitation and first aid training for children under 3 years of age.

DCF 57.38(4)(a)4. 4. Fifty hours of training on infant and toddler care with a curriculum approved by the department.

DCF 57.38 Note Note: The department-approved training is the Child Care Foundational Training: Fundamentals of Infant and Toddler Care course. See Wisconsin Registry at https://go.wiregistry.org/v7/trainings/search for further information. A licensee may request departmental approval for another course with a comparable curriculum.

DCF 57.38(4)(b) (b) Each staff member shall complete trainings necessary to keep the certifications under par. (a) 3. current.

DCF 57.38(5) (5) Treatment plan.

DCF 57.38(5)(a) (a) The treatment plan for a resident under this section shall also include all of the following parenting skills:

DCF 57.38(5)(a)1. 1. Prenatal and other health care services.

DCF 57.38(5)(a)2. 2. Child development.

DCF 57.38(5)(a)3. 3. Bathing and hygiene.

DCF 57.38(5)(a)4. 4. Child safety.

DCF 57.38(5)(a)5. 5. Child guidance and behavior management.

DCF 57.38(5)(a)6. 6. Prevention of sudden infant death syndrome and abusive head trauma.

DCF 57.38(5)(a)7. 7. Nutrition and meal preparation.

DCF 57.38(5)(a)8. 8. Child care and supervision.

DCF 57.38(5)(a)9. 9. Accessing parenting resources in the community.

DCF 57.38(5)(a)10. 10. Budgeting.

DCF 57.38(5)(b) (b) A treatment plan is not required for a resident’s child.

DCF 57.38(6) (6) Medical care for expectant parent. The licensee shall ensure all of the following:

DCF 57.38(6)(a) (a) An expectant parent is provided prenatal care from a medical provider or a nurse-midwife licensed under s. 440.982, Stats.

DCF 57.38(6)(b) (b) An expectant parent gives birth in a medical facility.

DCF 57.38(7) (7) Health safety and welfare of a resident’s child. A licensee shall assist a resident who is a custodial parent in doing all of the following:

DCF 57.38(7)(a) (a) Ensuring the health, safety, and welfare of the resident’s child and providing care and supervision in compliance with this chapter.

DCF 57.38(7)(b) (b) Providing furnishings and equipment appropriate for the age, size, and developmental level of the resident’s child.

DCF 57.38(7)(c) (c) Making modifications as necessary to ensure the premises are safe based on the developmental age of the resident’s child.

DCF 57.38(7)(d) (d) Providing diapers, food, formula, and hygiene products as needed for the resident’s child.

DCF 57.38(8) (8) Furnishings and bedding. In addition to the requirements in s. DCF 57.39 (10) the following provisions apply regarding a resident’s child:

DCF 57.38(8)(a) (a) Each infant shall sleep alone in a crib, bassinet, bedside sleeper, play yard, or a sleeping device determined by tribal custom, if applicable. Any sleeping device used by an infant shall be in safe working condition and may not have been recalled by the manufacturer.

DCF 57.38(8)(b) (b) The sleeping space shall be safe for an infant with appropriately sized bedding and free of blankets and other items, such as pillows and stuffed animals.

DCF 57.38(8)(c) (c) A resident may share a bedroom with their child.

DCF 57.38(9) (9) Transportation.

DCF 57.38(9)(a) (a) The conditions of ss. DCF 57.08, 57.10 (6), 57.14 (2) and 57.15 (6) (d) apply to a vehicle transporting a resident’s child.