46.515(4)(b)1.1. A county, other than a county with a population of 500,000 or more, or an Indian tribe that is selected to participate in the program under this section shall select persons who are first-time parents and who are eligible for medical assistance under
subch. IV of ch. 49 and shall offer each of those persons an opportunity to undergo an assessment through use of a risk assessment instrument to determine whether the parent presents risk factors for perpetrating child abuse or neglect. Persons who are selected and who agree to be assessed shall be assessed during the prenatal period, if possible, or as close to the time of the child's birth as possible. The risk assessment instrument shall be developed by the department and shall be based on risk assessment instruments developed by the department for similar programs that are in operation. The department need not promulgate as rules under
ch. 227 the risk assessment instrument developed under this subdivision. A person who is assessed to be at risk of abusing or neglecting his or her child shall be offered home visitation program services. Home visitation program services may be provided to a family with a child identified as being at risk of child abuse or neglect until the identified child reaches 3 years of age. If risk factors for child abuse or neglect with respect to the identified child continue to be present when the child reaches 3 years of age, home visitation program services may be provided until the identified child reaches 5 years of age. Home visitation program services may not be provided to a person unless the person gives his or her written informed consent to receiving those services or, if the person is a child, unless the child's parent, guardian or legal custodian gives his or her written informed consent for the child to receive those services.
46.515(4)(b)1m.
1m. No person who is required or permitted to report suspected or threatened abuse or neglect under
s. 48.981 (2) may make or threaten to make such a report based on a refusal of a person to receive or to continue receiving home visitation program services under
subd. 1.
46.515(4)(b)2.
2. The counties and Indian tribes that are selected to participate in the program under this section may permit a person who is not a first-time parent or who is not eligible for medical assistance under
subch. IV of ch. 49 to undergo the risk assessment and to participate in the home visitation program if that person presents risk factors for perpetrating child abuse or neglect. No payments from the fund under
sub. (6) (b) 1. may be made to a person described in this subdivision. No reimbursement to a case management provider under
s. 49.45 (25) (b) for services provided to a person described in this subdivision may be made from grant moneys received under this section.
46.515(5)
(5) Selection of counties and Indian tribes. The department shall provide competitive application procedures for selecting counties and Indian tribes for participation in the program under this section. The department shall establish a method for ranking applicants for selection based on the quality of their applications. In ranking the applications submitted by counties, the department shall give favorable consideration to a county that has indicated under
sub. (6) (d) 2. that it is willing to use a portion of any moneys distributed to the county under
s. 46.45 (2) (a) to provide case management services to a medical assistance beneficiary under
s. 49.45 (25) (am) 9. who is a case or who is a member of a family that is a case and that has explained under
sub. (6) (d) 2. how the county plans to use that portion of those moneys to promote the provision of those services for the case by using a wraparound process so as to provide those services in a flexible, comprehensive and individualized manner in order to reduce the necessity for court-ordered services. The department shall also provide application requirements and procedures for the renewal of a grant awarded under this section. The application procedures and the renewal application requirements and procedures shall be clear and understandable to the applicants. The department need not promulgate as rules under
ch. 227 the application procedures, the renewal application requirements or procedures or the method for ranking applicants established under this subsection.
46.515(6)
(6) Criteria for awarding grants. In addition to any other criteria developed by the department, a county or Indian tribe shall meet all of the following criteria in order to be selected for participation in the program under this section:
46.515(6)(a)
(a)
Home visitation program criteria. The part of an application, other than a renewal application, submitted by a county, other than a county with a population of 500,000 or more, or an Indian tribe that relates to home visitation programs shall include all of the following:
46.515(6)(a)1.
1. Information on how the applicant's home visitation program is comprehensive and incorporates practice standards that have been developed for home visitation programs by entities concerned with the prevention of child abuse and neglect and that are acceptable to the department.
46.515(6)(a)2.
2. Documentation that the application was developed through collaboration among public and private organizations that provide services to children, especially children who are at risk of child abuse or neglect, or that are otherwise interested in child welfare and a description of how that collaboration effort will support a comprehensive home visitation program.
46.515(6)(a)3.
3. An identification of existing child abuse and neglect prevention services that are available to residents of the county or reservation of the Indian tribe and a description of how those services and any additional needed services will support a comprehensive home visitation program.
46.515(6)(a)4.
4. An explanation of how the home visitation program will build on existing child abuse and neglect prevention programs, including programs that provide support to families, and how the home visitation program will coordinate with those programs.
46.515(6)(a)4m.
4m. An explanation of how the applicant will encourage private organizations to provide services under the applicant's home visitation program.
46.515(6)(a)6.
6. An identification of how the home visitation program is comprehensive and incorporates the practice standards for home visitation programs referred to in
subd. 1., including how services will vary in intensity levels depending on the needs and strengths of the participating family.
46.515(6)(a)6m.
6m. An explanation of how the services to be provided under the home visitation program, including the risk assessment under
sub. (4) (b) 1., will be provided in a culturally competent manner.
46.515(6)(a)7m.
7m. A statement of whether the applicant intends to use a portion of the grant in the first year in which the grant is awarded to pay for start-up costs or capacity building related to the program under this section and an explanation of how the applicant would use any amounts authorized by the department under
sub. (4) (am) for those purposes.
46.515(6)(b)1.1. `Flexible fund for home visitation programs.' The applicant demonstrates in the application that the applicant has established, or has plans to establish, if selected, a fund from which payments totaling not more than $1,000 per calendar year may be made for appropriate expenses of each family that is participating in the home visitation program under
sub. (4) (b) 1. or that is receiving home visitation services under
s. 49.45 (44). The payments shall be authorized by an individual designated by the applicant. If an applicant makes a payment to or on behalf of a family under this subdivision, one-half of the payment shall be from grant moneys received under this section and one-half of the payment shall be from moneys provided by the applicant from sources other than grant moneys received under this section.
46.515(6)(b)2.
2. `Flexible fund for cases.' The applicant demonstrates in the grant application that the applicant has established, or has plans to establish, if selected, a fund from which payments totaling not more than $500 for each case may be made for appropriate expenses related to the case. The payments shall be authorized by an individual designated by the applicant. If an applicant makes a payment to or on behalf of a person under this subdivision, one-half of the payment shall be from grant moneys received under this section and one-half of the payment shall be from moneys provided by the applicant from sources other than grant moneys received under this section. The applicant shall demonstrate in the grant application that it has established, or has plans to establish, if selected, procedures to encourage, when appropriate, a person to whom or on whose behalf payments are made under this subdivision to make a contribution to the fund described in this subdivision up to the amount of payments made to or on behalf of the person when the person's financial situation permits such a contribution.
46.515(6)(b)4.
4. `Nonentitlement.' No individual is entitled to any payment from a fund established under
subd. 1. or
2. Nothing in this section shall be construed as requiring a county or Indian tribe to make a determination described in
sub. (1) (b) 2. A determination described in
sub. (1) (b) 2. may not be construed to be a determination described in
s. 48.981 (3) (c) 4.
46.515(6)(c)
(c)
Case management benefit. The applicant, other than a county with a population of 500,000 or more, states in the grant application that it has elected, or, if selected, that it will elect, under
s. 49.45 (25) (b), to make the case management benefit under
s. 49.45 (25) available to the category of beneficiaries under
s. 49.45 (25) (am) 9. who are children and who are members of families receiving home visitation program services under
sub. (4) (b) 1.
46.515(6)(d)1.1. The applicant demonstrates in the grant application that the payments that will be made from the fund established under
par. (b) 2. will promote the provision of services for the case by using a wraparound process so as to provide those services in a flexible, comprehensive and individualized manner in order to reduce the necessity for court-ordered services.
46.515(6)(d)2.
2. The applicant indicates in the grant application whether the applicant is willing to use a portion of any moneys distributed to the applicant under
s. 46.45 (2) (a) to provide case management services to a medical assistance beneficiary under
s. 49.45 (25) (am) 9. who is a case or who is a member of a family that is a case. If the applicant is so willing, the applicant shall explain how the applicant plans to use that portion of those moneys to promote the provision of those services for the case by using a wraparound process so as to provide those services in a flexible, comprehensive and individualized manner in order to reduce the necessity for court-ordered services.
46.515(6)(e)
(e)
Anticipated allocation. The applicant explains in the grant application how the applicant anticipates allocating moneys awarded under the grant among the purposes described in
sub. (4) (a) 1.,
2. and
4m. and, in an application other than a renewal application, the purposes described in
sub. (4) (a) 1.,
2. and
4m. and
(am).
46.515(6g)(a)(a) Except as permitted or required under
s. 48.981 (2), no person may use or disclose any information concerning any individual who is selected for an assessment under
sub. (4) (b), including an individual who declines to undergo the assessment, or concerning any individual who is offered services under a home visitation program funded under this section, including an individual who declines to receive those services, unless the use or disclosure is connected with the administration of the home visitation program or the administration of the medical assistance program under
ss. 49.43 to
49.497 or unless the individual has given his or her written informed consent to the use or disclosure.
46.515(6g)(b)
(b) A county or Indian tribe that is selected to participate in the program under this section shall provide or shall designate an individual or entity to provide an explanation of the confidentiality requirements under
par. (a) to each individual who is offered an assessment under
sub. (4) (b) or who is offered services under the home visitation program of the county or Indian tribe.
46.515(6m)
(6m) Notification of parent prior to making abuse or neglect report. If a person who is providing services under a home visitation program under
sub. (4) (b) 1. determines that he or she is required or permitted to make a report under
s. 48.981 (2) about a child in a family to which the person is providing those services, the person shall, prior to making the report under
s. 48.981 (2), make a reasonable effort to notify the child's parent that a report under
s. 48.981 (2) will be made and to encourage the parent to contact a county department under
s. 46.22 or
46.23 to request assistance. The notification requirements under this subsection do not affect the reporting requirements under
s. 48.981 (2).
46.515(6r)
(6r) Home visitation program informational materials. Any informational materials about a home visitation program under
sub. (4) (b) 1. that are distributed to a person who is offered or who is receiving home visitation program services under that program shall state the sources of funding for the program.
46.515(7)
(7) Home visitation program evaluation. 46.515(7)(a)(a) The department shall conduct or shall select an evaluator to conduct an evaluation of the home visitation program. The evaluation shall measure all of the following criteria in families that have participated in the home visitation program and that are selected for evaluation:
46.515(7)(a)1.
1. The number of substantiated reports of child abuse and neglect.
46.515(7)(a)2.
2. The number of emergency room visits for injuries to children.
46.515(7)(a)6.
6. Any other items that the department determines to be appropriate for evaluation.
46.515(7)(b)
(b) In the evaluation, the department shall determine the number of families who remained in the home visitation program for the time recommended in the family's case plan.
46.515(7)(c)
(c) The department shall determine the most appropriate way to evaluate the following criteria and shall evaluate those criteria as part of the evaluation:
46.515(8)
(8) Technical assistance and training. The department shall provide technical assistance and training to counties and Indian tribes that are selected to participate in the program under this section.
46.515 History
History: 1997 a. 293.
46.52
46.52
Systems change grants. From the appropriation under
s. 20.435 (7) (md), the department may not distribute more than $350,000 in each fiscal year to counties to assist in relocating individuals with mental illness from institutional or residential care to less restrictive and more cost-effective community settings and services. The department shall distribute funds to each recipient under this section so as to permit initial phasing in of community services for individuals with mental illness who are relocated or diverted from institutional or residential care and shall eliminate the funding at the end of a period of not more than 5 years in order to provide funding to another county. The department shall require that the community services that are developed under this section are continued, following termination of a county's funding under this section, by use of funding made available to the county from reduced institutional and residential care utilization.
46.52 History
History: 1995 a. 27,
216;
1997 a. 27.
46.53
46.53
Mental health treatment provider training. From the appropriation under
s. 20.435 (7) (md), the department may not distribute more than $182,000 in each fiscal year to provide training for mental health treatment professionals on new mental health treatment approaches in working with special populations, including seriously mentally ill individuals and children with serious emotional disturbances, and on the use of new mental health treatment medications.
46.53 History
History: 1995 a. 27;
1997 a. 27.
46.54
46.54
Consumer and family self-help and peer-support programs. From the appropriation under
s. 20.435 (7) (md), the department may not distribute more than $480,000 in each fiscal year to increase support for mental health family support projects, employment projects operated by consumers of mental health services, mental health crisis intervention and drop-in projects and public mental health information activities.
46.54 History
History: 1995 a. 27,
216;
1997 a. 27.
46.55
46.55
Grants for services to persons in treatment. 46.55(1)(1) The department shall award grants to county departments under
s. 46.23 or
51.42 for the purpose of providing services to persons who are receiving alcohol and other drug abuse treatment, including child care services for the children of the persons.
46.55(2)
(2) A county department under
s. 46.23 or
51.42 may apply to the department for a grant under
sub. (1). The department shall select applicants to receive grants under
sub. (1) based on criteria developed by the department.
46.55(3)
(3) A county department under
s. 46.23 or
51.42 which receives a grant under
sub. (1) shall give priority for the services to a family whose income is below 150% of the poverty line, under
42 USC 9902 (2), or to a family with only one parent living in the home.
46.55(3m)
(3m) Within the limits of available funding under
s. 20.435 (7) (mb), the department shall award grants under this section in a total amount for all grants of not more than $250,000 in each fiscal year.
46.56
46.56
Integrated service programs for children with severe disabilities. 46.56(1)
(1)
Definitions. In this section:
46.56(1)(a)
(a) "Administering agency" means a county department designated by the county board of supervisors to administer the program.
46.56(1)(b)
(b) "Agency" means a private nonprofit organization that provides treatment services for children with severe disabilities and their families.
46.56(1)(c)
(c) "Child with severe disabilities" means an individual who has not attained 18 years of age and whose mental, physical, sensory, behavioral, emotional or developmental disabilities, or whose combination of multiple disabilities meets all of the following conditions:
46.56(1)(c)2.
2. Has persisted for at least one year or is expected to persist for at least one year.
46.56(1)(c)3.
3. Causes substantial limitations in the child's ability to function in the family, the school or the community and with the child's ability to cope with the ordinary demands of life.
46.56(1)(c)4.
4. Causes the child to need services from 2 or more service systems.
46.56(1)(e)
(e) "Intake" means the process by which the service coordination agency initially screens a child with severe disabilities and the child's family to see if a complete assessment is needed.
46.56(1)(f)
(f) "Integrated services" means treatment, education, care and support services provided, in a coordinated manner, for a child with severe disabilities and his or her family.
46.56(1)(g)
(g) "Integrated service plan" means the plan for treatment, education and support services for an eligible child with severe disabilities and the child's family under
sub. (8) (h).
46.56(1)(h)
(h) "Interagency agreement" means a written document of understanding among service providers that identifies mutual responsibilities for implementing integrated services for children with severe disabilities.
46.56(1)(i)
(i) "Interdisciplinary team" means a group of professionals, assembled by the service coordinator, from various service systems who meet all of the following criteria:
46.56(1)(i)1.
1. Are skilled in providing treatment, education and support services for children with severe disabilities and their families.
46.56(1)(i)2.
2. Conduct comprehensive evaluations of the child with severe disabilities and the child's family's needs for treatment and support services.
46.56(1)(i)3.
3. Possess skills and knowledge of the needs or dysfunctions of the specific type presented by the child being assessed.
46.56(1)(i)4.
4. Are providing treatment, education or support services to the child with severe disabilities or the child's family, if the child or the child's family is receiving any treatment, education or support services.
46.56(1)(j)
(j) "Parent" means a parent who has legal custody, as defined in
s. 767.001 (2), of a child, or a guardian or legal custodian of a child, as defined in
s. 48.02 (8) and
(11).
46.56(1)(k)
(k) "Program" means an integrated service program for children with severe disabilities.
46.56(1)(L)
(L) "Service coordination" means a case management service that coordinates multiple service providers who are serving a particular child with severe disabilities and the child's family. The term includes arrangement for assessment, development of an integrated service plan based on the assessment, advocacy for the needs of the child and the child's family, monitoring of the child's progress, facilitation of periodic reviews of the integrated service plan and coordination and maintenance of clear lines of communication among all service providers and the child and the child's family.
46.56(1)(m)
(m) "Service coordination agency" means a county department, agency, school district, cooperative educational service agency or county children with disabilities education board designated in an interagency agreement by a coordinating committee to provide intake and service coordination for one or more target groups of eligible children with severe disabilities and their families.
46.56(1)(n)
(n) "Service coordinator" means an individual who is qualified by specialized training and clinical experience with children with severe disabilities and their families and who is appointed by the service coordination agency to provide coordination of treatment, education and support services for eligible children with severe disabilities and their families.
46.56(1)(o)
(o) "Service system" means the public and private organizations that provide specialized services for children with mental, physical, sensory, behavioral, emotional or developmental disabilities or that provide child welfare, juvenile justice, educational or health care services for children.
46.56(1)(p)
(p) Treatment services" means the individualized social, emotional, behavioral and medical services designed to bring about habilitation, rehabilitation and appropriate developmental growth of a child with severe disabilities.
46.56(2)
(2) Establishment of programs. If a county board of supervisors establishes a program under
s. 59.53 (7), it shall appoint a coordinating committee and designate an administering agency. The program may be funded by the county or the county board of supervisors may apply for funding by the state in accordance with
sub. (15).
46.56(3)(a)(a) The coordinating committee shall have the responsibilities specified in
par. (d) and shall include representatives from all of the following:
46.56(3)(a)1.
1. The county department responsible for child welfare and protection services.
46.56(3)(a)2.
2. The county department responsible for mental health and alcohol and drug abuse services for children and families.
46.56(3)(a)3.
3. The county department responsible for providing services for children who are developmentally disabled.
46.56(3)(a)4.
4. The family support program under
s. 46.985 if the county has a family support program.
46.56(3)(a)5.
5. The juvenile court administrator or another representative appointed by the judge responsible for cases heard under
chs. 48 and
938.
