Wisconsin Administrative Code

DCF 57.01 Authority and purpose. This chapter establishes minimum requirements for the issuance of licenses to, and the operation of, group homes under the authority of ss. 48.625 and 48.67, Stats., and establishes the per client rate that a group home may charge for its services…

DCF 57.015 Compliance with administrative rules and laws.

DCF 57.02 Definitions. In this chapter: (1) “Advanced practice registered nurse” means a person licensed under s. 441.09, Stats., who may issue prescription orders under s. 441.09, Stats. (2) “Background check” means the applicable requirements in s. 48.685, Stats. DCF 57.36 DCF …

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 57.04 Inspections, records, and requests for information. (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 a…

DCF 57.045 Inspections, records, and requests for information.

DCF 57.05 Program statement; policies and procedures. (1) PROGRAM STATEMENT. Each licensee shall have a written program statement that includes all of the following: (a) A description of the group home’s purpose and philosophy. (b) A description of the resident population served …

DCF 57.06 Financial records and audits. (1) A licensee shall do all of the following: (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 57.07 Department memos. A licensee shall do all of the following: (1) Register to receive department memos on child welfare licensing and child welfare policy by email. (2) Submit a new registration if the licensee’s email address changes. Note: Sign up for child welfare lice…

DCF 57.075 Department memos.

DCF 57.08 Insurance. (1) A licensee shall annually provide the department with proof that the group home has general liability insurance coverage for the premises. (2) For each motor vehicle that is used to transport a resident and owned by the licensee or the group home, the lic…

DCF 57.09 Licensee reporting requirements. (1) SERIOUS INCIDENTS. (a) A licensee shall report the following se- DCF 57.10 rious incidents to the department within 72 hours after the occurrence: 1. An incident of suspected or reported child abuse or child neglect by a staff member…

DCF 57.10 Staff members. (2) PERSONNEL POLICIES. A licensee shall have written personnel policies that describe the roles and responsibilities of staff members. (3) REQUIRED STAFF. (a) Program director. 1. Each group home shall have a program director who oversees program operati…

DCF 57.11 Hiring staff members. Before a prospective staff member begins employment, the licensee shall have documentation that the prospective staff member meets all of the following conditions required in order to be hired as a staff member: (1) The background check requirement…

DCF 57.12 Staff training. (1) ORIENTATION. (a) Before a staff member may work independently with a resident, the licensee shall provide an orientation training on all of the following to the staff member: 1. The personnel policies created under s. DCF 57.10 (2). 2. The communicat…

DCF 57.13 Personnel records. A licensee shall establish and maintain on the premises a personnel record for each staff member. A personnel record shall contain all of the following regarding the staff member: (1) Proof of motor vehicle bodily injury and property damage liability …

DCF 57.135 Responsibility to placing agencies. DCF 57.32 DCF 57.33 DCF 57.34 DCF 57.35 DCF 57.36 Subchapter II — Personnel

DCF 57.14 Other employees or contractors who are not staff members. The following provisions apply regarding an employee or contractor who works in a group home, but is not a staff member: (1) HIRING. The licensee shall abide by the hiring requirements in s. DCF 57.11, except s. …

DCF 57.15 Volunteers. (1) Each licensee shall create a written policy on what activities a volunteer may perform for the group home. (2) A volunteer for a group home shall be at least 18 years old. (3) Before a volunteer may begin performing activities, the licensee shall do all …

DCF 57.16 Admissions. (1) COURT ORDER OR VOLUNTARY PLACEMENT AGREEMENT. A resident may only be admitted for placement in a group home under a court order or a voluntary placement agreement. (2) VOLUNTARY PLACEMENT AGREEMENT. Except for care specified in s. DCF 57.38 and s. 48.63 …

DCF 57.17 Discharge. (1) PLANNED. At least 30 days prior to a planned discharge of a resident, the licensee shall provide a copy of the resident’s treatment plan to the placing agency, resident, and the resident’s parent, guardian, legal custodian, or Indian custodian. (2) UNPLAN…

DCF 57.18 Treatment plans. (1) DEFINITION. In this section, “treatment team” means those who evaluate the resident’s progress and provide input into and implement the resident’s treatment plan. A resident’s “treatment team” includes the placing agency; the resident; the resident’…

DCF 57.19 Staffing requirements. (1) In this section, “supervision” means guidance of the behavior and activities of a resident by a staff member who is within sight or sound of a resident to ensure the safety and well-being of the resident. (2) The staff-to-resident ratios of a …

DCF 57.20 Communication log. (1) A licensee shall require staff members and RPPS decision-makers to use a communication log to document and communicate with each other about each resident. The communication log shall include all of the following for each shift: (a) The chosen nam…

DCF 57.205 Principles for nurturing care.

DCF 57.21 Resident records. (1) A licensee shall maintain on the premises a record for each current resident. A resident record shall include all of the following regarding the resident: (a) First name, last name, chosen name, date of birth, and any other relevant demographic inf…

DCF 57.215 Communication log.

DCF 57.22 Confidentiality. (1) A licensee shall ensure that each resident record and other personally identifiable information on the resident is kept confidential and protected from unauthorized examination pursuant to ss. 48.78 and 48.981 (7), Stats.; to ch. DHS 92 and s. 51.30…

DCF 57.23 Principles for nurturing care. A licensee shall do all the following: (1) Provide a safe, stable, and humane environment. (2) Encourage a resident’s autonomy; respect a resident’s need for privacy; and consider a resident’s preferences and choices while providing care, …

DCF 57.24 House rules. A licensee shall create written house rules that include a description of unacceptable resident conduct and the consequences for violation of a house rule.

DCF 57.245 Promoting normalcy.

DCF 57.25 Resident’s rights. (1) PATIENT’S RIGHTS. A licensee shall be knowledgeable of and ensure that each staff member complies with the patient rights and grievance resolution procedures in ch. DHS 94 and s. 51.61, Stats., for each resident who receives services for treatment…

DCF 57.26 Behavior intervention. (1) DISCIPLINE. When deciding on the appropriate disciplinary action for a resident, a staff member shall consider information in the resident’s treatment plan on the resident’s trauma history; age; and cognitive, emotional, physical, and behavior…

DCF 57.27 Resident activities. (1) SCHEDULING. A licensee shall establish and implement a daily schedule for all residents. (2) ACTIVITIES. A resident shall have access to activities based on their interests, including all of the following: (a) Leisure-time activities. 10 (b) Opp…

DCF 57.28 Promoting normalcy. (1) DEFINITIONS. In this section: (a) “Age or developmentally appropriate” means to be 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 …

DCF 57.29 Health. (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…

DCF 57.30 Food and nutrition. (1) A licensee shall ensure each resident is offered enough food to meet their daily nutritional needs. (2) A licensee shall allow youth access to food and beverages in a manner that is most home-like and least restrictive. (3) A licensee may not loc…

DCF 57.305 Spending money.

DCF 57.31 Hygiene. (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 culturall…

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

DCF 57.33 Education. (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. (2) The licensee shall provide internet access in the group home for residents to com…

DCF 57.34 Household duties. (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. (2) A resident’s household duties may not interfere with school attendance…

DCF 57.35 Money. (1) Each resident shall be given a regular base amount of spending money appropriate to their age and developmental level. (2) A resident’s base amount of spending money may not be withheld as a disciplinary action. (3) A resident shall have access to any monies …

DCF 57.36 Resident absence. (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 schedul…

DCF 57.37 Additional requirements for group homes providing respite care. (1) APPLICABILITY. A licensee who is licensed to provide respite care for youth shall comply with the additional requirements in this section. (2) ADMISSION. A licensee may provide respite care to a youth w…

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

DCF 57.385 Additional requirements for residents 6 years of age or younger. (1) APPLICABILITY. A licensee who is licensed to provide care to residents under 6 years of age shall meet the additional requirements of this section. (2) ADMISSION. Prior to or at the time of admission,…