Chapter DCF 56

DCF 56.15(1) (1) Agency responsibilities.

DCF 56.15(1)(a) (a) A supervising agency shall do, or contract for, all of the following for each child in the agency’s care:

DCF 56.15(1)(a)1. 1. Ensure that every child is assigned a supervising agency caseworker, in coordination with the placing agency, if different.

DCF 56.15(1)(a)2. 2. Provide the foster parent with the telephone number of a social worker or supervising agency caseworker who will provide crisis intervention, emergency counseling, and related services on a 24-hour per day, 7-day per week basis for the foster parent.

DCF 56.15(1)(a)3. 3. Support and assist the foster parent to effectively fulfill responsibilities in this chapter and to the child’s team or treatment team.

DCF 56.15(1)(a)4. 4. When a school-age child is placed in a foster home, notify the school district in which the foster home is located and the school in which the child will enroll, unless the child will remain enrolled in his or her school district and school of origin. If the child will remain enrolled in his or her school and school district of origin, the supervising agency shall give notification of the placement to the child’s school district and school of origin., as required under s. 48.64 (1r), Stats. The notification shall include all of the following:

DCF 56.15(1)(a)4.a. a. The name, address, and phone number of the foster parent.

DCF 56.15(1)(a)4.b. b. The name of the foster child.

DCF 56.15(1)(a)4.c. c. Information about the child required by the school, as allowed under any applicable confidentiality laws.

DCF 56.15(1)(a)4.d. d. The name and contact information for the caseworker or social worker assigned to the child’s case.

DCF 56.15(1)(a)5. 5. Advocate for the child with the child’s school, medical facility, or any other program in which the child is involved to ensure that services provided to the child are consistent with the case plan; permanency plan; and treatment plan, if applicable.

DCF 56.15(1)(a)6. 6. Assist the foster parents with any necessary arrangements in an emergency situation.

DCF 56.15(1)(a)7. 7. Arrange for care of a foster child in the event that the foster parent is unavailable to provide care on a temporary basis, in conjunction with the foster parent.

DCF 56.15(1)(a)8. 8. Prior to or at the time of placement of a child with a foster parent, the supervising agency shall explain to the foster parent the child-specific considerations that the foster parent is required to take into account when applying the reasonable and prudent parent standard, as documented on the forms required under ch. DCF 37, and provide the foster parent with the brochure required under s. DCF 56.12 (1) (h).

DCF 56.15(1)(a)9. 9. Provide updated information to the foster parent about child-specific considerations for reasonable and prudent parenting decisions throughout the child’s placement through team or treatment team meetings and when there is a significant change in circumstances.

DCF 56.15(1)(a)10. 10. Notify the placing agency of any updates to information about the child that were not included in the forms provided to the foster parent at the time of placement under ch. DCF 37, if the supervising agency and placing agency are not the same agency.

DCF 56.15 Note Note: The forms provided under ch. DCF 37 are DCF-F-872A-E, Information for Out-of-Home Care Providers, Part A. and DCF-F-872B-E, Information for Out-of-Home Care Providers, Part B. Both forms are available in the forms section of the department website at http://dcf.wisconsin.gov or by writing the Division of Safety and Permanence, P.O. Box 8916, Madison, WI 53708-8916.

DCF 56.15(1)(a)11. 11. Assist the foster parent and child with overcoming barriers to the child’s participation in extracurricular, enrichment, cultural, and social activities that promote normalcy in an age and developmentally appropriate manner.

DCF 56.15(1)(a)12. 12. Assist with resolving a conflict among members of the child’s team or treatment team on the application of the reasonable and prudent parent standard.

DCF 56.15(1)(b) (b) In addition to the requirements under par. (a), a licensing or supervising agency shall do all of the following for each child with a level of need of 3 or higher in the agency’s care who is placed in a foster home with a Level 3 to 5 certification:

DCF 56.15(1)(b)1. 1. Provide the foster parent with the telephone number of a supervising agency caseworker, counselor, clinical consultant, or clinical staff member who will provide crisis intervention, emergency counseling, and related services to the foster parent on a 24-hour per day, 7-day per week basis.

DCF 56.15(1)(b)2. 2. Respond to a request from a foster parent for crisis intervention, emergency counseling, and related services within one hour.

DCF 56.15(1)(b)3. 3. Provide or arrange for additional child care personnel during stressful or critical periods, as determined by the treatment team.

DCF 56.15 Note Note: An example of a stressful or critical period might be the time from the end of the school day until bedtime.

DCF 56.15(1)(b)4. 4. Assist and support the foster parent in obtaining any medical supplies and services required for the child. If required medical supplies and services are not included in the treatment plan, the supervising agency and placing agency shall revise the treatment plan to include the required medical supplies and services and to determine financial responsibility.

DCF 56.15(1)(b)5. 5. Ensure that a child with a severe emotional disturbance has a clinical consultant assigned to the case. A social worker, caseworker, or other professional involved with the case may also serve as the clinical consultant. The clinical consultant shall have all of the following qualifications:

DCF 56.15(1)(b)5.a. a. A master’s degree in social work, psychology, child development, or counseling.

DCF 56.15(1)(b)5.b. b. A license or certification under ch. 457, Stats., and ch. MPSW 3, 6, 11, 12, or 17.

DCF 56.15(1)(b)5.c. c. A minimum of 2 years of experience working with seriously disturbed adolescents.

DCF 56.15(1)(b)5.d. d. Knowledge of the neurological, biological, and psychiatric components of emotional disturbances.

DCF 56.15(1)(b)6. 6. Evaluate the child’s progress and provide services identified in the aftercare plan following termination of a placement. The child’s treatment team shall determine how long these services shall be provided. The aftercare plan shall identify follow-up support services for the child, the child’s parent, or other care providers, including any of the following:

DCF 56.15(1)(b)6.a. a. Phone contact.

DCF 56.15(1)(b)6.b. b. Consultations by professionals in the child’s home to assist the child’s family implement the permanency plan, provide skill training for specific problems, and provide support for the child’s family.

DCF 56.15(1)(b)6.c. c. Participation in parent groups.

DCF 56.15(1)(b)6.d. d. Crisis intervention.

DCF 56.15(1)(b)6.e. e. For youth who will live independently, follow-up support services may include housing assistance, job location, and individual support.

DCF 56.15(1m) (1m) Multiple agencies. If more than one agency is performing supervising responsibilities under subs. (1) and (3), the agencies shall specify in writing which agency is responsible for each requirement.

DCF 56.15(2) (2) Qualifications for supervising agency caseworker for Level 3 to 5. A supervising agency caseworker shall have all of the following qualifications to perform the responsibilities under sub. (3) for a child with a level of need of 3 or higher in the agency’s care who is placed in a foster home with a Level 3 to 5 certification:

DCF 56.15(2)(a) (a) One of the following:

DCF 56.15(2)(a)1. 1. A master’s degree or higher in a social work or related field.

DCF 56.15(2)(a)2. 2. A bachelor’s degree and a minimum of 2 years of post-degree experience in a social work-related field.

DCF 56.15(2)(b) (b) Licensed or certified under ch. 457, Stats., and ch. MPSW 3, 6, 11, 12, or 17.

DCF 56.15(3) (3) Responsibilities of supervising agency caseworker for Levels 3 to 5. A caseworker employed by or under contract to the supervising agency shall do all of the following regarding a child with a level of need of 3 or higher in the agency’s care who is placed in a foster home with a Level 3 to 5 certification:

DCF 56.15(3)(a) (a) Coordinate assessments of the child.

DCF 56.15(3)(b) (b) Select the appropriate foster home for a child after careful consideration of how well a prospective foster family will do all of the following:

DCF 56.15(3)(b)1. 1. Meet the child’s specific needs.

DCF 56.15(3)(b)2. 2. Address concerns of the child’s birth or adoptive parents.

DCF 56.15(3)(b)3. 3. Accomplish the goals of the child’s permanency plan.

DCF 56.15(3)(c) (c) Form the child’s treatment team and serve as the team coordinator.

DCF 56.15(3)(d) (d) Provide foster parents with information about the child under ch. DCF 37.

DCF 56.15(3)(e) (e) Educate a child’s treatment team members on services and procedures for a child’s specific needs.

DCF 56.15(3)(f) (f) Develop appropriate interventions and services for the child with the child’s treatment team.

DCF 56.15(3)(g) (g) Be available or have a designee who is available for the foster parents to consult on a 24-hour per day basis.

DCF 56.15(3)(h) (h) Assist in the training of foster parents.

DCF 56.15(3)(i) (i) Comply with agency contact requirements with the foster parent and foster child in ss. DCF 56.18 and 56.19.

DCF 56.15(3)(j) (j) Supervise a child’s case plan, permanency plan, and treatment plan.

DCF 56.15(3)(k) (k) Keep written progress notes.

DCF 56.15(3)(L) (L) Coordinate provided or purchased services for the child and the child’s family.

DCF 56.15(3)(m) (m) Arrange for the assistance of appropriate specialists.

DCF 56.15(3)(n) (n) Perform necessary court responsibilities as appropriate.

DCF 56.15(3)(o) (o) Perform liaison activities with other agencies.

DCF 56.15(3)(p) (p) Coordinate educational and community services.

DCF 56.15(3)(q) (q) Advocate for the best interests and rights of the child.

DCF 56.15(3)(r) (r) Organize treatment team meetings under s. DCF 56.17 (2) (g).

DCF 56.15(4) (4) Substitute for caseworker responsibilities. Notwithstanding sub. (3) (intro.), the supervisory agency may assign specific duties in sub. (3) to another person who meets the same qualifications as the supervisory agency caseworker or to a person who is an intern or in a field placement for a higher education program and is supervised by a person meeting the same qualifications as a supervisory agency caseworker.

DCF 56.15 History History: EmR0937: emerg. cr. eff. 1-1-10; CR 10-021: cr. Register September 2010 No. 657, eff. 10-1-10; EmR1050: emerg. r. and recr., eff. 1-1-11; CR 10-148: r. and recr. Register August 2011 No. 668, eff. 9-1-11; EmR1633: emerg. cr. (1) (a) 8. to 12., eff. 11-1816; CR 16-051: (1) (a) 8. to 12. Register July 2017 No. 739, eff. 8-1-17; CR 20-003: r. and recr. (1) (a) 4. (intro.), cr. (1) (a) 4. d. Register July 2020 No. 775, eff. 8-1-20.

DCF 56.16 DCF 56.16 Licensing agency responsibilities.

DCF 56.16(1) (1) A licensing agency shall do all of the following:

DCF 56.16(1)(a) (a) Recruit a pool of foster parents who are interested in and capable of working with the types of children who are commonly placed by that agency.

DCF 56.16(1)(b) (b) Assess and screen families who are interested in becoming foster parents.

DCF 56.16(1)(c) (c) Develop foster homes to meet the needs of a specifically identified child in need of placement.

DCF 56.16(1)(d) (d) Provide, arrange, and approve required pre-placement, initial, and ongoing training for foster parents under s. DCF 56.14.

DCF 56.16(1)(e) (e) Consult with supervising agency caseworkers and social workers to match a child’s specific needs with available foster parents.

DCF 56.16(1)(f) (f) Provide each licensed or prospective foster parent with a copy of the agency’s foster parent handbook under s. DCF 56.12.

DCF 56.16(1)(g) (g) Comply with agency responsibilities regarding respite care under s. DCF 56.21 (2).

DCF 56.16(1)(h) (h) Provide general support to foster parents.

DCF 56.16(1)(i) (i) Review the foster parent’s fire safety evacuation plan under s. DCF 56.08 (8) and disaster plan under s. DCF 56.08 (10m) with the foster parent to ensure that the plans provide for adequate safety and communication with the agency.

DCF 56.16(1)(j) (j) Encourage peer support among foster parents and inform foster parents of available supports, especially among foster parents who are caring for children with similar conditions.

DCF 56.16(1)(k) (k) Notify the placing agency of any serious incident reported by a foster parent under s. DCF 56.06.

DCF 56.16(1)(L) (L) Notify the school district in which a foster home is located when a license to operate a foster home is issued in that school district, pursuant to s. 48.62 (3), Stats. The notification shall include all of the following:

DCF 56.16(1)(L)1. 1. The name of the foster parent.

DCF 56.16(1)(L)2. 2. The address and phone number of the foster parent.

DCF 56.16(1)(L)3. 3. The type of children expected to be placed in the foster home.

DCF 56.16(1)(L)4. 4. The name, address, and phone number of a contact person from the licensing agency.

DCF 56.16(1)(m) (m) Ensure that the foster parent is promoting normalcy for the child by providing opportunities for the child to participate in age or developmentally appropriate extracurricular, enrichment, cultural, and social activities under s. DCF 56.09 (2m).

DCF 56.16(1)(n) (n) Use all components of a standardized assessment tool prescribed by the department to conduct the home study required for approval of a placement for adoption, recognition of a foreign adoption, and issuance of a license to operate a foster home.

DCF 56.16 Note Note: The standardized assessment tool prescribed by the department is the Structured Analysis Family Evaluation (SAFE) tool. Contact the department’s Division of Safety and Permanence for further information at P.O. Box 8916, Madison, WI 53708-8916.

DCF 56.16(2) (2) In addition to sub. (1), a licensing agency shall do all of the following regarding foster homes with a Level 3 to 5 certification:

DCF 56.16(2)(a) (a) Identify foster homes with similar qualifications as existing foster homes to be used as emergency or alternative options.