Chapter DOC 346

DOC 346.22(3) (3) The facility shall have a schedule of access to on-site mental health care services.

DOC 346.22(4) (4) The facility shall provide access to emergency mental health care.

DOC 346.22 History History: CR 24-065: cr. Register July 2025 No. 835, eff. 8-1-25.

DOC 346.23 DOC 346.23 Suicide and self-harm prevention.

DOC 346.23(1) (1) Risk of suicide or self-harm. The facility shall do all of the following:

DOC 346.23(1)(a) (a) Obtain documented information from a transporting agency’s observation pertaining to a youth’s mental health and potential for suicide or self-harm.

DOC 346.23(1)(b) (b) Require staff to immediately notify qualified medical and mental health professionals of all incidents of self-harm or attempted self-harm. The notification and incident shall be documented.

DOC 346.23(1)(c) (c) Require staff to immediately notify qualified medical and mental health professionals of youth who have communicated having ideation, plan, or intent to engage in self-harm or suicide. The notification and incident shall be documented.

DOC 346.23(2) (2) Suicide or self-harm watch. The facility shall do all of the following:

DOC 346.23(2)(a) (a) Identify designated supervisory staff to be notified if a youth is determined to be a suicide or self-harm risk.

DOC 346.23(2)(b) (b) Designate areas within the facility and provide security precautions for youth who are placed on suicide or self-harm watch.

DOC 346.23(2)(c) (c) Establish monitoring procedures for youth on suicide or self-harm watch, including frequency and documentation of wellness checks under s. DOC 346.39.

DOC 346.23(3) (3) Youth supervision. The facility shall do all of the following:

DOC 346.23(3)(a) (a) Identify staff who may initiate a suicide or self-harm watch.

DOC 346.23(3)(b) (b) Require notification to qualified mental health professionals when the youth is placed on suicide or self-harm watch. Assessment by a qualified mental health professional shall be completed as soon as practicable.

DOC 346.23(3)(c) (c) Identify qualified mental health professionals who are authorized to remove a youth from a suicide or self-harm watch status after an in-person assessment.

DOC 346.23(3)(d) (d) Establish requirements for the frequency of communication between health care and facility staff regarding the status of a youth who is on suicide or self-harm watch.

DOC 346.23(3)(e) (e) Establish an intervention protocol during an apparent suicide or self-harm attempt, including life-sustaining measures.

DOC 346.23(3)(f) (f) Identify persons to be notified in case of attempted or completed suicides or self-harm.

DOC 346.23(4) (4) Documentation. The facility shall document actions taken and decisions made regarding youth who are at risk of attempting suicide or self-harm, including all of the following:

DOC 346.23(4)(a) (a) Individual initiating the suicide or self-harm watch.

DOC 346.23(4)(b) (b) Date and time watch was initiated.

DOC 346.23(4)(c) (c) Reason watch was initiated.

DOC 346.23(4)(d) (d) Date, time, and name of supervisor contacted.

DOC 346.23(4)(e) (e) Date and time of referral to a qualified mental health professional.

DOC 346.23(4)(f) (f) Written documentation from the qualified mental health professional removing a youth from a suicide or self-harm watch including name, date, and time.

DOC 346.23(5) (5) Support services. The facility shall provide access to debriefing and support services for youth and staff following a suicide or self-harm incident.

DOC 346.23 History History: CR 24-065: cr. Register July 2025 No. 835, eff. 8-1-25.

DOC 346.24 DOC 346.24 Medications.

DOC 346.24(1) (1) The facility shall comply with state and federal law regarding procuring, prescribing, dispensing, delivering, administering, and disposing of prescription and nonprescription medications.

DOC 346.24(2) (2) All medications brought into the facility shall be verified, inventoried, and maintained in a designated secure storage area.

DOC 346.24(3) (3) Designated trained staff may administer or deliver prescribed doses of medication at prescribed times.

DOC 346.24(4) (4) Prescription and nonprescription medication administered or delivered to a youth shall be documented, including who prescribed the medication, who administered or delivered the medication, and the date and time of administration or delivery.

DOC 346.24(5) (5) All refusals of recommended or prescribed medications by a youth shall be documented.

DOC 346.24(6) (6) All medication errors shall be documented.

DOC 346.24(7) (7) The facility shall inventory and return or dispose of unused medications upon the youth’s release or transfer.

DOC 346.24 History History: CR 24-065: cr. Register July 2025 No. 835, eff. 8-1-25.

DOC 346.25 DOC 346.25 Medical records.

DOC 346.25(1) (1) Youth medical records shall be kept separate from other records, including custodial records, and shall be maintained in a confidential manner in accordance with ss. 146.81 to 146.83, Stats., and other applicable state or federal laws.

DOC 346.25(2) (2) Records shall be securely maintained and accessible only be designated staff.

DOC 346.25 History History: CR 24-065: cr. Register July 2025 No. 835, eff. 8-1-25.

subch. VII of ch. DOC 346 Subchapter VII — Resources for Youth

DOC 346.26 DOC 346.26 Clothing, towels, and bedding.

DOC 346.26(1) (1) Clothing.

DOC 346.26(1)(a) (a) If youth are not permitted to wear personal clothing, all of the following shall be provided upon admission:

DOC 346.26(1)(a)1. 1. A set of clean clothing.

DOC 346.26(1)(a)2. 2. Clean socks and undergarments.

DOC 346.26(1)(a)3. 3. Clean footwear.

DOC 346.26(1)(b) (b) Clothing shall be laundered at a minimum of 2 times per week, and on a more frequent basis as needed.

DOC 346.26(1)(c) (c) Undergarments and socks shall be laundered as necessary to provide clean undergarments and socks daily.

DOC 346.26(2) (2) Towels and bedding.

DOC 346.26(2)(a) (a) Staff shall provide each youth with a clean towel and washcloth daily.

DOC 346.26(2)(b) (b) Staff shall provide each youth with clean bed linens at least once per week.

DOC 346.26(2)(c) (c) Staff shall provide each youth with a clean blanket at least once per month.

DOC 346.26(3) (3) mattresses and pillows.

DOC 346.26(3)(a) (a) Staff shall provide each youth with a clean mattress and pillow.

DOC 346.26(3)(b) (b) Each mattress and each pillow shall be covered with a fire retardant, waterproof, easy-to-sanitize material.

DOC 346.26(3)(c) (c) Mattresses and pillows shall be kept in good repair and in a clean and sanitary condition. Staff shall repair or remove from circulation any mattresses with holes or cracks.

DOC 346.26(3)(d) (d) Mattresses and pillows shall be cleaned and sanitized before reissue.

DOC 346.26 History History: CR 24-065: cr. Register July 2025 No. 835, eff. 8-1-25.

DOC 346.27 DOC 346.27 Commissary services. If a facility provides commissary, vending or other similar services for youth, the facility shall have policies and procedures relating to these services.

DOC 346.27 History History: CR 24-065: cr. Register July 2025 No. 835, eff. 8-1-25.

DOC 346.28 DOC 346.28 Mail.

DOC 346.28(1) (1) The facility shall not limit the amount of correspondence sent and received by youth.

DOC 346.28(2) (2) The facility shall deliver incoming mail to youth on the same day that it is received at the facility.

DOC 346.28(3) (3) Outgoing youth mail shall be posted daily excluding weekends and holidays.

DOC 346.28(4) (4) Appropriate writing materials shall be provided to youth upon request.

DOC 346.28(5) (5) Postage for a minimum of 2 non-privileged letters a week shall be provided for each youth.

DOC 346.28(6) (6) Postage for privileged mail may not be limited.

DOC 346.28(7) (7) The facility shall establish parameters for inspecting privileged and non-privileged mail.

DOC 346.28(8) (8) If mail is withheld, staff shall inform the youth and document the date, time, reason, and disposition.

DOC 346.28 History History: CR 24-065: cr. Register July 2025 No. 835, eff. 8-1-25.

DOC 346.29 DOC 346.29 Communication.

DOC 346.29(1) (1) Upon admission, youth shall be given an opportunity as soon as possible to communicate with social supporters.

DOC 346.29(2) (2) Youth shall have the opportunity to communicate with approved individuals external to the facility no less than once per day.

DOC 346.29(3) (3) The facility may not charge youth to communicate.

DOC 346.29(4) (4) The facility shall make accommodations for youth with hearing or speech disabilities or limited-English proficiency.

DOC 346.29(5) (5) If external communication is withheld or monitored, the facility shall inform the youth and document the date, time, and reason.

DOC 346.29 History History: CR 24-065: cr. Register July 2025 No. 835, eff. 8-1-25.

DOC 346.30 DOC 346.30 Visitation.

DOC 346.30(1) (1) The facility shall provide visitation hours sufficient to accommodate daily contact visits with approved social supporters.

DOC 346.30(2) (2) Professional visits shall be allowed during reasonable hours as long as security and routine are not unduly interrupted.

DOC 346.30(3) (3) The facility shall establish procedures for requesting visitation outside of normal visiting hours.

DOC 346.30(4) (4) The facility shall post visitation policies and procedures, including visitation schedule, in a place readily accessible to visitors and youth.

DOC 346.30 History History: CR 24-065: cr. Register July 2025 No. 835, eff. 8-1-25.

DOC 346.31 DOC 346.31 Publications.

DOC 346.31(1) (1) The facility shall provide access to reading materials of general interest.

DOC 346.31(2) (2) The facility may not limit access to reading materials except when reasonably related to the security of the facility.

DOC 346.31 History History: CR 24-065: cr. Register July 2025 No. 835, eff. 8-1-25.