DCF 50.12(3)(c)1.1. “Level A, not applicable” children do not exhibit unusual physical or personal characteristics for foster children in their age group. DCF 50.12(3)(c)2.2. “Level B, minimal” children exhibit physical or personal characteristics that include or correspond in extent or degree with one or more of the following: DCF 50.12(3)(c)2.a.a. Needs some help with putting on braces or prosthetic devices and help with buttons or laces but basically care for themselves and are able to maintain their own physical assisting devices. DCF 50.12(3)(c)2.b.b. Seizures or motor dysfunctions that are controlled by medication. Therapy for gross or fine motor skills can be done with supervision for children to achieve normal conditions. These children may require special diet preparation. DCF 50.12(3)(c)3.3. “Level C, moderate” children exhibit physical or personal characteristics that include or correspond in extent or degree with one or more of the following: DCF 50.12(3)(c)3.a.a. Needs help with dressing, bathing and general toilet needs, including maintenance procedures such as diapering and applying catheters, and requires the help of a person or a device to walk or get around. DCF 50.12(3)(c)3.c.c. Has feeding problems such as excessive intake, extreme messiness or extremely slow eating requiring help, supervision or both. DCF 50.12(3)(c)3.e.e. Requires special care to prevent or remedy skin conditions such as decubiti and severe eczema. DCF 50.12 NoteNote: The administration of medications and preparation of special diets are demanding, and prescribed physical therapies such as those for vision, hearing, speech or gross or fine motor skills require one to 2 hours a day.
DCF 50.12(3)(c)4.4. “Level D, intensive” children exhibit physical or personal characteristics that include or correspond in extent or degree with one or more of the following: DCF 50.12(3)(c)4.a.a. Non-ambulatory, may have uncontrollable seizures and need appliances for drainage, colostomy, aspiration or suctioning. DCF 50.12(3)(c)4.b.b. Even with proper medical attention, vision, speech or hearing functions are impaired and may require foster parent training. DCF 50.12(3)(c)4.c.c. Need daily prescribed exercise routines to improve or maintain gross or fine motor skills that require home administration. DCF 50.12(3)(c)4.e.e. Require extra cleaning and laundry to maintain body hygiene and control of the child’s body waste. DCF 50.12(4)(4) Exceptional payment. An exceptional payment in an amount to be determined by the department pursuant to the department’s uniform foster care rate policy may be made in addition to the age-related rates and special needs payment when the additional payment will accomplish any of the following: DCF 50.12(4)(a)(a) Enable the child to be placed in a foster home instead of being placed or remaining in a more restrictive setting. DCF 50.12(4)(b)(b) Replace a child’s basic wardrobe that has been lost or destroyed through other than normal wear and tear. DCF 50.12 HistoryHistory: CR 18-001: cr. Register August 2018 No. 752, eff. 9-1-18; correction in (2) (b) under s. 35.17, Stats., Register August 2018 No. 752. DCF 50.13DCF 50.13 Adoption assistance agreement. DCF 50.13(1)(1) The department shall enter into a written adoption assistance agreement with the proposed adoptive parents of a child eligible for assistance under s. DCF 50.09 prior to the adoption. The agreement shall be signed by the proposed adoptive parents, the adoption agency, and the department. The agreement shall specify all of the following: DCF 50.13(1)(d)(d) Circumstances under which the adoption assistance may be increased, decreased, terminated, or suspended, including the circumstances in ss. DCF 50.14 and 50.15. DCF 50.13(1)(e)(e) That the agreement will remain in effect regardless of the state of residence of the adoptive parents and the child. DCF 50.13(2)(2) If at any time prior to the adoption, the proposed adoptive parents believe there has been a substantial change in circumstances under s. DCF 50.14 (1), the proposed adoptive parents may request a review of the amount of adoption assistance under s. DCF 50.14. The department shall determine whether a new amount is justified. The new agreement shall be agreed to and signed by the proposed adoptive parent, the adoption agency, and the department prior to the adoption. DCF 50.13 HistoryHistory: CR 18-001: cr. Register August 2018 No. 752, eff. 9-1-18. DCF 50.14DCF 50.14 Amendment to adjust payment amount. DCF 50.14(1)(1) Definition. In this section, “substantial change in circumstances” means a change that has occurred to the child in one or more areas of special needs, including physical, behavioral, or emotional special needs, that would result in a change in the amount of a supplemental payment determined under one of the following: DCF 50.14(1)(a)(a) For an adoption assistance agreement entered into before July 1, 2011, the rate schedule under s. DCF 50.12. DCF 50.14(1)(b)(b) For an adoption assistance agreement entered into on or after July 1, 2011, the rate schedule under s. DCF 56.23 (2) (a) if the child has a total of 5 or more needs that have been identified as moderate or intensive in the areas listed in s. DCF 56.23 (2) (a) 1. a. to e. DCF 50.14(2)(2) Timing of request. Adoptive parents that have entered into an initial or amended adoption assistance agreement may request that the agreement be amended to begin monthly payments or to increase the amount of monthly payments if the adoptive parent believes that there has been a substantial change in circumstances and the timing of the request is any of the following: DCF 50.14(2)(a)(a) Not less than 12 months after any of the following occurred: DCF 50.14(2)(a)2.2. A previous request for an amendment to the adoption assistance agreement was denied. DCF 50.14(2)(b)(b) Within 120 days before the expiration date of an amendment to the adoption assistance agreement. DCF 50.14(3)(3) Request by the adoptive parents. To request an amendment to the adoption assistance agreement, the adoptive parents shall do all of the following: DCF 50.14(3)(a)(a) Complete and return the request for adoption assistance amendment forms prescribed by the department to document the adoptive parents’ observations of the child’s physical, behavioral, and emotional needs. DCF 50.14 NoteNote: When the adoptive parents contact the department about a possible amendment, the department sends the parents a form for the adoptive parents to complete and the forms for the parents to take to the appropriate professionals under par. (b).
DCF 50.14 NoteFor adoption assistance agreements entered into before July 1, 2011, the adoptive parents complete DCF-F-CFS2092, Adoption Assistance Amendment Request.
DCF 50.14 NoteFor adoption assistance agreements entered into on or after July 1, 2011, the form is DCF-F-5230-E, Adoption Assistance Amendment Request – Age Birth to 5 Child and Adolescent Needs and Strengths (CANS) Version or DCF-F-5231-E, Adoption Assistance Amendment Request – Age 5 - 21 Child and Adolescent Needs and Strengths (CANS) Version, as applicable.
DCF 50.14(3)(b)(b) Submit documentation by appropriate professionals regarding the child’s current needs to the department with the amendment request. The documentation shall be on a form prescribed by the department and dated not more than 6 months before the request. DCF 50.14 NoteNote: For an adoption assistance agreement entered into before July 1, 2011, the appropriate professionals complete all of the following regarding the child’s needs:
DCF 50.14 NoteDCF-F-CFS2411, Adoption Assistance Amendment Request — Confirmation of Needs Behavioral Characteristics.
DCF 50.14 NoteDCF-F-CFS2412, Adoption Assistance Amendment Request — Confirmation of Needs Emotional Characteristics.
DCF 50.14 NoteDCF-F-CFS2413, Adoption Assistance Amendment Request — Confirmation of Needs Physical/Personal Care Characteristics.
DCF 50.14 NoteFor an adoption assistance agreement entered into on or after July 1, 2011, the department sends the following forms that apply to the child’s age, and the professionals complete the forms that apply to the child’s needs:
DCF 50.14 NoteDCF-F-2677, Adoption Assistance Amendment Confirmation of Needs Behavioral Characteristics (Age 5-21).
DCF 50.14 NoteDCF-F-2678, Adoption Assistance Amendment Confirmation of Needs Emotional Characteristics (Age 5-21).
DCF 50.14 NoteDCF-F-2679, Adoption Assistance Amendment Confirmation of Needs Physical/Personal Care Characteristics (Age 5-21).
DCF 50.14 NoteDCF-F-2680, Adoption Assistance Amendment Confirmation of Needs Behavioral Characteristics (Birth to 5).
DCF 50.14 NoteDCF-F-2681, Adoption Assistance Amendment Confirmation of Needs Emotional Characteristics (Birth to 5).
DCF 50.14 NoteDCF-F-2682, Adoption Assistance Amendment Confirmation of Needs Physical/Personal Care Characteristics (Birth to 5).
DCF 50.14(3)(c)(c) If requested by the department, provide additional information about the child’s current functioning. DCF 50.14(3)(d)(d) If requested by the department, have the child evaluated by a specialist to provide information necessary in making a determination. DCF 50.14(3)(e)(e) If the adoptive parents accept the adjusted payment amount offered by the department, sign and return the amendment to the department within 30 days. DCF 50.14(4)(4) Department response. If the department receives a request to amend an adoption assistance agreement under sub. (3), the department shall do all of the following: DCF 50.14(4)(a)(a) Substantial change in circumstances. Determine whether there has been a substantial change in circumstances regarding the child’s special needs. The department shall review the documentation submitted under sub. (3) and may do any of the following if the department decides that additional information is needed before the determination can be made: DCF 50.14(4)(a)2.2. Request that the adoptive parents have the child evaluated by a specialist. DCF 50.14(4)(a)3.3. Request more information about the child’s current functioning from the adoptive parents. DCF 50.14(4)(a)4.4. Notify the adoptive parents that failure to provide the requested information within 90 days may result in a denial of the amendment request. DCF 50.14(4)(a)5.5. Make a decision on the adoptive parents’ request following receipt of the additional information. DCF 50.14(4)(b)1.1. Determine whether any of the following applies to the adoptive parents: DCF 50.14(4)(b)1.a.a. A final substantiated finding has been made that an adoptive parent abused or neglected the child. DCF 50.14(4)(b)1.b.b. A finding that is comparable to a final substantiated finding of the child has been made in any other jurisdiction where an adoptive parent has resided. DCF 50.14(4)(b)2.2. If a finding under subd. 1. is overturned, the department shall reconsider an amendment request that was denied based on the finding. DCF 50.14(4)(c)1.1. ‘Department offer.’ If the department determines that there has been a substantial change in circumstances that establishes that a child previously determined to be at high risk under s. DCF 50.09 (1) (b) 6. now meets the conditions of s. DCF 50.09 (1) (b) 3., and there is not a final substantiated finding of abuse or neglect of the child by an adoptive parent as provided in par. (b), offer to begin monthly adoption assistance payments for up to one year. DCF 50.14(4)(c)2.2. ‘Monthly amount for adoptive parents that are beginning to receive payments.’ Determine the monthly amount of the monthly adoption assistance payments for a child that was previously determined to be at high risk under s. DCF 50.09 (1) (b) 6. and now meets the conditions of s. DCF 50.09 (1) (b) 3., based on all of the following: DCF 50.14(4)(c)2.a.a. The basic maintenance payment specified in s. 48.62 (4), Stats., in effect at the time the request for adoption assistance amendment form was received by the department. DCF 50.14(4)(c)2.b.b. For an adoption assistance agreement entered into before July 1, 2011, a supplemental payment determined under the rate schedule under s. DCF 50.12 (2) and (3). For an adoption assistance agreement entered into on or after July 1, 2011, a supplemental payment determined under the rate schedule under s. DCF 56.23 (2) (a) if the child has a total of 5 or more needs that have been identified as moderate or intensive in the areas listed in s. DCF 56.23 (2) (a) 1. a. to e. DCF 50.14(4)(d)(d) Adoptive parents that have been receiving monthly payments. DCF 50.14(4)(d)1.1. ‘Department offer.’ If the department determines that there has been a substantial change in circumstances that establishes that a child that has identified special needs has had an increase in special needs in one or more categories of the supplemental payment schedule and there has not been a final substantiated finding of abuse or neglect of the child by an adoptive parent as provided in par. (b), offer to adjust the amount of the monthly adoption assistance payments for up to one year. The department may not increase the amount in the agreement above the amount allowed under 42 USC 673 or any other federal law. DCF 50.14(4)(d)2.2. ‘Monthly amount for adoptive parents who have been receiving payments.’ Determine the monthly amount of the monthly adoption assistance payments for a child who had identified special needs and has had an increase in the special needs in one or more categories of the supplemental payment schedule, based on all of the following: DCF 50.14(4)(d)2.b.b. For an adoption assistance agreement entered into before July 1, 2011, an adjusted supplemental payment determined under the rate schedule under s. DCF 50.12 (2) and (3). For an adoption assistance agreement entered into on or after July 1, 2011, the rate schedule under s. DCF 56.23 (2) (a) if the child has a total of 5 or more needs that have been identified as moderate or intensive in the areas listed in s. DCF 56.23 (2) (a) 1. a. to e. DCF 50.14(4)(d)2.c.c. Notwithstanding subd. 2. b., if the level of points in an established supplemental payment category is at the highest number of points in an intensive level of need category, no increase in payment may be offered in that category. DCF 50.14(4)(d)2.d.d. Any exceptional payment in the existing adoption assistance agreement. No adjustment may be made to an existing exceptional payment and no new exceptional payment may be established under s. DCF 50.12 (4) or 56.23 (3). DCF 50.14(4)(e)(e) Amended agreement. Offer to amend the agreement in writing for up to one year to specify the new amount of the monthly payments if the adoptive parents agree with the proposed amount of the payments and return the signed amendment within 30 days after the date of the notice of the decision. DCF 50.14(4)(f)(f) Review amendment. Review an amended adoption assistance agreement, as follows:
