DCF 56.13(7)(h)1.1. ‘Last community option.’ A licensing agency and program manger shall only consider placing a child into a Level 5 foster home as the last community placement option when all other community placement options have been investigated and deemed to be unavailable or not in the best interest of the child and the child benefits from a more home-like environment with fewer children than that provided in a group home or residential care center for children and youth. DCF 56.13(7)(h)2.2. ‘Compatibility with other children.’ Before a new child is placed in a Level 5 foster home, a licensing agency and the program manager shall evaluate the compatibility of this child with the children currently placed in the home. The placement of a child in a Level 5 foster home may not displace or endanger the health, safety, or well-being of any child currently placed in the foster home. DCF 56.13(7)(h)3.3. ‘Coordinate transitions.’ A licensing agency and the program manager of a Level 5 foster home shall carefully plan and coordinate transitions into and out of a Level 5 foster home with special consideration to the school the child will attend, medical and mental health providers, community-based services, and disabled adult long-term support program services. DCF 56.13(7)(h)4.4. ‘Medically-fragile child.’ A licensing agency and the program manager shall ensure that the treatment plan for a medically-fragile child who is placed in a Level 5 foster home includes emergency medical protocols. DCF 56.13(7)(h)5.5. ‘Waiver funding.’ A licensing agency and the program manager shall notify the department of health services if there is or will be an application submitted to support a child’s placement in a Level 5 foster home with funding under the disabled children’s long-term support program as defined in s. 46.011 (1g), Stats. DCF 56.13(7)(m)(m) Respite care. A Level 5 foster home may only provide respite care to a child who was previously placed in the home, a child specifically identified and approved by the department on a planned basis, or a child who has needs agreed to by the department. DCF 56.13(7)(n)(n) Interagency memorandum of understanding. If a requirement in this chapter is not designated as the responsibility of a licensing agency, placing agency, or supervising agency, all agencies involved in providing care and maintenance, supervision, or services for a child placed in a Level 5 foster home shall enter a memorandum of understanding to determine responsibility for all requirements for which responsibility is not designated. DCF 56.13(8)(8) Level 3 to 5 foster care. The foster care provided for a child with a level of need of 3 or higher in a foster home with a certification of Level 3 to 5 shall do all of the following: DCF 56.13(8)(a)(a) Use a family-based and community-based approach to treatment for a child with physical, mental, medical, substance abuse, cognitive, intellectual, behavioral, developmental, or similar problems. DCF 56.13(8)(b)(b) Make efforts to change the behavior or ameliorate the condition that, in whole or in part, resulted in the child’s separation from the child’s family. DCF 56.13(8)(c)(c) Use specially selected and specifically trained foster parents who are the primary change agents in the treatment process and who have shared responsibility for implementing the child’s treatment plan with other treatment team members. DCF 56.13 HistoryHistory: EmR0937: emerg. cr. eff. 1-1-10; CR 10-021: cr. Register September 2010 No. 657, eff. 10-1-10; EmR1050: emerg. renum. (1) to be (1) (a), (b) and am., cr. (1) (c), (5) to (8), am. (title), (1) (title), (2), (3), (4) (title), (a) 1., 2., 3., (b), eff. 1-1-11; CR 10-148: renum. (1) to be (1) (a), (b) and am., cr. (1) (c), (5) to (8), am. (title), (1) (title), (2), (3), (4) (title), (a) 1., 2., 3., (b) Register August 2011 No. 668, eff. 9-1-11; correction in (7) (h) 4., 5. made under s. 13.92 (4) (b) 1., Stats., Register August 2011 No. 668; correction in (7) (f) 6. a. and 9. under s. 13.92 (4) (b) 1., Stats., Register June 2016 No. 726; EmR1633: emerg. cr. (7) (e) 1. g., h., am. (7) (f) 3., eff. 11-18-16; CR 16-051: cr. (7) (e) 1. g., h., am. (7) (f) 3. Register July 2017 No. 739, eff. 8-1-17; CR 21-107: am. (4) (b), (5) (a) 1. a., (c) 2. b., c., (6) (a) 1. a., (c) 2. b., (7) (f) 6. a., d., 9., (8) (b) Register June 2022 No. 798, eff. 7-1-22. DCF 56.14(1)(1) Purposes. This section implements s. 48.67 (4), Stats., which requires all foster parents to successfully complete training in the care and support needs of children who are placed in foster care that has been approved by the department. The purposes of foster parent training are to: DCF 56.14(1)(a)(a) Improve the quality of care provided to children who live in foster or adoptive homes. DCF 56.14(1)(b)(b) Prepare foster and adoptive families to care for and provide stability for foster children in their homes. DCF 56.14(1)(c)(c) Promote communication, respect, and understanding among all involved parties, with a focus on working for the best interests of the foster child. DCF 56.14(1)(d)(d) Provide opportunities to foster parents to mutually explore their values, strengths, limitations, and needs as they relate to compatibility with foster and adoptive children. DCF 56.14(1)(e)(e) Develop an understanding of the child welfare system and the importance of permanency for children. DCF 56.14(1)(f)(f) Encourage foster and adoptive parent networking and the use of resources. DCF 56.14(2)(2) Advisory committee. A statewide advisory committee appointed by the department and representing county agencies, private child-placing agencies, tribal agencies, foster parents, vocational-technical education, the university system, and the department shall study needs and resources and advise the department on specific training needs and quality of materials. DCF 56.14(3)(3) Qualifications of trainers. Persons preparing or presenting materials for foster parent training shall have expertise in the subject matter as evidenced by prior experience or education, an ability to communicate their knowledge, and cultural competence. DCF 56.14(4)(a)(a) The department shall provide funds to county agencies and, in a county with a population of more than 500,000, the department, to enable foster parents to attend training. The funds may be used for materials, fees, transportation, and child care expenses incurred to attend training that is required or approved under this section or s. DCF 56.13. DCF 56.14(4)(b)(b) No licensing agency of a foster home with a Level 3 to 5 certification or licensed private child-placing agency may require a foster parent to pay to attend training under this section. DCF 56.14(5)(a)(a) Level of care certification. Each foster parent shall complete any pre-placement, initial licensing, or ongoing training required for the foster home’s level of care certification under s. DCF 56.13, except as provided in par. (c) and subs. (6) (b) and (7) (c) and (d). DCF 56.14(5)(b)(b) Each foster parent. The foster parent training requirements in this section and s. DCF 56.13 apply to each foster parent identified on the license to operate the foster home. DCF 56.14(5)(c)(c) Proposed adoptive parent. A foster parent who is licensed solely for the purpose of adoption of a domestic infant under s. 48.837, Stats., or a foreign child under s. 48.839 or 48.97, Stats., will not be required to complete the training in this section if the foster parent completes the pre-adoption preparation training required under ch. DCF 51. DCF 56.14(6)(a)(a) The department shall approve a standardized curriculum for pre-placement training for a foster parent who operates a foster home with a Level 1 or 2 certification that includes information on all of the following: DCF 56.14(6)(a)3.3. Caring for children in foster care, including promoting normalcy. DCF 56.14(6)(b)(b) A foster parent who obtains a license to operate a foster home with Level 1 or 2 certification before January 1, 2011, is not required to complete the pre-placement training under this subsection, unless otherwise required by the licensing agency. DCF 56.14(6d)(a)1.1. The pre-placement training for a foster parent who operates a Level 3 foster home shall include the standardized curricula provided under subs. (6) (a) and (7) (a). DCF 56.14(6d)(a)2.2. Notwithstanding subd. 1., a licensing agency may submit to the department for approval a proposed pre-placement training curriculum that is designed to meet the needs of foster parents licensed by that agency. The pre-placement training for a foster parent who operates a Level 3 foster home may be a curriculum that has been approved by the department. DCF 56.14(6d)(b)1.1. Trainers for the portion of the Level 3 pre-placement training standardized curriculum that is provided under sub. (7) (a) shall be an agency staff person or contractor and a foster or adoptive parent. DCF 56.14(6d)(b)2.2. Notwithstanding subd. 1., a foster parent may attend a pre-placement training for which no foster or adoptive parent is a trainer if the licensing agency approves and provides opportunities for the foster parent attending the training to participate in activities or programs that promote networking among foster parents and provide an opportunity for an experienced foster parent to answer questions from the new foster parent. DCF 56.14(6h)(a)1.1. The pre-placement training for a foster parent who operates a Level 4 foster home shall include all of the following: DCF 56.14(6h)(a)2.2. Notwithstanding subd. 1. a., a licensing agency may submit to the department for approval a proposed pre-placement training curriculum that is designed to meet the needs of foster parents licensed by that agency. The pre-placement training for a foster parent who operates a Level 4 foster home may be a curriculum that has been approved by the department. DCF 56.14(6h)(b)1.1. Trainers for the portion of the Level 4 pre-placement training standardized curriculum that is provided under sub. (7) (a) shall be an agency staff person or contractor and a foster or adoptive parent. DCF 56.14(6h)(b)2.2. Notwithstanding subd. 1., a foster parent may attend a pre-placement training for which no foster or adoptive parent is a trainer if the licensing agency approves and provides opportunities for the foster parent attending the training to participate in activities or programs that promote networking among foster parents and provide an opportunity for an experienced foster parent to answer questions from the new foster parent. DCF 56.14(6p)(6p) Pre-placement training for Level 5 program managers. The pre-placement training for a foster parent who is a program manager of a Level 5 foster home shall include information on all of the following: DCF 56.14(6p)(k)(k) Four hours of child-specific or population-specific training, orientation, or observation. DCF 56.14(6t)(6t) Pre-placement training for Level 5 program staff. The pre-placement training for program staff for a Level 5 foster home shall include information on all of the following: DCF 56.14(6t)(c)(c) Fifteen hours of child-specific or population-specific training, orientation, or observation. DCF 56.14(7)(a)(a) The department shall approve a standardized curriculum for initial licensing training for a foster parent who operates a Level 2 foster home that includes information on all of the following: DCF 56.14(7)(a)7.7. The importance of maintaining a foster child’s family connections. DCF 56.14 NoteNote: The standardized curriculum for initial licensing training is the Wisconsin Foundation Training for Foster Parents.
DCF 56.14(7)(b)1.1. Trainers for the Level 2 initial licensing training shall be an agency staff person or contractor and a foster or adoptive parent. DCF 56.14(7)(b)2.2. Notwithstanding subd. 1., a foster parent may attend an initial licensing training for which no foster or adoptive parent is a trainer if the licensing agency approves and provides opportunities for the foster parent attending the training to participate in activities or programs that promote networking among foster parents and provide an opportunity for an experienced foster parent to answer questions from the new foster parent. DCF 56.14(7)(c)(c) A foster parent who operates a Level 2 foster home that is licensed before January 1, 2011, shall complete the initial licensing training before January 1, 2015, except as provided under par. (d). DCF 56.14(7)(d)(d) A foster parent who operates a Level 2 foster home that is licensed before January 1, 2011, and who provides verification to the licensing agency that the foster parent successfully completed a competency-based, pre-service foster parent training as described in the department’s DCFS Memo Series 2002-12 is not required to comply with par. (c). DCF 56.14(7e)(7e) Initial licensing training for Level 3. The initial licensing training for a foster parent who operates a Level 3 foster home shall include information on all of the following:
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