Chapter DCF 56

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)1.a. a. The standardized curricula provided under subs. (6) (a) and (7) (a).

DCF 56.14(6h)(a)1.b. b. Four hours of training on child-specific or population-specific information.

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) (b)

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)(a) (a) The standardized curriculum provided under sub. (6) (a).

DCF 56.14(6p)(b) (b) School advocacy.

DCF 56.14(6p)(c) (c) Cardiopulmonary resuscitation.

DCF 56.14(6p)(d) (d) First aid.

DCF 56.14(6p)(e) (e) Blood-borne pathogens.

DCF 56.14(6p)(f) (f) Medication management.

DCF 56.14(6p)(g) (g) Patients rights.

DCF 56.14(6p)(h) (h) Positive behavioral supports.

DCF 56.14(6p)(i) (i) Individual service plans.

DCF 56.14(6p)(j) (j) Emergency plans.

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)(a) (a) The standardized curriculum provided under sub. (6) (a).

DCF 56.14(6t)(b) (b) The topics listed in sub. (6p) (b) to (j).

DCF 56.14(6t)(c) (c) Fifteen hours of child-specific or population-specific training, orientation, or observation.

DCF 56.14(7) (7) Initial licensing training for Level 2.

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)1. 1. Permanency.

DCF 56.14(7)(a)2. 2. Cultural dynamics in placement.

DCF 56.14(7)(a)3. 3. Child abuse and neglect.

DCF 56.14(7)(a)4. 4. The impact of maltreatment on child development.

DCF 56.14(7)(a)5. 5. Attachment.

DCF 56.14(7)(a)6. 6. Separation and placement.

DCF 56.14(7)(a)7. 7. The importance of maintaining a foster child’s family connections.

DCF 56.14(7)(a)8. 8. Guidance and positive discipline.

DCF 56.14(7)(a)9. 9. Access to resources.

DCF 56.14 Note Note: The standardized curriculum for initial licensing training is the Wisconsin Foundation Training for Foster Parents.

DCF 56.14(7)(b) (b)

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 Note Note: DCFS Memo Series 2002-12 was issued on September 18, 2002. It is available at https://dcf.wisconsin.gov/files/cwportal/policy/pdf/memos/2002-12.pdf. Acceptable competency-based, pre-service foster parent training includes the Partners in Alternative Care Education (PACE) curriculum.

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:

DCF 56.14(7e)(a) (a) Crisis management.

DCF 56.14(7e)(b) (b) Sexuality and sexual boundaries.

DCF 56.14(7e)(c) (c) Sexual abuse.

DCF 56.14(7e)(d) (d) Effects of maltreatment and trauma on child development.

DCF 56.14(7e)(e) (e) Building life skills.

DCF 56.14(7e)(f) (f) Building birth family and cultural connections.

DCF 56.14(7e)(g) (g) Other topics required by the licensing agency.

DCF 56.14(7m) (7m) Initial licensing training for Level 4. The initial licensing training for a foster parent who operates a Level 4 foster home shall include information on all of the following:

DCF 56.14(7m)(a) (a) The topics listed in sub. (7e).

DCF 56.14(7m)(b) (b) Six hours of child-specific or population-specific training.

DCF 56.14(7s) (7s) Initial licensing training for Level 5 program managers. The initial licensing training for a foster parent who is a program manager for a Level 5 foster home shall include information on all of the following:

DCF 56.14(7s)(a) (a) The topics listed in sub. (7e).

DCF 56.14(7s)(b) (b) Six hours of child-specific or population-specific training.

DCF 56.14(8) (8) Ongoing training.

DCF 56.14(8)(a) (a) Individualized training plan. At the time of renewal of a license to operate a foster home, the licensing agency and the foster parent shall evaluate the foster parent’s overall performance and develop an individualized training plan for the foster parent based on the foster parent’s demonstrated need for training in particular topics or in managing specific case situations.

DCF 56.14(8)(b) (b) Licensing agency approval. The licensing agency shall approve a foster parent’s ongoing training based on the following:

DCF 56.14(8)(b)1. 1. The content of the training shall meet at least one of the purposes of foster parent training under sub. (1) and conform with the foster parent’s individualized training plan, unless a greater training need is demonstrated after the plan was developed.

DCF 56.14(8)(b)1g. 1g. In addition to subd. 1., the content of ongoing training for a foster parent who operates a Level 4 foster home shall include 8 hours of child-specific or population-specific training.

DCF 56.14(8)(b)1r. 1r. In addition to subd. 1., the content of ongoing training for program managers and program staff for a Level 5 foster home shall include all of the following:

DCF 56.14(8)(b)1r.a. a. Child maltreatment and reporting requirements.

DCF 56.14(8)(b)1r.b. b. Prompt and adequate treatment.

DCF 56.14(8)(b)1r.c. c. Any required reauthorizations for first aid, blood-borne pathogens, and cardiopulmonary resuscitation.

DCF 56.14(8)(b)1r.d. d. Eight hours of child-specific or population-specific training.

DCF 56.14(8)(b)2. 2. The format of the training may include any of the following:

DCF 56.14(8)(b)2.a. a. Face-to-face consultation with professionals with expertise in specific identified areas.

DCF 56.14(8)(b)2.b. b. Video, audio, and web-based presentations.

DCF 56.14(8)(b)2.c. c. Support groups.

DCF 56.14(8)(b)2.d. d. Adult education courses.

DCF 56.14(8)(b)2.e. e. Books, periodicals, and web-based resources.

DCF 56.14(8)(b)2.f. f. Television and radio presentations.

DCF 56.14(8)(b)2.g. g. Mentor family consultations.

DCF 56.14(8)(b)2.h. h. Conferences, workshops, seminars, and webinars.

DCF 56.14(8)(b)3. 3. The total credit given for training using books, periodicals, and web-based resources under subd. 2. e. and television and radio presentations under subd. 2. f. may not exceed 20 percent of the required hours.

DCF 56.14(8)(b)4. 4. The cost of a particular training option and the usefulness of the skills or knowledge that is expected to be gained shall be considered.

DCF 56.14(8)(c) (c) Department as training resource. The department shall maintain an inventory of resources for foster parent training and shall coordinate statewide, regional, and local training programs to prevent duplication of effort.

DCF 56.14 History History: EmR0937: emerg. cr. eff. 1-1-10; CR 10-021: cr. Register September 2010 No. 657, eff. 10-1-10; corrections in (1), (5) (a), (6) (b) and (7) (b) to (d) made under s. 13.92 (4) (b) 1. and 7., Stats., Register September 2010 No. 657; EmR1050: emerg. renum. (4), (7) (b) to be (4) (a), (7) (b) 1. and am., cr. (4) (b), (6d), (6h), (6p), (6t), (7e), (7m), (7s), (8) (b) 1g., 1r., am. (6) (title), (a) (intro.), (b), (7) (title), (a) (intro.), (c), (d), (8) (b) 3., eff. 1-1-11; CR 10-148: renum. (4), (7) (b) to be (4) (a), (7) (b) 1. and am., cr. (4) (b), (6d), (6h), (6p), (6t), (7) (b) 2., (7e), (7m), (7s), (8) (b) 1g., 1r., am. (6) (title), (a) (intro.), (b), (7) (title), (a) (intro.), (c), (d), (8) (b) 3. Register August 2011 No. 668, eff. 9-1-11; EmR1633: emerg. am. (6) (a) 3., eff. 11-18-16; CR 16-051: am. (6) (a) 3. Register July 2017 No. 739, eff. 8-1-17; correction in (5) (c) made under s. 13.92 (4) (b) 7., Stats., Register August 2018 No. 752; CR 21-107: am. (7) (d), (8) (a) Register June 2022 No. 798, eff. 7-1-22.

DCF 56.15 DCF 56.15 Supervising agency.

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.