Chapter DCF 56

DCF 56.21(1) (1) Applicability. This section applies to care provided in either of the following circumstances:

DCF 56.21(1)(a) (a) Services or emergency care provided to a foster child during a planned absence of the foster parent for more than 48 hours.

DCF 56.21(1)(b) (b) Care for a foster child during the foster parent’s absence that is paid for by a licensing, supervising, or placing agency.

DCF 56.21(2) (2) Licensing agency responsibilities. A licensing agency shall do all of the following:

DCF 56.21(2)(a) (a) Develop policies and procedures to govern the agency’s respite care program.

DCF 56.21(2)(b) (b) Inform a foster parent of the process to be used to fund respite care prior to the first placement of a child in a foster home.

DCF 56.21(2)(c) (c) Assist and intervene when issues arise between a foster parent and the respite care provider if the parties are not able to resolve those issues.

DCF 56.21(2)(d) (d) Keep documentation of a respite care provider’s qualifications in the foster parent’s file at the licensing agency.

DCF 56.21(2)(e) (e) For respite care in foster homes with a Level 3 or 4 certification, the licensing agency shall do all of the following:

DCF 56.21(2)(e)1. 1. Develop, in consultation with foster parents, a pool of respite care providers that will be used when respite care is provided. If the respite care is to be provided in a foster home, the foster parent may approve the use of a particular respite care provider.

DCF 56.21(2)(e)2. 2. Provide training and support to respite care providers.

DCF 56.21(2)(e)3. 3. Consult with a foster parent and the child’s social worker or supervising agency caseworker to develop a respite care schedule for a specific child and provide the schedule to the respite care providers.

DCF 56.21(3) (3) Respite care provider qualifications. A respite care provider shall have the following qualifications:

DCF 56.21(3)(a) (a) Be at least 18 years of age and at least 5 years older than any foster child being cared for by the respite provider, except if the respite care provider is a relative of the child, be at least 3 years older than the child.

DCF 56.21(3)(b) (b) Have direct care experience or training in working with children with conditions similar to those of the foster child for whom the respite care provider will be caring.

DCF 56.21(3)(c) (c) Be physically able to provide the care needed.

DCF 56.21(3)(d) (d) Be flexible and willing to work varied, atypical hours.

DCF 56.21(3)(e) (e) Be able to reliably get to and from respite care assignments.

DCF 56.21(3)(f) (f) Have the ability to do all of the following:

DCF 56.21(3)(f)1. 1. Accept responsibility.

DCF 56.21(3)(f)2. 2. Work independently.

DCF 56.21(3)(f)3. 3. Exercise good judgment.

DCF 56.21(3)(f)4. 4. Maintain confidentiality.

DCF 56.21(3)(f)5. 5. Manage the varied medical, behavioral, and other care needs of the foster children for whom the respite care provider will be caring.

DCF 56.21(3)(g) (g) Reside in a home that meets the physical, safety, and environmental needs of the foster child for whom care is to be provided if the respite care is to be provided in the respite care provider’s residence.

DCF 56.21(3)(h) (h) Authorize the licensing or supervising agency to conduct a criminal records check as described in s. DCF 56.05 (1) (f).

DCF 56.21(3)(i) (i) Agree to provide quality, reliable, and temporary care for the child in foster care that is consistent with the child’s treatment, case, or service plan.

DCF 56.21(3)(j) (j) Obtain from the foster parent appropriate information about the specific care procedures and interaction strategies relevant for the child’s care.

DCF 56.21(3)(k) (k) Agree to perform household and emergency tasks directly related to the general health and well-being of the foster child.

DCF 56.21(3)(L) (L) Possess a valid driver’s license and automobile insurance if transporting a foster child.

DCF 56.21(3)(m) (m) Agree to abide by s. DCF 56.09 (1g), (2) (d) and (e), and (5).

DCF 56.21(3)(n) (n) May not be an employee of the licensing agency or a relative of an employee of the licensing agency if the employee works in the area of the agency that issues foster care licenses.

DCF 56.21(4) (4) Eligibility for subsidized respite care.

DCF 56.21(4)(a) (a) Level 1 or 2. A licensing agency may establish policies and procedures to fund respite care for a foster parent who operates a foster home with a Level 1 or 2 certification.

DCF 56.21(4)(b) (b) Level 3 or 4.

DCF 56.21(4)(b)1. 1. A licensing agency shall fund and arrange for a foster parent who operates a foster home with a Level 3 or 4 certification to have 8 to 24 consecutive hours of respite care per month of care provided. Respite care shall be provided in a combination of days to be determined by the foster parent and the licensing agency. The licensing agency may require that any respite care include an overnight stay.

DCF 56.21(4)(b)2. 2. Notwithstanding subd. 1., a licensing agency is not required to fund and arrange respite care of a child with a level of need below 3 who is placed in a foster home with a Level 3 or 4 certification.

DCF 56.21 History History: EmR1050: emerg. cr., eff. 1-1-11; CR 10-148: cr. Register August 2011 No. 668, eff. 9-1-11; CR 21-107: am. (3) (b) Register June 2022 No. 798, eff. 7-1-22.

DCF 56.22 DCF 56.22 Assessment of needs and strengths.

DCF 56.22(1) (1) Responsibility for assessment.

DCF 56.22(1)(a) (a) A placing agency shall use a standardized assessment tool prescribed by the department to assess the needs and strengths of a child placed or to be placed into a foster home and the needs of the child’s foster parent. A placing agency may subcontract this responsibility.

DCF 56.22 Note Note: The assessment tool is available in the forms section of the department’s website at http://dcf.wisconsin.gov.

DCF 56.22(1)(b) (b) Notwithstanding par. (a), this section does not apply to a child placed or to be placed into a foster home that 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.

DCF 56.22(2) (2) Qualification to assess. An individual performing the assessment shall be trained and certified in the use of the department’s standardized assessment tool.

DCF 56.22(3) (3) Times of assessment.

DCF 56.22(3)(a) (a) Assessment within 30 days after placement. A placing agency shall assess each foster child before placement in a foster home or within 30 days after the child’s placement. A placing agency shall assess each foster parent within 30 days after the child’s placement in the foster home.

DCF 56.22(3)(b) (b) Reassessment every 6 months. A placing agency shall reassess each foster child and the child’s foster parent within 6 months after the child’s last assessment or reassessment. The placing agency, licensing agency, or foster parent may request a reassessment more frequently.

DCF 56.22(4) (4) Standardized assessment tool.

DCF 56.22(4)(a) (a) Basics of the tool. The standardized assessment tool shall include a list of items that may have a direct impact on service planning for the child and the child’s foster parent. The list of items included in the standardized assessment tool shall assist with evaluation of all of the following:

DCF 56.22(4)(a)1. 1. The child’s functioning, including all of the following:

DCF 56.22(4)(a)1.a. a. The impact of trauma on the child.

DCF 56.22(4)(a)1.b. b. Life functioning, including physical, mental, and dental health; relationships with family members; and social skills.

DCF 56.22(4)(a)1.c. c. Functioning in a child care or school setting.

DCF 56.22(4)(a)1.d. d. Behavioral and emotional needs.

DCF 56.22(4)(a)1.e. e. Risk behaviors.

DCF 56.22(4)(a)1.f. f. Strengths.

DCF 56.22(4)(a)1.g. g. The effect of the culture of the child and the child’s family on service provision.

DCF 56.22(4)(a)2. 2. The foster parent’s functioning in relation to the identified foster child, including all of the following:

DCF 56.22(4)(a)2.a. a. Supervision.

DCF 56.22(4)(a)2.b. b. Problem solving.

DCF 56.22(4)(a)2.c. c. Involvement with care.

DCF 56.22(4)(a)2.d. d. Knowledge.

DCF 56.22(4)(a)2.e. e. Empathy with the child.

DCF 56.22(4)(a)2.f. f. Organization.

DCF 56.22(4)(a)2.g. g. Social resources.

DCF 56.22(4)(a)2.h. h. Physical health.

DCF 56.22(4)(a)2.i. i. Mental health.

DCF 56.22(4)(a)2.j. j. Substance use.

DCF 56.22(4)(a)2.k. k. Developmental.

DCF 56.22(4)(a)2.L. L. Family stress.

DCF 56.22(4)(a)2.m. m. Cultural congruence.

DCF 56.22(4)(b) (b) Gather information. Before administering the standardized assessment tool, the person who will administer the tool shall first do all of the following:

DCF 56.22(4)(b)1. 1. Review the child’s case record.

DCF 56.22(4)(b)2. 2. Interview or collect information from an individual who has interviewed the child, child’s family, foster parent or other out-of-home care provider, the child’s team or treatment team, and the licensing agency.

DCF 56.22(4)(b)3. 3. Review information gathered in collaboration with the child’s team or treatment team and the licensing agency.

DCF 56.22 Note Note: See s. DCF 56.17 (1) on treatment team membership.

DCF 56.22(4)(c) (c) Rating a child. The person administering the standardized assessment tool shall rate the child on each item in the tool on a 4-point scale relative to what is developmentally appropriate for a child of a similar age, as follows:

DCF 56.22(4)(c)1. 1. ‘Needs.’ The following ratings shall apply to items representing needs of a child or the child’s family:

DCF 56.22(4)(c)1.a. a. A rating of 0 means there is no evidence of the existence of a special need.

DCF 56.22(4)(c)1.b. b. A rating of 1 means there is a history or concern that a basic special need may exist.

DCF 56.22(4)(c)1.c. c. A rating of 2 means there is a presence of a moderate special need.

DCF 56.22(4)(c)1.d. d. A rating of a 3 means there is a presence of an intensive special need.

DCF 56.22(4)(c)2. 2. ‘Strengths.’ The following ratings shall apply to items representing strengths of a child or the child’s family:

DCF 56.22(4)(c)2.a. a. A rating of 0 indicates a centerpiece strength.

DCF 56.22(4)(c)2.b. b. A rating of 1 indicates a useful strength.

DCF 56.22(4)(c)2.c. c. A rating of 2 indicates an identified strength.

DCF 56.22(4)(c)2.d. d. A rating of 3 indicates no strength has been identified.

DCF 56.22(4)(d) (d) Rating a foster parent. The person administering the standardized assessment tool shall rate a foster parent’s needs on each item in the tool on a 4-point scale in relation to a specific identified child, as follows:

DCF 56.22(4)(d)1. 1. A rating of 0 means there is no reason to believe a need exists.