Chapter DCF 56

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.

DCF 56.22(4)(d)2. 2. A rating of 1 means there is a history or concern that needs to be monitored.

DCF 56.22(4)(d)3. 3. A rating of 2 means there is a presence of a need that must be acted upon.

DCF 56.22(4)(d)4. 4. A rating of 3 means there is a presence of a need that requires immediate or intensive action.

DCF 56.22(5) (5) Use of assessment information.

DCF 56.22(5)(a) (a) The placing agency shall use information from the assessment of the child, the child’s family, the child’s foster parent, the supervising agency, and the licensing agency for all of the following:

DCF 56.22(5)(a)1. 1. To communicate information about the needs and strengths of the child and child’s family.

DCF 56.22(5)(a)2. 2. To assist with determining the child’s service needs and developing the child’s plan of care.

DCF 56.22(5)(a)3. 3. To determine a level of need of 1/2, 3, 4, 5, or 6 for the child.

DCF 56.22(5)(a)4. 4. To inform decisions regarding a placement at a level of care that is appropriate to meet the child’s level of need.

DCF 56.22(5)(a)5. 5. To evaluate the match between the knowledge, skills, and abilities of a foster parent and the needs and strengths of the child.

DCF 56.22(5)(a)6. 6. To assist in the development of services and supports needed for a specific child and foster parent to promote the stability of the placement.

DCF 56.22(5)(a)7. 7. To provide a mental health screen to all children entering foster care.

DCF 56.22(5)(a)8. 8. To determine any supplemental payments under s. DCF 56.23 (2).

DCF 56.22(5)(a)9. 9. To determine any supplemental payments for purposes of an adoption assistance agreement under s. 48.975, Stats., and ch. DCF 50.

DCF 56.22(5)(b) (b) A placing agency shall re-evaluate the appropriateness of a child’s placement, services provided to the child, and supplemental payments made to the foster parent following a reassessment of the child under sub. (3) (b).

DCF 56.22(6) (6) Matching and preplacement visits.

DCF 56.22(6)(a) (a) Matching the child and foster family. A placing agency may place a child in a foster home only after careful consideration is made on how well the prospective foster family will do all of the following:

DCF 56.22(6)(a)1. 1. Meet the child’s identified specific needs.

DCF 56.22(6)(a)2. 2. Address any concerns of the birth or adoptive parents.

DCF 56.22(6)(a)3. 3. Accomplish the goals of the child’s permanency plan.

DCF 56.22(6)(b) (b) Pre-placement interactions for placements in foster homes with a Level 3 to 5 certification. Before placing a child in a foster home with a Level 3 to 5 certification, the placing agency, supervising agency, and, if different, the licensing agency shall arrange for pre-placement, face-to-face interactions among the child, foster parent, and, if appropriate, the child’s family, unless the placement is an emergency under s. 48.205, 48.63, or 938.205, Stats.

DCF 56.22(7) (7) Placement in a foster home.

DCF 56.22(7)(a) (a) A placing agency, in accordance with a licensing agency, may place a child in a foster home that is certified to provide a given level of care if the child’s level of need is at or below the level of care that the foster home is certified to provide.

DCF 56.22(7)(b) (b) Notwithstanding par. (a), a placing agency may place a child with a level of need that is higher than the level of care that a foster home is certified to provide if the placing agency grants an exception and documents in the child’s electronic case record what services and supports will be provided to meet the child’s needs as identified in the assessment tool.

DCF 56.22(7)(c) (c) A child whose level of need is lower than 5 may not be placed in a Level 5 foster home, except for continuation of an existing placement during planning for the child’s transition to a less restrictive setting following a reassessment under sub. (3) (b).

DCF 56.22 Note Note: See Appendix A for the placement complexity chart that shows placement options based on a child’s level of need and a provider’s level of care.

DCF 56.22 History History: EmR1050: emerg. cr., eff. 1-1-11; CR 10-148: cr. Register August 2011 No. 668, eff. 9-1-11.

DCF 56.23 DCF 56.23 Supplemental payments, exceptional payments, initial clothing allowance, and retainer fee.

DCF 56.23(1) (1) Coverage.

DCF 56.23(1)(a) (a) A placing agency shall determine the amount of any payment made directly to a foster parent for the care and maintenance of a foster child under one or more of the following:

DCF 56.23(1)(a)1. 1. Basic maintenance payments established under s. 48.62 (4), Stats.

DCF 56.23(1)(a)2. 2. Supplemental payments under sub. (2).

DCF 56.23(1)(a)3. 3. Exceptional payments under sub. (3).

DCF 56.23(1)(a)4. 4. Initial clothing allowance under sub. (4).

DCF 56.23(1)(b) (b) The total monthly payment amount to a foster parent under par. (a) 1., 2., and 3. is subject to a maximum determined by the department.

DCF 56.23(1)(c) (c) A placing agency may not make a supplemental or exceptional payment or pay an initial clothing allowance for a child placed in a Level 1 foster home.

DCF 56.23 Note Note: See s. DCF 56.16 (2) (c) on licensing agency participation in rate determination.