Chapter DCF 56

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.

DCF 56.23(2) (2) Supplemental payments. A placing agency shall make a supplemental payment to a foster parent for a child’s special needs. The placing agency shall determine the amount of a supplemental payment based on the total under the following:

DCF 56.23(2)(a) (a) Identified needs and strengths.

DCF 56.23(2)(a)1. 1. On a form prescribed by the department, the placing agency shall use information obtained using the standardized assessment tool to rate the child under s. DCF 56.22 (4) (c) relative to what is developmentally appropriate for a child of a similar age in the following areas:

DCF 56.23(2)(a)1.a. a. Adjustment to trauma.

DCF 56.23(2)(a)1.b. b. Life functioning, including physical, mental, and dental health; relationships with family members; and social skills.

DCF 56.23(2)(a)1.c. c. Functioning in a child care or school setting.

DCF 56.23(2)(a)1.d. d. Behavioral and emotional needs.

DCF 56.23(2)(a)1.e. e. Risk behaviors.

DCF 56.23(2)(a)1.f. f. Child’s language.

DCF 56.23(2)(a)1.g. g. Strengths.

DCF 56.23(2)(a)2. 2. For points that have been assigned in the areas under subd. 1., the placing agency shall add the total points that represent all of the following:

DCF 56.23(2)(a)2.a. a. A child’s need that has a rating of 2 indicating there is a presence of a moderate special need.

DCF 56.23(2)(a)2.b. b. A child’s need that has a rating of a 3 indicating there is a presence of an intensive special need.

DCF 56.23(2)(a)2.c. c. A child’s strength that has a rating of 2 that indicates an identified strength.

DCF 56.23(2)(a)2.d. d. A child’s strength that has a rating of 3 that indicates no strength has been identified.

DCF 56.23(2)(a)3. 3. A placing agency shall make a supplemental payment under this paragraph that is a dollar amount determined by the department multiplied by the total points determined under subd. 2.

DCF 56.23(2)(b) (b) Level of care higher than level of need. A placing agency shall make a supplemental payment under this paragraph that is an amount determined by the department if a foster home’s level of care certification is higher than the level of need of a child placed in the foster home and the foster home has a Level 3 or 4 certification.

DCF 56.23(3) (3) Exceptional payment.

DCF 56.23(3)(a) (a) A placing agency may make an exceptional payment to a foster parent to accomplish any of the following:

DCF 56.23(3)(a)1. 1. Enable the child to be placed or remain in a foster home instead of being placed or remaining in a more restrictive setting.

DCF 56.23(3)(a)2. 2. Enable the placement of siblings or minor parent and minor children together.

DCF 56.23(3)(a)3. 3. Assist with transportation costs to the school the child was attending prior to placement in out-of-home care.

DCF 56.23(3)(a)4. 4. Replace a child’s basic wardrobe that has been lost or destroyed in a manner other than normal wear and tear.

DCF 56.23(3)(a)5. 5. For a child placed in a foster home before February 21, 2011, and who remains placed in that foster home, equalize the total payment amount lost by the child’s foster parent due to implementation of the method of determining supplemental payments in sub. (2).

DCF 56.23(3)(b) (b) A placing agency may determine the frequency and amount of an exceptional payment necessary to meet one or more purposes in par. (a), provided no total monthly payment to the foster parent exceeds the maximum amount determined by the department under sub. (1) (b).

DCF 56.23(4) (4) Initial clothing allowance.

DCF 56.23(4)(a) (a) A placing agency may pay an initial clothing allowance to a foster parent when a child is initially placed in foster care.

DCF 56.23(4)(b) (b) The amount of the initial clothing allowance shall be the actual cost of the clothing not to exceed a maximum determined by the department.

DCF 56.23(4)(c) (c) If a child is placed in foster care 120 days or more after a previous out-of-home care placement was terminated, the placement shall be considered an initial placement for the purpose of par. (a).

DCF 56.23 Note Note: See the department’s uniform foster care rate-setting policy and forms related to rates on the department’s website http://dcf.wisconsin.gov in the section on foster care program and services. The policy includes current information for all of the following:

DCF 56.23 Note 1. Total monthly maximum payment to a foster parent.

DCF 56.23 Note 2. Dollar amount that is multiplied by the total points of a child’s identified needs and strengths to determine the portion of a supplemental payment under sub. (2) (a).

DCF 56.23 Note 3. Dollar amount of the portion of a supplemental payment under sub. (2) (b) if a foster home’s level of care is higher than a child’s level of need.

DCF 56.23 Note 4. Maximum initial clothing allowance.

DCF 56.23(5) (5) Retainer fee. A placing agency may provide a monthly retainer fee to a foster parent to maintain openings in a foster home for emergency placements under ss. 48.205 and 938.205, Stats. This fee may not be considered part of the foster care payment for a specific child.

DCF 56.23 History History: EmR1050: emerg. cr., eff. 1-1-11; CR 10-148: cr. Register August 2011 No. 668, eff. 9-1-11.

Appendix A

Placement Complexity Chart Options

DCF 56.23 Note Note: A child in foster care can be served by a foster home with a certification lower than the child’s level of need if an exception has been granted and documented in the child’s electronic case record by the placing agency and the agency shows what services and supports will be provided to meet the child’s needs.

DCF 56.23 History History: EmR1050: emerg. cr., eff. 1-1-11; CR 10-148: cr. Register August 2011 No. 668, eff. 9-1-11.