Chapter DCF 59

DCF 59.055 Note Note: For example, only a parent or guardian can make decisions about a child’s individualized educational program under s. 115.787, Stats.

DCF 59.055(5)(h) (h) Require or prohibit a child’s participation in an age or developmentally appropriate activity solely for convenience or personal reasons not applicable to the decision-making factors in sub. (4).

DCF 59.055(6) (6) Policies and procedures. The shelter care facility shall have policies and procedures on how the facility complies with the requirements of the reasonable and prudent parent standard, including all of the following:

DCF 59.055(6)(a) (a) How the communication log under s. DCF 59.057 will be used to inform different shifts of shelter care workers and RPPS decision makers of reasonable and prudent parenting requests and decisions made for a child under this section for activities that do not take place in the shelter care facility and are not supervised by a shelter care worker, relief help, volunteer, or unit supervisor.

DCF 59.055(6)(b) (b) How information on a child on the forms under s. DCF 59.07 (1) (a) will be used to make reasonable and prudent parenting decisions for a child under this section.

DCF 59.055(6)(c) (c) How the shelter care facility will ensure the presence on-site of at least one RPPS decision maker at all times.

DCF 59.055(6)(d) (d) A process for annually reviewing the parameters and requirements of the reasonable and prudent parent standard, in conjunction with facility’s corresponding policies and procedures.

DCF 59.055 Note Note: DCF-F-5123-E, Reasonable and Prudent Parent Standard Review, is an optional form that a shelter care facility may use to assist with the annual review. The form is available in the forms section of the department website at http://dcf.wisconsin.gov or by writing the Division of Safety and Permanence, P.O. Box 8916, Madison, WI 53708-8916.

DCF 59.055 History History: EmR1633: emerg. cr., eff. 11-18-16; CR 16-051: cr. Register July 2017 No. 739, eff. 8-1-17.

DCF 59.057 DCF 59.057 Communication log.

DCF 59.057(1) (1) A shelter care facility shall require each shift of shelter care workers and RPPS decision makers to use a communication log to document and communicate with other shelter care workers and RPPS decision makers about children whom they supervise in common. The communication log shall include all of the following for each shift:

DCF 59.057(1)(a) (a) Each child’s location and behavior.

DCF 59.057(1)(b) (b) Significant incidents involving a child.

DCF 59.057(1)(c) (c) Reasonable and prudent parenting all requests and decisions made for children under s. DCF 59.055 for activities that do not take place in the shelter care facility and are not supervised by a shelter care worker, relief help, volunteer, or unit supervisor.

DCF 59.057(1)(d) (d) Staff arrival and departure times.

DCF 59.057(2) (2) A shelter care facility may designate units within the facility and require shelter care workers and RPPS decision makers to use a separate communication log in each unit.

DCF 59.057(3) (3) A shelter care facility shall have policies and procedures that ensure clear communication between shelter care workers and RPPS decision makers on one shift and shelter care workers and RPPS decision makers who supervise the same children on the next shift. The policies and procedures shall specify the types of significant incidents that are required to be documented in the communication log under sub. (1) (b).

DCF 59.057 History History: EmR1633: emerg. cr., eff. 11-18-16; CR 16-051: cr. Register July 2017 No. 739, eff. 8-1-17.

DCF 59.06 DCF 59.06 Physical plant and environment.

DCF 59.06(1) (1) Applicability. This section applies to all shelter care facilities except that only subs. (2), (4) (c), (5) (b) to (g), (j) and (k), (7) (c), (8) (d), (10) (g), (13) to (18), (19) (a), (20) and (21) (d) apply to hold-over rooms.

DCF 59.06(2) (2) Building site location. In the judgment of the department, the location of the facility shall be related to the program offered and age, sex, needs and interest levels of the residents. Factors to be considered in determining the acceptability of the location shall include: access to educational, recreational, religious, shopping, and cultural opportunities; health resources; access to public or private utilities and services such as safe water supply, sewage disposal, fire and police protection.

DCF 59.06(3) (3) General building requirements. The shelter care facility and grounds shall be maintained in a clean, safe and sanitary condition and a good state of repair.

DCF 59.06(4) (4) Space requirements.

DCF 59.06(4)(a) (a) There shall be at least 200 square feet of living space for each resident of the facility. “Living space” excludes unfinished basements, attics, garages, or similar areas not usually occupied by residents in daily living.

DCF 59.06(4)(b) (b) There shall be at least 55 square feet of floor space in a bedroom designed for only one child, 50 square feet of floor space for each child in a bedroom occupied by 2 children and 45 square feet of floor space for each child in a bedroom occupied by 3 or 4 children.

DCF 59.06(4)(c) (c) A hold-over room licensed for the first time on or after January 1, 1994 shall have at least 60 square feet of living space for one occupant and at least 100 square feet of living space for 2 occupants.

DCF 59.06(5) (5) Bedrooms.

DCF 59.06(5)(a) (a) Regular sleeping provisions for children shall not be in any building, apartment, or other structure which is separate from the shelter care facility.

DCF 59.06(5)(b) (b) Children shall not be permitted to sleep in an unfinished attic, in an unfinished basement, or in a hall or any other room which is normally used for other than sleeping purposes.

DCF 59.06(5)(c) (c) Children with handicaps limiting mobility shall not be permitted to sleep in finished basement rooms or in bedrooms above the second floor.

DCF 59.06 Note Note: “Handicaps limiting mobility” means any mental, developmental, or physical disability which restricts the child’s mobility or ability to function without supervision.

DCF 59.06(5)(d) (d) Children shall not be permitted to sleep in finished basement rooms unless provisions have been made for heating, ventilation and humidity control and there are 2 means of exit from the basement, at least one of which will open to the outside.

DCF 59.06(5)(e) (e) Children shall not be permitted to sleep in bedrooms above the second floor of a one or 2 family dwelling unless provisions have been made for heating and ventilation and there are at least 2 means of exit to grade level.

DCF 59.06(5)(f) (f) No child in shelter care shall be required to sleep in a bed with an adult.

DCF 59.06(5)(g) (g) No child in shelter care shall be permitted to share a bedroom with a child of the opposite sex.

DCF 59.06(5)(h) (h) No more than 4 children shall occupy any bedroom.

DCF 59.06(5)(i) (i) Children of the shelter care workers shall not be displaced and permitted to occupy sleeping quarters not acceptable for shelter care children except as indicated in other sections of these rules.

DCF 59.06(5)(j) (j) No child in shelter care shall be required to share a bedroom with a shelter care worker or a hold-over room attendant.

DCF 59.06(5)(k) (k) During sleeping hours a shelter care worker or relief help or, for a hold-over room, a hold-over room attendant, shall be within call of the child or children.

DCF 59.06(6) (6) Areas.

DCF 59.06(6)(a) (a) There shall be a quiet area in the home suitable for study, or simply being alone.

DCF 59.06(6)(b) (b) Space shall be provided where children may receive and talk with visitors privately.

DCF 59.06(7) (7) Dining area.

DCF 59.06(7)(a) (a) In family and small group shelter facilities, dining facilities shall be such as to permit all members of the household to sit down to meals together.

DCF 59.06(7)(b) (b) In large group shelter facilities dining facilities shall be provided with sufficient space and equipment to serve all the residents.

DCF 59.06(7)(c) (c) The unit supervisor of a hold-over room shall arrange for nutritious meals for the occupant or occupants held in a hold-over room over a meal period or when the occupant or occupants have not had the most recent meal, and shall provide the occupant or occupants a snack between lunch and supper and at night before the occupant or occupants go to sleep.

DCF 59.06(8) (8) Bathroom.

DCF 59.06(8)(a) (a) The facility shall contain one complete bathroom including stool, washbowl, and tub or shower, for each 8 individuals residing there.

DCF 59.06(8)(b) (b) Bathroom facilities shall be within the facility and within one floor of sleeping room occupied by children.

DCF 59.06(8)(c) (c) In large group shelter facilities separate bathroom facilities shall be provided for both sexes if the facility is co-educational.

DCF 59.06(8)(d) (d) A hold-over room shall have bathroom facilities available on the premises that are accessible at any time to a child placed in the hold-over room.

DCF 59.06(9) (9) Indoor recreation area. Indoor recreation equipment and space appropriate to the age and interest levels of children shall be provided.

DCF 59.06(10) (10) Furnishings.

DCF 59.06(10)(a) (a) The living area shall be adequately furnished and allow for free and informal use by the children.

DCF 59.06(10)(b) (b) Each child in shelter care shall be provided with a separate bed except that siblings of the same sex may share a double bed.

DCF 59.06(10)(c) (c) Each bed shall be of such size as to ensure comfort of the child, be in good condition, have a clean and comfortable mattress with waterproof covering when necessary, and be provided with a pillow, 2 sheets, bedspread and blankets adequate for the season.

DCF 59.06(10)(d) (d) All sheets and pillow cases shall be changed at least once a week, more often if necessary and when the bed is occupied by a new resident.

DCF 59.06(10)(e) (e) Triple decker bunks shall not be used.

DCF 59.06(10)(f) (f) An adequate supply of clean wash cloths, and bath towels shall be available to each child.

DCF 59.06(10)(g) (g) A hold-over room shall have a table. The hold-over room shall also have a chair for each occupant. Where necessary, comfortable sleeping accommodations shall be provided for each occupant.

DCF 59.06(11) (11) Kitchen.

DCF 59.06(11)(a) (a) The kitchen shall be of adequate size and equipped with adequate household appliances and utensils to meet the needs of residents.

DCF 59.06(11)(b) (b) Dishes, silverware, utensils and food shall be maintained and stored in clean and sanitary manner.

DCF 59.06(12) (12) Laundry.

DCF 59.06(12)(a) (a) Private or public laundry facilities shall be available to meet the needs of all residents.

DCF 59.06(12)(b) (b) Any laundry equipment in the facility shall be installed and vented in accordance with the manufacturer’s recommendations.

DCF 59.06(13) (13) Storage space.

DCF 59.06(13)(a) (a) The shelter care facilities shall have sufficient storage space to accommodate, within reason, each child’s clothing and other belongings.

DCF 59.06(13)(b) (b) All medicines shall be labeled and stored in a locked compartment designated for this use only except that medicines requiring refrigeration shall be properly stored and clearly labeled. All outdated medicines shall be destroyed.

DCF 59.06(13)(c) (c) Provisions shall be made for the safe storage of potentially dangerous items.

DCF 59.06(14) (14) Telephone. A telephone shall be provided with emergency instructions posted nearby for fire, police and medical assistance. A telephone in a locked room or requiring payment to reach the operator shall not satisfy this requirement.

DCF 59.06(15) (15) Emergency equipment. Each shelter care facility shall have first aid supplies readily available.

DCF 59.06(16) (16) Heating.

DCF 59.06(16)(a) (a) The shelter care facility shall provide a heating system which is capable of maintaining a temperature in living and sleeping quarters of at least 68°F.

DCF 59.06(16)(b) (b) The heating unit shall be maintained in a safe condition as determined through an annual check by a qualified individual acceptable to the department.

DCF 59.06(16)(c) (c) Portable electric or unvented space heaters shall not be permitted.

DCF 59.06(17) (17) Electric system. Electrical systems and appliances shall be in good repair and properly protected.

DCF 59.06(18) (18) Sanitation.

DCF 59.06(18)(a) (a) All regularly opened windows and doors shall be properly screened.

DCF 59.06(18)(b) (b) The water supply shall be of safe, sanitary quality and shall be obtained from a water supply system and location, construction and operation of which shall comply with the standards approved by the department of natural resources. When water is obtained from a private well, its safety shall be determined by annual testing by a certified laboratory.

DCF 59.06(18)(c) (c) The shelter care facility shall be equipped with a water heater adequate to meet the needs of all residents.

DCF 59.06(18)(d) (d) All spoiled and deteriorated food products shall be disposed of immediately. All garbage while in the home shall be kept in non-combustible, watertight containers. Garbage shall be removed from the living quarters at least daily, except for those facilities using a garbage compactor, which shall establish a regular schedule for the removal of garbage.

DCF 59.06(19) (19) Light and ventilation.

DCF 59.06(19)(a) (a) All habitable rooms shall be provided with adequate light and ventilation.

DCF 59.06(19)(b) (b) All sleeping rooms occupied by children shall be rooms with an outside wall and an openable window.

DCF 59.06(19)(c) (c) All bath and toilet rooms shall be provided with an openable window or exhaust ventilation.

DCF 59.06(20) (20) Fire prevention and safety.

DCF 59.06(20)(a) (a) Habitable rooms on the second floor shall be provided with access to 2 exits, at least one of which shall be a stairway exit.

DCF 59.06 Note Note: A window shall be considered an “exit” if it and its screen or storm window is openable from the inside without the use of tools, not less than 22 inches in the smallest dimension, at least 5 square feet in area and with a lower sill not more than 4 feet from the floor.