Chapter DHS 61

DHS 61.30(1) (1) Purpose of rules. The following rules establish service standards for community developmental disabilities programs whether directly operated by counties or contracted from private providers. These service standards shall apply to each of the 16 services mandated by ch. 51, Stats., and contain the minimal requirements for each service.

DHS 61.30(1)(a) (a) For administrative purposes it is necessary to mesh the 16 services with the program elements used for reporting and budgeting for state grant-in-aid. In programming for individuals with developmental disabilities, the program elements of outpatient, day services, sheltered employment, transitional or community living, extended care and intervention are frequently referred to in relationship to the 16 required developmental disability services.

DHS 61.30(2) (2) Definitions. The following words and phrases have the designated meanings:

DHS 61.30(2)(a) (a) “Board” means a community services governing and policy making board of directors as established under s. 51.42, 51.437 or 46.23, Stats.

DHS 61.30(2)(b) (b) “Day care program” means comprehensive coordinated sets of services to the individual with a developmental disability in order to promote maturation and social development and skills in the areas of daily and community living and to provide an opportunity for the productive, constructive use of time. Day services programs are offered on a continuous basis for a routinely scheduled portion of a 24 hour day, in a non-residential setting.

DHS 61.30(2)(b)1. 1. Day services programs shall include day care and may include the additional developmental services of counseling, education, recreation, training, treatment, personal care, transportation and evaluation.

DHS 61.30(2)(b)2. 2. When any of these services are offered as part of an out-patient program, the appropriate standard shall apply.

DHS 61.30(2)(c) (c) “Department” unless qualified, means the department of health services.

DHS 61.30(2)(d) (d) “Director” means the program director appointed by the board or his or her designee.

DHS 61.30(2)(e) (e) “Extended care program” means the provision of food and lodging and medical or nursing care on a continuous 24 hour a day basis for individuals with developmental disabilities who are unable to live in a less restrictive setting. Extended care programs are available in Wisconsin centers for the developmentally disabled.

DHS 61.30(2)(e)1. 1. Extended care programs shall include domiciliary care and any of the additional developmental disabilities services as needed by the person.

DHS 61.30(2)(e)2. 2. The appropriate standard shall apply.

DHS 61.30(2)(f) (f) “Intervention program” means programs designed to identify individuals with developmental disabilities in need of services and to assist them in obtaining the appropriate service.

DHS 61.30(2)(f)1. 1. Intervention programs may include information and referral, follow along, counseling, recreation and transportation.

DHS 61.30(2)(g) (g) “Outpatient program” means intermittent non-residential services in order to halt, ameliorate, or remove a developmental disability or a condition which aggravates a developmental disability in order to promote more effective functioning. Outpatient services may occur on a single contact basis or on a schedule of routine short visits over an extended period of time.

DHS 61.30(2)(g)1. 1. Outpatient programs may include the developmental disabilities services of diagnosis, evaluation, counseling, education, recreation, training, treatment, personal care and transportation.

DHS 61.30(2)(g)2. 2. When any of these services are offered as part of an out-patient program, the appropriate standard shall apply.

DHS 61.30(2)(h) (h) “Rule” means a standard statement of policy or general order, including any amendment or repeal of general application and having the effect of law.

DHS 61.30(2)(i) (i) “Sheltered employment program”, means non-competitive remunerative employment and other necessary support services for individuals who are presently unemployable in the competitive labor market.

DHS 61.30(2)(i)1. 1. Sheltered employment programs shall include sheltered employment services or work activity services and may include the additional developmental disabilities services of counseling, education, recreation, training, personal care, transportation and evaluation.

DHS 61.30(2)(i)2. 2. When any of these services are offered as part of a sheltered employment program, the appropriate standard shall apply.

DHS 61.30(2)(j) (j) “Transitional or community living program”, means non-medical, non-institutional, partially independent living situations for individuals with developmental disabilities which may provide food, lodging and appropriate support services to facilitate social development and independence and skills in areas of daily and community living.

DHS 61.30(2)(j)1. 1. Transitional and community living programs shall include special living arrangements and may include the additional developmental disabilities services of counseling, education, recreation, training, personal care, transportation and evaluation.

DHS 61.30(2)(j)2. 2. When any of these services are offered as part of a transitional or community living program, the appropriate standard shall apply.

DHS 61.30(3) (3) Family involvement in service provision. The service providers shall keep the family closely informed of service plans and services provided to the person with a developmental disability. For the purposes of these 16 service standards the phrase “. . . the person with a developmental disability and the family . . .” means that the family will receive information, counseling or assistance if appropriate and as follows:

DHS 61.30(3)(a) (a) The parents or legal guardian shall be included in all matters related to a person who has not attained majority.

DHS 61.30(3)(b) (b) The legal guardian shall be included in all matters related to his or her ward in which the court had adjudicated the ward incompetent and the guardian legally responsible.

DHS 61.30(3)(c) (c) The family or advocate of an adult with a developmental disability shall be involved at the request of the individual.

DHS 61.30 History History: Cr. Register, January, 1980, No. 289, eff. 2-1-80; correction in (2) (c) made under s. 13.92 (4) (b) 6., Stats., Register November 2008 No. 635.

DHS 61.31 DHS 61.31 Information and referral services. Information and referral services provide a current complete listing of resources available to the person with a developmental disability. This information shall be cataloged and readily available to the person with a developmental disability, the professional serving the person with a developmental disability and other interested people.

DHS 61.31(1) (1) Required personnel. There shall be a person responsible for the information and referral service who shall have the skills and knowledge that would typically be acquired through a course of study leading to a bachelor’s degree in one of the social service fields and one year of experience in human services or graduate education specializing in information services. This person shall have demonstrated knowledge of the local service delivery system as well as the resources available outside of the local system.

DHS 61.31(2) (2) Program.

DHS 61.31(2)(a) (a) The information and referral services shall solicit, catalog and disseminate information on all resources available to meet the needs of people with developmental disabilities. All information shall be disseminated in an unbiased manner. When necessary, individuals will be assisted in obtaining services in cooperation with the developmental disabilities follow-along services.

DHS 61.31(2)(b) (b) Whenever possible this service shall be coordinated with the information and referral activities of the other disability areas of the boards and other public agencies providing information and referral services.

DHS 61.31(2)(c) (c) Each information and referral service shall have a written plan which describes its method of operation.

DHS 61.31(2)(d) (d) Each information and referral service shall maintain the following information on all inquiries:

DHS 61.31(2)(d)1. 1. Mode of inquiry—personal visit, letter, phone call, and so forth.

DHS 61.31(2)(d)2. 2. From whom inquiry was received—consumer, professional, and so forth.

DHS 61.31(2)(d)3. 3. Type of information or referral needed.

DHS 61.31(2)(d)4. 4. Developmental disability for which information or referral was requested.

DHS 61.31(2)(d)5. 5. The effectiveness of the referrals.

DHS 61.31(2)(e) (e) There shall be an internal annual review of par. (d) to ascertain where this service can be improved. Data that appears to point to gaps or weaknesses in community services shall be forwarded in writing to the board for consideration in the planning and budgeting process.

DHS 61.31(2)(f) (f) Each information and referral services shall develop and implement a written plan for continuous, internal evaluation of the effectiveness of its program.

DHS 61.31 History History: Cr. Register, January, 1980, No. 289, eff. 2-1-80.

DHS 61.32 DHS 61.32 Follow-along services. Follow-along services establish and maintain a relationship with a person with a developmental disability and the family for the purpose of assuring that the needs of a person with a developmental disability are identified and met. Follow-along services shall establish a catchment area system of case management which shall coordinate services to a person with a developmental disability whether that person receives services from one or many agencies.

DHS 61.32(1) (1) Required personnel. There shall be a case manager who has the skills and knowledges that would be typically acquired through a course of study leading to a degree in a human services related field, and at least 2 years experience in developmental disabilities. This person shall be knowledgeable concerning the service delivery system and the resources available to the individual with a developmental disability. The case manager shall be responsible to the director of the board, or if contracted, to the director of the contracted agency.

DHS 61.32(2) (2) Program.

DHS 61.32(2)(a) (a) There shall be a system of case management which coordinates all services to people with developmental disabilities within the respective board catchment area.

DHS 61.32(2)(b) (b) The board or the agency contracted for follow-along service shall develop a written plan to inform all people known to have a developmental disability and their family of the follow-along service as it relates to:

DHS 61.32(2)(b)1. 1. The obligation of the case manager in the development and supervision of a comprehensive, individualized service plan.

DHS 61.32(2)(b)2. 2. The availability of this service to people with a developmental disability on a life-long basis, regardless of the need for other service elements.

DHS 61.32(2)(c) (c) The case manager shall be responsible for the development, coordination and implementation of a service plan for each individual receiving services other than information and referral, diagnosis, and transportation. This service plan shall be developed as specified under s. DHS 61.34 evaluation service.

DHS 61.32(2)(d) (d) The case manager shall coordinate, his or her effort with the information and referral service to assist people with a developmental disability in obtaining a service they need which does or does not exist within the board mandate.

DHS 61.32(2)(e) (e) The case manager shall provide an annual written summary to the director on each person who receives only follow-along service.

DHS 61.32 History History: Cr. Register, January, 1980, No. 289, eff. 2-1-80; correction in (2) (c) made under s. 13.93 (2m) (b) 7, Stats., July, 2000, No. 535; correction in (2) (c) made under s. 13.93 (2m) (b) 7., Stats., Register, June, 2001, No. 546.

DHS 61.33 DHS 61.33 Diagnostic services. Diagnostic services are medical services, to identify the presence of a developmental disability.

DHS 61.33(1) (1) Required personnel.

DHS 61.33(1)(a) (a) Diagnosis shall be performed by a physician. Whenever possible the physician shall be a specialist in developmental disorders.

DHS 61.33(1)(b) (b) There shall be additional personnel as necessary to meet the diagnostic needs of the individual.

DHS 61.33(2) (2) Program.

DHS 61.33(2)(a) (a) Diagnosis shall be provided when the person enters the service delivery system, if this has not already been completed, and periodically thereafter when changes in functioning indicate that a person’s eligibility for services should be reassessed.

DHS 61.33(2)(b) (b) The diagnosis shall include a physical assessment and may include a psychological assessment and a social history if they relate to the person’s developmental disability.

DHS 61.33(2)(c) (c) A written report on the type and degree of an individual’s developmental disability shall be made to the director within 30 days after the referral for service has been made.

DHS 61.33(2)(d) (d) The written report shall be available to the service providers on a need to know basis as specified in s. 51.30, Stats.

DHS 61.33 History History: Cr. Register, January, 1980, No. 289, eff. 2-1-80.

DHS 61.34 DHS 61.34 Evaluation services. Evaluation services are the systematic assessment of pertinent physical, psychological, vocational, educational, cultural, social, familial, economic, legal, environmental, mobility, and other factors affecting the individual with a developmental disability in order to develop a comprehensive service plan. Evaluation services shall include the initial formal evaluation as well as a mechanism for review and modification of the service plan.

DHS 61.34(1) (1) Required personnel.

DHS 61.34(1)(a) (a) There shall be a case manager who acts as coordinator.

DHS 61.34(1)(b) (b) There shall be additional personnel as necessary to meet the evaluation needs of the individual. The evaluation shall, as needed, include assessments of a physician, psychologist, dentist, optometrist, speech pathologist, audiologist, professional vocational specialist, social worker, physical therapist, occupational therapist, nurse, or teacher.

DHS 61.34(1)(c) (c) The person shall be actively involved in the evaluation process and family members, advocates or guardians of the individual shall be included if appropriate.

DHS 61.34(1)(d) (d) In conjunction with the implementation of the service plan, staff within agencies shall be designated to provide continuous evaluation of a person’s performance within a service or activity.

DHS 61.34(2) (2) Program.

DHS 61.34(2)(a) (a) The case manager shall be responsible for coordinating the formal evaluation. The formal evaluation shall, as needed, include personnel who are able to provide a systematic interdisciplinary assessment of physical, psychological, vocational, educational, cultural, social, economic, legal, environmental, familial, mobility, and other characteristics affecting the person with a developmental disability.

DHS 61.34(2)(b) (b) A person shall receive a formal evaluation within 30 days of the referral for evaluation services.

DHS 61.34(2)(c) (c) All or portions of evaluations done by local or state agencies such as local schools, centers for the developmentally disabled, division of vocational rehabilitation (DVR) or technical college system which are less than one year old shall be reviewed.

DHS 61.34(2)(d) (d) The case manager shall ensure that a written report is prepared which shall contain:

DHS 61.34(2)(d)1. 1. Recommendations on the nature and scope of services needed to correct or minimize the disabling condition or conditions and those services needed to promote or enhance the individual’s total strengths and assets.

DHS 61.34(2)(d)2. 2. The extent to which the disability limits, or can be expected to limit, the individual and how and to what extent the disabling condition or conditions may be corrected or minimized.

DHS 61.34(2)(f) (f) The case manager shall be responsible for the development of a service plan based upon the reports of the evaluators. The service plan shall be developed in cooperation with the individual and the family. The service plan shall state long and short-term objectives for the individual, services needed to meet objectives and a timetable for their attainment. The service plan shall also include agency case plans which shall contain outcome oriented, measurable objectives and a timetable for their attainment. It shall specify the types of activities in which the person shall participate and the activities shall be appropriate to the age as well as the functional level of the individual.

DHS 61.34(2)(g) (g) The case manager shall coordinate the implementation of the service plan and shall review the agencies case plans and the written progress notes of the agency staff concerning the individual’s progress toward the objectives contained in the service plan at least every 6 months.

DHS 61.34(2)(h) (h) There shall be continuous evaluation which shall be the responsibility of the case manager and agency staff. As part of the continuous evaluation, the case manager shall hold at least an annual review of the service plan. This review shall include the individual, those persons responsible for providing services to the individual, and the family. Any of the people involved in the original assessment, may be included. The case manager shall ensure that a written summary report of the annual review is prepared.

DHS 61.34(2)(i) (i) The case manager shall be responsible for coordinating formal re-evaluations of the individual based upon the recommendations from the annual review.

DHS 61.34(2)(j) (j) The case manager shall be responsible for modifying the service plan based upon any significant change in the person’s functioning and shall coordinate the implementation of the revised service plan.

DHS 61.34 History History: Cr. Register, January, 1980, No. 289, eff. 2-1-80; correction in (6) made under s. 13.93 (2m) (b) 6., Stats., Register, June, 1995, No 474.

DHS 61.35 DHS 61.35 Counseling services. Counseling services provide professional guidance based on knowledge of human behavior through the use of interpersonal skills to achieve specified goals.

DHS 61.35(1) (1) Personnel.

DHS 61.35(1)(a) (a) The individual providing counseling services, except in the areas of medical and legal counseling, shall have the skills and knowledges that would be typically acquired through a course of study leading to a master’s degree in one of the behavioral sciences and one year of training or experience in the specific area in which counseling is being offered.

DHS 61.35(1)(b) (b) Medical counseling shall be provided by a licensed physician or a registered professional nurse in accord with the Professional Practice Act, and legal counseling shall be provided by a licensed attorney. Non-medical or non-legal counselors shall inform the person with a developmental disability and the family of what the statutes provide and the interpretations provided by administrative rules and guidelines in the legal and medical areas.

DHS 61.35(2) (2) Program.