DHS 34.11(2)(a)(a) Only psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers and other mental health personnel who are qualified under s. DHS 34.21 (3) (b) 1. to 15. may be assigned to emergency duty. Staff qualified under s. DHS 34.21 (3) (b) 16. to 19. may be included as part of a mobile crisis team if another team member is qualified under s. DHS 34.21 (3) (b) 1. to 15.

DHS 34.11(2)(b)(b) Telephone emergency service may be provided by volunteers after they are carefully selected for aptitude and after a period of orientation and with provision for inservice training.

DHS 34.11(2)(c)(c) A regular staff member of the program shall be available to provide assistance to volunteers at all times.

DHS 34.11(2)(d)(d) Medical, preferably psychiatric, consultation shall be available to all staff members at all times.

DHS 34.11(3)(a)(a) Emergency services shall be available 24 hours a day and 7 days a week.

DHS 34.11(3)(b)(b) A program shall operate a 24-hour crisis telephone service staffed by mental health professionals or paraprofessionals, or by trained mental health volunteers backed up by mental health professionals. The crisis telephone service shall have a published telephone number, and that number shall be widely disseminated to community agencies and the public.

DHS 34.11(3)(c)(c) A program shall provide face to face contact for crisis intervention. Face to face contact for crisis intervention may be provided as a function of the county’s outpatient program during regular hours of outpatient program operation, with an on-call system for face-to-face contact for crisis intervention at all other times. A program shall have the capability of making home visits or seeing patients at other off-headquarter locations, and shall have the resources to carry out on-site interventions when this is clinically desirable. A program may use telehealth in conjunction with in-person services.

DHS 34.11(3)(d)(d) When appropriate, emergency service staff may transfer clients to other county mental health programs.

DHS 34.11 HistoryHistory: Cr. Register, September, 1996, No. 489, eff. 10-1-96; correction in (2) (a) made under s. 13.93 (2m) (b) 7., Stats., Register October 2004 No. 586; CR 23-053: am. (3) (c) Register September 2023 No. 813, eff. 10-1-23.

subch. III of ch. DHS 34Subchapter III — Standards for Emergency Service Programs Eligible for Medical Assistance Program or Other Third Party Reimbursement

DHS 34.20(1)(1) A county may operate or contract for the operation of an emergency mental health services program that is eligible for medical assistance program reimbursement or eligible for third-party payments under policies governed by s. 632.89, Stats.

DHS 34.20(2)(2) An emergency mental health services program eligible for medical assistance program reimbursement or eligible for third-party payments under policies governed by s. 632.89, Stats., that is operated by a county or under contract for a county shall comply with subch. I and this subchapter.

DHS 34.21(1)(a)(a) An emergency mental health services program shall have written personnel policies.

DHS 34.21(1)(b)(b) A program shall maintain written documentation of employee qualifications and shall make that information available upon request for review by clients and their guardians or parents, where guardian or parent consent is required for treatment, and by the department.

DHS 34.21(2)(a)(a) Each employee shall have the ability and emotional stability to carry out his or her assigned duties.

DHS 34.21(2)(b)1.1. An applicant for employment shall provide references regarding professional abilities from at least 2 people and, if requested by the program, references or transcripts from any post secondary educational institution attended and employment history reports or recommendations from prior employers.

DHS 34.21(2)(b)2.2. References and recommendations shall be documented either by letter or in a signed and dated record of a verbal contact.

DHS 34.21(2)(c)(c) A program shall review and investigate application information carefully to determine whether employment of the individual is in the best interests of the program’s clients. This shall include a check of relevant and available conviction records. Subject to ss. 111.322 and 111.335, Stats., an individual may not have a conviction record.

DHS 34.21 NoteNote: See s. 165.82, Stats., relating to the fee charged by the Wisconsin department of justice for a criminal records check.

DHS 34.21(2)(d)(d) A program shall confirm an applicant’s current professional licensure or certification if that licensure or certification is a condition of employment.