DCF 56.13(7)(e)4. 4. ‘Education or experience in human services.’ An applicant for a program manager position for a Level 5 foster home shall have at least one of the following:

DCF 56.13(7)(e)4.a. a. A 4-year college degree from an accredited college or university with a major in social work; sociology; special education; psychology; counseling and guidance; criminal justice; nursing, certified nursing assistant, or other health related field; education; or any other area in a human services field as approved by the department.

DCF 56.13(7)(e)4.b. b. Two years of supervised full-time work experience in an out-of-home care program or assisted living program with adults.

DCF 56.13(7)(e)4.c. c. Personal experience with a family member who has needs similar to the population to be served.

DCF 56.13(7)(e)5. 5. ‘Pre-placement training.’ A program manager for a Level 5 foster home shall complete a minimum of 40 hours of pre-placement training under s. DCF 56.14 (6p) before or after initial licensure but prior to the placement of any child in the home.

DCF 56.13(7)(e)6. 6. ‘Initial licensing training.’ A program manager for a Level 5 foster home shall complete a minimum of 30 hours of initial licensing training under s. DCF 56.14 (7s) during the initial licensing period.

DCF 56.13(7)(e)7. 7. ‘Ongoing training.’ A program manager for a Level 5 foster home shall complete a minimum of 24 hours of ongoing training under s. DCF 56.14 (8) in each 12-month period of licensure subsequent to the initial licensing period.

DCF 56.13(7)(f) (f) Program staff.

DCF 56.13(7)(f)1. 1. ‘Staff ratios.’ A Level 5 foster home shall have program staff in sufficient numbers to meet the following staff ratios:

DCF 56.13(7)(f)1.a. a. One program staff person for every 2 children during waking hours.

DCF 56.13(7)(f)1.b. b. One program staff person for every 4 children during sleeping hours.

DCF 56.13(7)(f)2. 2. ‘Ratios are minimum.’ A licensing, placing, or supervising agency or the department may require the number of program staff on duty to be higher than the minimum requirements in subd. 1. as necessary to meet the needs of the children placed and to ensure their safety and welfare.

DCF 56.13(7)(f)3. 3. ‘Responsibilities.’ Program staff shall be responsible for daily supervision of the children and direct care to the children to ensure their safety and well-being, including promoting normalcy under s. DCF 56.09 (2m).

DCF 56.13(7)(f)4. 4. ‘Qualifications.’ An applicant for a program staff position shall have at least one of the following qualifications:

DCF 56.13(7)(f)4.a. a. A bachelor or associates degree from an accredited college or university with a major in a field specified in par. (e) 4. a.

DCF 56.13(7)(f)4.b. b. Current enrollment in and regularly attending an accredited college or university with a major in a field specified in par. (e) 4. a.

DCF 56.13(7)(f)4.c. c. At least one year of full-time experience working in a formal program with the type of child population served by the Level 5 foster home where the applicant is applying for employment.

DCF 56.13(7)(f)4.d. d. Certification as a child and youth care worker under the standards of the Wisconsin Association of Child and Youth Care Professionals or other department-recognized certifying authority.

DCF 56.13 Note Note: A copy of the standards of the Wisconsin Association of Child and Youth Care Professionals can be obtained from the www.wacycp.org or 161 W. Wisconsin Avenue, Milwaukee, WI 53202; telephone [phone].

DCF 56.13(7)(f)4.e. e. Completion of a traineeship program in which program staff work with qualified, experienced program staff for at least the first 120 hours of employment before working independently with a child.

DCF 56.13 Note Note: This is an additional 40 hours to the 80 hours required under s. DCF 56.13 (7) (f) 10. b.

DCF 56.13(7)(f)5. 5. ‘Age.’ A program staff person who is hired or contracted for on or after January 1, 2011, shall be at least 21 years old.

DCF 56.13(7)(f)6. 6. ‘Hiring and employment.’ Before an applicant for a program staff position in a Level 5 foster home begins employment, the program manager shall do all of the following regarding the applicant:

DCF 56.13(7)(f)6.a. a. Conduct and document a background check pursuant to s. 48.685, Stats., and ch. DCF 12.

DCF 56.13(7)(f)6.b. b. Make a determination that the applicant has the capacity to successfully nurture and care for children and does not have a history of a civil action, criminal conviction, or administrative rule violation that substantially relates to the care of a child or a history of exercising unsound judgment or abuse of alcohol or drugs.

DCF 56.13 Note Note: For help in determining whether a civil action, criminal conviction, or administrative rule violation is substantially related to the care of children, consult s. DCF 12.06.

DCF 56.13(7)(f)6.c. c. Make a determination that the applicant has not had a license to operate a foster home, group home, or residential care center for children and youth revoked or denied within the last 2 years.

DCF 56.13(7)(f)6.d. d. Obtain favorable references from at least 3 non-relatives, with documentation by letter or by notes of a verbal contact. Documentation shall include how long the person giving the reference has known the applicant, under what circumstances the person knows the applicant, and the person’s knowledge of the applicant’s qualifications.

DCF 56.13(7)(f)7. 7. ‘Health exam.’ Upon hire and before working with residents, a program manager shall require each program staff person to have a tuberculosis test and provide a statement from a physician, physician assistant, or a HealthCheck provider that the program staff person meets the minimum physical requirements of the position, is in general good health, and does not have a communicable disease. The statement shall be based on a medical examination performed within the previous 6 months.