Ch. DCF 57 NoteNote: Ch. HSS 57 was renumbered to ch. HFS 57 under 13.93 (2m) (b) 1., Stats. and corrections made under s. 13.93 (2m) (b) 6. and 7., Stats., Register, December, 1999, No. 528; Chapter HFS 57 as it existed on December 31, 2005, was repealed and a new chapter HFS 57 was created Register September 2005 No. 597, eff. 1-1-06. Chapter HFS 57 was renumbered to chapter DCF 57 under s. 13.92 (4) (b) 1., Stats., Register November 2008 No. 635.

DCF 57.01DCF 57.01 Authority and purpose. This chapter is promulgated under the authority of s. 48.67, Stats., to carry out licensing duties authorized under s. 48.66, Stats., and the authority of s. 49.343, Stats., to establish the per client rate that a group home may charge for its services. The purpose of this chapter is to protect and promote the health, safety and welfare of children placed in group homes and promote efficient provision of services.

DCF 57.01 HistoryHistory: CR 04-067: cr. Register September 2005 No. 597, eff. 1-1-06; EmR1106: emerg. am., eff. 9-16-11; CR 11-026: am. Register December 2011 No. 672, eff. 1-1-12.

DCF 57.015DCF 57.015 Compliance with administrative rules and laws. A person who is licensed under this chapter shall operate the group home in compliance with this chapter, the provisions of the license, and applicable state, federal, and local law.

DCF 57.02(1)(1) The department may grant an exception to a non-statutory requirement of this chapter if the department determines that the exception will not jeopardize the health, safety, or welfare of any child served by the group home.

DCF 57.02(2)(2) A request for an exception to a non-statutory rule requirement shall be made to the department on a form prescribed by the department and shall justify each reason for requesting an exception. The request shall also describe an alternative that meets the intent of the requirement.

DCF 57.02 NoteNote: Form DCF-F-5023-E, Child Welfare Request for Exception, is available in the forms section of the department website, http://dcf.wisconsin.gov. Requests for an exception should be sent to the field office listed in Appendix A that serves the group home.

DCF 57.02 HistoryHistory: CR 04-067: cr. Register September 2005 No. 597, eff. 1-1-06; EmR1414: emerg. am. (2), eff. 8-1-14; CR 14-054: am. (2) Register April 2015 No. 712, eff. 5-1-15.

DCF 57.04(1)(1) “Age or developmentally appropriate activities” means activities that are generally accepted as suitable for children of a given chronological age or level of maturity or that are determined to be developmentally appropriate for a child based on the cognitive, emotional, physical, and behavioral capacities that are typical for children of a given age or age group or, in the case of a specific resident, activities that are suitable for the resident based on the cognitive, emotional, physical, and behavioral capacities of that resident.

DCF 57.04(1m)(1m) “Agency-operated group home” means a group home for which the licensee is a public agency other than the department.

DCF 57.04(2)(2) “Background information disclosure form” means the department form on which a person provides certain information concerning the person’s background.

DCF 57.04 NoteNote: DCF-F-2978-E, Background Information Disclosure, is available in the forms section of the department’s website at http://dcf.wisconsin.gov or from the filed office listed in Appendix A that serves the group home.

DCF 57.04(3)(3) “Behavior intervention” means any containment, management or treatment technique or procedure used to intervene in a resident’s behavior when that behavior poses a clear and present danger of serious physical harm to the resident or to others.

DCF 57.04(4)(4) “Caregiver” has the meaning given in s. 48.685 (1) (ag), Stats.

DCF 57.04(5)(5) “Caregiver background check” means the search required by s. 48.685 (2), Stats.

DCF 57.04(6)(6) “Child” is a person who is under 21 years of age and is under juvenile court jurisdiction or other court order, is being provided services by a child welfare or juvenile justice agency, or is placed under an agreement.