DCF 56.22(5)(a)1. 1. To communicate information about the needs and strengths of the child and child’s family.

DCF 56.22(5)(a)2. 2. To assist with determining the child’s service needs and developing the child’s plan of care.

DCF 56.22(5)(a)3. 3. To determine a level of need of 1/2, 3, 4, 5, or 6 for the child.

DCF 56.22(5)(a)4. 4. To inform decisions regarding a placement at a level of care that is appropriate to meet the child’s level of need.

DCF 56.22(5)(a)5. 5. To evaluate the match between the knowledge, skills, and abilities of a foster parent and the needs and strengths of the child.

DCF 56.22(5)(a)6. 6. To assist in the development of services and supports needed for a specific child and foster parent to promote the stability of the placement.

DCF 56.22(5)(a)7. 7. To provide a mental health screen to all children entering foster care.

DCF 56.22(5)(a)8. 8. To determine any supplemental payments under s. DCF 56.23 (2).

DCF 56.22(5)(a)9. 9. To determine any supplemental payments for purposes of an adoption assistance agreement under s. 48.975, Stats., and ch. DCF 50.

DCF 56.22(5)(b) (b) A placing agency shall re-evaluate the appropriateness of a child’s placement, services provided to the child, and supplemental payments made to the foster parent following a reassessment of the child under sub. (3) (b).

DCF 56.22(6) (6) Matching and preplacement visits.

DCF 56.22(6)(a) (a) Matching the child and foster family. A placing agency may place a child in a foster home only after careful consideration is made on how well the prospective foster family will do all of the following:

DCF 56.22(6)(a)1. 1. Meet the child’s identified specific needs.

DCF 56.22(6)(a)2. 2. Address any concerns of the birth or adoptive parents.

DCF 56.22(6)(a)3. 3. Accomplish the goals of the child’s permanency plan.

DCF 56.22(6)(b) (b) Pre-placement interactions for placements in foster homes with a Level 3 to 5 certification. Before placing a child in a foster home with a Level 3 to 5 certification, the placing agency, supervising agency, and, if different, the licensing agency shall arrange for pre-placement, face-to-face interactions among the child, foster parent, and, if appropriate, the child’s family, unless the placement is an emergency under s. 48.205, 48.63, or 938.205, Stats.

DCF 56.22(7) (7) Placement in a foster home.

DCF 56.22(7)(a) (a) A placing agency, in accordance with a licensing agency, may place a child in a foster home that is certified to provide a given level of care if the child’s level of need is at or below the level of care that the foster home is certified to provide.

DCF 56.22(7)(b) (b) Notwithstanding par. (a), a placing agency may place a child with a level of need that is higher than the level of care that a foster home is certified to provide if the placing agency grants an exception and documents in the child’s electronic case record what services and supports will be provided to meet the child’s needs as identified in the assessment tool.

DCF 56.22(7)(c) (c) A child whose level of need is lower than 5 may not be placed in a Level 5 foster home, except for continuation of an existing placement during planning for the child’s transition to a less restrictive setting following a reassessment under sub. (3) (b).

DCF 56.22 Note Note: See Appendix A for the placement complexity chart that shows placement options based on a child’s level of need and a provider’s level of care.

DCF 56.22 History History: EmR1050: emerg. cr., eff. 1-1-11; CR 10-148: cr. Register August 2011 No. 668, eff. 9-1-11.

DCF 56.23 DCF 56.23 Supplemental payments, exceptional payments, initial clothing allowance, and retainer fee.

DCF 56.23(1) (1) Coverage.

DCF 56.23(1)(a) (a) A placing agency shall determine the amount of any payment made directly to a foster parent for the care and maintenance of a foster child under one or more of the following:

DCF 56.23(1)(a)1. 1. Basic maintenance payments established under s. 48.62 (4), Stats.

DCF 56.23(1)(a)2. 2. Supplemental payments under sub. (2).

DCF 56.23(1)(a)3. 3. Exceptional payments under sub. (3).

DCF 56.23(1)(a)4. 4. Initial clothing allowance under sub. (4).