Wisconsin Administrative Code
Department of Children and Families
DCF 021-99 - Safety and Permanence
Chapter DCF 56 - Foster Home Care For Children
Section DCF 56.14 - Foster parent training

Universal Citation: WI Admin Code ยง DCF 56.14

Current through August 26, 2024

(1) PURPOSES. This section implements s. 48.67(4), Stats., which requires all foster parents to successfully complete training in the care and support needs of children who are placed in foster care that has been approved by the department. The purposes of foster parent training are to:

(a) Improve the quality of care provided to children who live in foster or adoptive homes.

(b) Prepare foster and adoptive families to care for and provide stability for foster children in their homes.

(c) Promote communication, respect, and understanding among all involved parties, with a focus on working for the best interests of the foster child.

(d) Provide opportunities to foster parents to mutually explore their values, strengths, limitations, and needs as they relate to compatibility with foster and adoptive children.

(e) Develop an understanding of the child welfare system and the importance of permanency for children.

(f) Encourage foster and adoptive parent networking and the use of resources.

(2) ADVISORY COMMITTEE. A statewide advisory committee appointed by the department and representing county agencies, private child-placing agencies, tribal agencies, foster parents, vocational-technical education, the university system, and the department shall study needs and resources and advise the department on specific training needs and quality of materials.

(3) QUALIFICATIONS OF TRAINERS. Persons preparing or presenting materials for foster parent training shall have expertise in the subject matter as evidenced by prior experience or education, an ability to communicate their knowledge, and cultural competence.

(4) TRAINING EXPENSES.

(a) The department shall provide funds to county agencies and, in a county with a population of more than 500,000, the department, to enable foster parents to attend training. The funds may be used for materials, fees, transportation, and child care expenses incurred to attend training that is required or approved under this section or s. DCF 56.13.

(b) No licensing agency of a foster home with a Level 3 to 5 certification or licensed private child-placing agency may require a foster parent to pay to attend training under this section.

(5) TRAINING REQUIREMENTS.

(a) Level of care certification. Each foster parent shall complete any pre-placement, initial licensing, or ongoing training required for the foster home's level of care certification under s. DCF 56.13, except as provided in par. (c) and subs. (6) (b) and (7) (c) and (d).

(b) Each foster parent. The foster parent training requirements in this section and s. DCF 56.13 apply to each foster parent identified on the license to operate the foster home.

(c) Proposed adoptive parent. A foster parent who is licensed solely for the purpose of adoption of a domestic infant under s. 48.837, Stats., or a foreign child under s. 48.839 or 48.97, Stats., will not be required to complete the training in this section if the foster parent completes the pre-adoption preparation training required under ch. DCF 51.

(6) PRE-PLACEMENT TRAINING FOR LEVELS 1 AND 2.

(a) The department shall approve a standardized curriculum for pre-placement training for a foster parent who operates a foster home with a Level 1 or 2 certification that includes information on all of the following:
1. Foster care overview.

2. Expectations of foster parents.

3. Caring for children in foster care, including promoting normalcy.

4. Developing and maintaining family connections.

5. Foster family self care.

(b) A foster parent who obtains a license to operate a foster home with Level 1 or 2 certification before January 1, 2011, is not required to complete the pre-placement training under this subsection, unless otherwise required by the licensing agency.

(6d) PRE-PLACEMENT TRAINING FOR LEVEL 3.

(a)
1. The pre-placement training for a foster parent who operates a Level 3 foster home shall include the standardized curricula provided under subs. (6) (a) and (7) (a).

2. Notwithstanding subd. 1., a licensing agency may submit to the department for approval a proposed pre-placement training curriculum that is designed to meet the needs of foster parents licensed by that agency. The pre-placement training for a foster parent who operates a Level 3 foster home may be a curriculum that has been approved by the department.

(b)
1. Trainers for the portion of the Level 3 pre-placement training standardized curriculum that is provided under sub. (7) (a) shall be an agency staff person or contractor and a foster or adoptive parent.

2. Notwithstanding subd. 1., a foster parent may attend a pre-placement training for which no foster or adoptive parent is a trainer if the licensing agency approves and provides opportunities for the foster parent attending the training to participate in activities or programs that promote networking among foster parents and provide an opportunity for an experienced foster parent to answer questions from the new foster parent.

(6h) PRE-PLACEMENT TRAINING FOR LEVEL 4.

(a)
1. The pre-placement training for a foster parent who operates a Level 4 foster home shall include all of the following:
a. The standardized curricula provided under subs. (6) (a) and (7) (a).

b. Four hours of training on child-specific or population-specific information.

2. Notwithstanding subd. 1. a., a licensing agency may submit to the department for approval a proposed pre-placement training curriculum that is designed to meet the needs of foster parents licensed by that agency. The pre-placement training for a foster parent who operates a Level 4 foster home may be a curriculum that has been approved by the department.

(b)
1. Trainers for the portion of the Level 4 pre-placement training standardized curriculum that is provided under sub. (7) (a) shall be an agency staff person or contractor and a foster or adoptive parent.

2. Notwithstanding subd. 1., a foster parent may attend a pre-placement training for which no foster or adoptive parent is a trainer if the licensing agency approves and provides opportunities for the foster parent attending the training to participate in activities or programs that promote networking among foster parents and provide an opportunity for an experienced foster parent to answer questions from the new foster parent.

(6p) PRE-PLACEMENT TRAINING FOR LEVEL 5 PROGRAM MANAGERS. The pre-placement training for a foster parent who is a program manager of a Level 5 foster home shall include information on all of the following:

(a) The standardized curriculum provided under sub. (6) (a).

(b) School advocacy.

(c) Cardiopulmonary resuscitation.

(d) First aid.

(e) Blood-borne pathogens.

(f) Medication management.

(g) Patients rights.

(h) Positive behavioral supports.

(i) Individual service plans.

(j) Emergency plans.

(k) Four hours of child-specific or population-specific training, orientation, or observation.

(6t) PRE-PLACEMENT TRAINING FOR LEVEL 5 PROGRAM STAFF. The pre-placement training for program staff for a Level 5 foster home shall include information on all of the following:

(a) The standardized curriculum provided under sub. (6) (a).

(b) The topics listed in sub. (6p) (b) to (j).

(c) Fifteen hours of child-specific or population-specific training, orientation, or observation.

(7) INITIAL LICENSING TRAINING FOR LEVEL 2.

(a) The department shall approve a standardized curriculum for initial licensing training for a foster parent who operates a Level 2 foster home that includes information on all of the following:
1. Permanency.

2. Cultural dynamics in placement.

3. Child abuse and neglect.

4. The impact of maltreatment on child development.

5. Attachment.

6. Separation and placement.

7. The importance of maintaining a foster child's family connections.

8. Guidance and positive discipline.

9. Access to resources.

Note: The standardized curriculum for initial licensing training is the Wisconsin Foundation Training for Foster Parents.

(b)
1. Trainers for the Level 2 initial licensing training shall be an agency staff person or contractor and a foster or adoptive parent.

2. Notwithstanding subd. 1., a foster parent may attend an initial licensing training for which no foster or adoptive parent is a trainer if the licensing agency approves and provides opportunities for the foster parent attending the training to participate in activities or programs that promote networking among foster parents and provide an opportunity for an experienced foster parent to answer questions from the new foster parent.

(c) A foster parent who operates a Level 2 foster home that is licensed before January 1, 2011, shall complete the initial licensing training before January 1, 2015, except as provided under par. (d).

(d) A foster parent who operates a Level 2 foster home that is licensed before January 1, 2011, and who provides verification to the licensing agency that the foster parent successfully completed a competency-based, pre-service foster parent training as described in the department's DCFS Memo Series 2002-12 is not required to comply with par. (c).

(7e) INITIAL LICENSING TRAINING FOR LEVEL 3. The initial licensing training for a foster parent who operates a Level 3 foster home shall include information on all of the following:

(a) Crisis management.

(b) Sexuality and sexual boundaries.

(c) Sexual abuse.

(d) Effects of maltreatment and trauma on child development.

(e) Building life skills.

(f) Building birth family and cultural connections.

(g) Other topics required by the licensing agency.

(7m) INITIAL LICENSING TRAINING FOR LEVEL 4. The initial licensing training for a foster parent who operates a Level 4 foster home shall include information on all of the following:

(a) The topics listed in sub. (7e).

(b) Six hours of child-specific or population-specific training.

(7s) INITIAL LICENSING TRAINING FOR LEVEL 5 PROGRAM MANAGERS. The initial licensing training for a foster parent who is a program manager for a Level 5 foster home shall include information on all of the following:

(a) The topics listed in sub. (7e).

(b) Six hours of child-specific or population-specific training.

(8) ONGOING TRAINING.

(a) Individualized training plan. At the time of renewal of a license to operate a foster home, the licensing agency and the foster parent shall evaluate the foster parent's overall performance and develop an individualized training plan for the foster parent based on the foster parent's demonstrated need for training in particular topics or in managing specific case situations.

(b) Licensing agency approval. The licensing agency shall approve a foster parent's ongoing training based on the following:
1. The content of the training shall meet at least one of the purposes of foster parent training under sub. (1) and conform with the foster parent's individualized training plan, unless a greater training need is demonstrated after the plan was developed.

1g. In addition to subd. 1., the content of ongoing training for a foster parent who operates a Level 4 foster home shall include 8 hours of child-specific or population-specific training.

1r. In addition to subd. 1., the content of ongoing training for program managers and program staff for a Level 5 foster home shall include all of the following:
a. Child maltreatment and reporting requirements.

b. Prompt and adequate treatment.

c. Any required reauthorizations for first aid, blood-borne pathogens, and cardiopulmonary resuscitation.

d. Eight hours of child-specific or population-specific training.

2. The format of the training may include any of the following:
a. Face-to-face consultation with professionals with expertise in specific identified areas.

b. Video, audio, and web-based presentations.

c. Support groups.

d. Adult education courses.

e. Books, periodicals, and web-based resources.

f. Television and radio presentations.

g. Mentor family consultations.

h. Conferences, workshops, seminars, and webinars.

3. The total credit given for training using books, periodicals, and web-based resources under subd. 2. e. and television and radio presentations under subd. 2. f. may not exceed 20 percent of the required hours.

4. The cost of a particular training option and the usefulness of the skills or knowledge that is expected to be gained shall be considered.

(c) Department as training resource. The department shall maintain an inventory of resources for foster parent training and shall coordinate statewide, regional, and local training programs to prevent duplication of effort.

Disclaimer: These regulations may not be the most recent version. Wisconsin may have more current or accurate information. We make no warranties or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the information contained on this site or the information linked to on the state site. Please check official sources.
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