Wisconsin Administrative Code
Department of Children and Families
DCF 021-99 - Safety and Permanence
Chapter DCF 56 - Foster Home Care For Children
Section DCF 56.15 - Supervising agency
Universal Citation: WI Admin Code ยง DCF 56.15
Current through August 26, 2024
(1) AGENCY RESPONSIBILITIES.
(a) A supervising agency shall do, or
contract for, all of the following for each child in the agency's care:
1. Ensure that every child is assigned a
supervising agency caseworker, in coordination with the placing agency, if
different.
2. Provide the foster
parent with the telephone number of a social worker or supervising agency
caseworker who will provide crisis intervention, emergency counseling, and
related services on a 24-hour per day, 7-day per week basis for the foster
parent.
3. Support and assist the
foster parent to effectively fulfill responsibilities in this chapter and to
the child's team or treatment team.
4. When a school-age child is placed in a
foster home, notify the school district in which the foster home is located and
the school in which the child will enroll, unless the child will remain
enrolled in his or her school district and school of origin. If the child will
remain enrolled in his or her school and school district of origin, the
supervising agency shall give notification of the placement to the child's
school district and school of origin., as required under s.
48.64(1r),
Stats. The notification shall include all of the following:
a. The name, address, and phone number of the
foster parent.
b. The name of the
foster child.
c. Information about
the child required by the school, as allowed under any applicable
confidentiality laws.
d. The name
and contact information for the caseworker or social worker assigned to the
child's case.
5.
Advocate for the child with the child's school, medical facility, or any other
program in which the child is involved to ensure that services provided to the
child are consistent with the case plan; permanency plan; and treatment plan,
if applicable.
6. Assist the foster
parents with any necessary arrangements in an emergency situation.
7. Arrange for care of a foster child in the
event that the foster parent is unavailable to provide care on a temporary
basis, in conjunction with the foster parent.
8. Prior to or at the time of placement of a
child with a foster parent, the supervising agency shall explain to the foster
parent the child-specific considerations that the foster parent is required to
take into account when applying the reasonable and prudent parent standard, as
documented on the forms required under ch. DCF 37, and provide the foster
parent with the brochure required under s.
DCF 56.12(1)
(h).
9. Provide updated information to the foster
parent about child-specific considerations for reasonable and prudent parenting
decisions throughout the child's placement through team or treatment team
meetings and when there is a significant change in circumstances.
10. Notify the placing agency of any updates
to information about the child that were not included in the forms provided to
the foster parent at the time of placement under ch. DCF 37, if the supervising
agency and placing agency are not the same agency.
Note: The forms provided under ch. DCF 37 are DCF-F-872A-E, Information for Out-of-Home Care Providers, Part A. and DCF-F-872B-E, Information for Out-of-Home Care Providers, Part B. Both forms are available in the forms section of the department website at http://dcf.wisconsin.gov or by writing the Division of Safety and Permanence, P.O. Box 8916, Madison, WI 53708-8916.
11. Assist the
foster parent and child with overcoming barriers to the child's participation
in extracurricular, enrichment, cultural, and social activities that promote
normalcy in an age and developmentally appropriate manner.
12. Assist with resolving a conflict among
members of the child's team or treatment team on the application of the
reasonable and prudent parent standard.
(b) In addition to the requirements under
par. (a), a licensing or supervising agency shall do all of the following for
each child with a level of need of 3 or higher in the agency's care who is
placed in a foster home with a Level 3 to 5 certification:
1. Provide the foster parent with the
telephone number of a supervising agency caseworker, counselor, clinical
consultant, or clinical staff member who will provide crisis intervention,
emergency counseling, and related services to the foster parent on a 24-hour
per day, 7-day per week basis.
2.
Respond to a request from a foster parent for crisis intervention, emergency
counseling, and related services within one hour.
3. Provide or arrange for additional child
care personnel during stressful or critical periods, as determined by the
treatment team.
Note: An example of a stressful or critical period might be the time from the end of the school day until bedtime.
4. Assist and support the foster
parent in obtaining any medical supplies and services required for the child.
If required medical supplies and services are not included in the treatment
plan, the supervising agency and placing agency shall revise the treatment plan
to include the required medical supplies and services and to determine
financial responsibility.
5. Ensure
that a child with a severe emotional disturbance has a clinical consultant
assigned to the case. A social worker, caseworker, or other professional
involved with the case may also serve as the clinical consultant. The clinical
consultant shall have all of the following qualifications:
a. A master's degree in social work,
psychology, child development, or counseling.
b. A license or certification under ch. 457,
Stats., and ch. MPSW 3, 6, 11, 12, or 17.
c. A minimum of 2 years of experience working
with seriously disturbed adolescents.
d. Knowledge of the neurological, biological,
and psychiatric components of emotional disturbances.
6. Evaluate the child's progress and provide
services identified in the aftercare plan following termination of a placement.
The child's treatment team shall determine how long these services shall be
provided. The aftercare plan shall identify follow-up support services for the
child, the child's parent, or other care providers, including any of the
following:
a. Phone contact.
b. Consultations by professionals in the
child's home to assist the child's family implement the permanency plan,
provide skill training for specific problems, and provide support for the
child's family.
c. Participation in
parent groups.
d. Crisis
intervention.
e. For youth who will
live independently, follow-up support services may include housing assistance,
job location, and individual support.
(1m) MULTIPLE AGENCIES. If more than one agency is performing supervising responsibilities under subs.
(1) and (3), the agencies shall specify in writing which agency is responsible for each requirement.
(2) QUALIFICATIONS FOR SUPERVISING AGENCY CASEWORKER FOR LEVEL 3 TO 5. A supervising agency caseworker shall have all of the following qualifications to perform the responsibilities under sub. (3) for a child with a level of need of 3 or higher in the agency's care who is placed in a foster home with a Level 3 to 5 certification:
(a) One of the following:
1. A master's degree or higher in a social
work or related field.
2. A
bachelor's degree and a minimum of 2 years of post-degree experience in a
social work-related field.
(b) Licensed or certified under ch. 457,
Stats., and ch. MPSW 3, 6, 11, 12, or 17.
(3) RESPONSIBILITIES OF SUPERVISING AGENCY CASEWORKER FOR LEVELS 3 TO 5. A caseworker employed by or under contract to the supervising agency shall do all of the following regarding a child with a level of need of 3 or higher in the agency's care who is placed in a foster home with a Level 3 to 5 certification:
(a) Coordinate
assessments of the child.
(b)
Select the appropriate foster home for a child after careful consideration of
how well a prospective foster family will do all of the following:
1. Meet the child's specific needs.
2. Address concerns of the child's birth or
adoptive parents.
3. Accomplish the
goals of the child's permanency plan.
(c) Form the child's treatment team and serve
as the team coordinator.
(d)
Provide foster parents with information about the child under ch. DCF
37.
(e) Educate a child's treatment
team members on services and procedures for a child's specific needs.
(f) Develop appropriate interventions and
services for the child with the child's treatment team.
(g) Be available or have a designee who is
available for the foster parents to consult on a 24-hour per day
basis.
(h) Assist in the training
of foster parents.
(i) Comply with
agency contact requirements with the foster parent and foster child in ss.
DCF 56.18 and 56.19.
(j) Supervise a child's case plan, permanency
plan, and treatment plan.
(k) Keep
written progress notes.
(L)
Coordinate provided or purchased services for the child and the child's
family.
(m) Arrange for the
assistance of appropriate specialists.
(n) Perform necessary court responsibilities
as appropriate.
(o) Perform liaison
activities with other agencies.
(p)
Coordinate educational and community services.
(q) Advocate for the best interests and
rights of the child.
(r) Organize
treatment team meetings under s.
DCF 56.17(2) (g).
(4) SUBSTITUTE FOR CASEWORKER RESPONSIBILITIES. Notwithstanding sub. (3) (intro.), the supervisory agency may assign specific duties in sub. (3) to another person who meets the same qualifications as the supervisory agency caseworker or to a person who is an intern or in a field placement for a higher education program and is supervised by a person meeting the same qualifications as a supervisory agency caseworker.
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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