Wisconsin Administrative Code
Department of Children and Families
DCF 021-99 - Safety and Permanence
Chapter DCF 56 - Foster Home Care For Children
Section DCF 56.21 - Respite care for foster parents
Universal Citation: WI Admin Code ยง DCF 56.21
Current through August 26, 2024
(1) APPLICABILITY. This section applies to care provided in either of the following circumstances:
(a) Services or emergency care provided to a
foster child during a planned absence of the foster parent for more than 48
hours.
(b) Care for a foster child
during the foster parent's absence that is paid for by a licensing,
supervising, or placing agency.
(2) LICENSING AGENCY RESPONSIBILITIES. A licensing agency shall do all of the following:
(a) Develop policies and procedures to govern
the agency's respite care program.
(b) Inform a foster parent of the process to
be used to fund respite care prior to the first placement of a child in a
foster home.
(c) Assist and
intervene when issues arise between a foster parent and the respite care
provider if the parties are not able to resolve those issues.
(d) Keep documentation of a respite care
provider's qualifications in the foster parent's file at the licensing
agency.
(e) For respite care in
foster homes with a Level 3 or 4 certification, the licensing agency shall do
all of the following:
1. Develop, in
consultation with foster parents, a pool of respite care providers that will be
used when respite care is provided. If the respite care is to be provided in a
foster home, the foster parent may approve the use of a particular respite care
provider.
2. Provide training and
support to respite care providers.
3. Consult with a foster parent and the
child's social worker or supervising agency caseworker to develop a respite
care schedule for a specific child and provide the schedule to the respite care
providers.
(3) RESPITE CARE PROVIDER QUALIFICATIONS. A respite care provider shall have the following qualifications:
(a) Be at least 18
years of age and at least 5 years older than any foster child being cared for
by the respite provider, except if the respite care provider is a relative of
the child, be at least 3 years older than the child.
(b) Have direct care experience or training
in working with children with conditions similar to those of the foster child
for whom the respite care provider will be caring.
(c) Be physically able to provide the care
needed.
(d) Be flexible and willing
to work varied, atypical hours.
(e)
Be able to reliably get to and from respite care assignments.
(f) Have the ability to do all of the
following:
1. Accept responsibility.
2. Work independently.
3. Exercise good judgment.
4. Maintain confidentiality.
5. Manage the varied medical, behavioral, and
other care needs of the foster children for whom the respite care provider will
be caring.
(g) Reside in
a home that meets the physical, safety, and environmental needs of the foster
child for whom care is to be provided if the respite care is to be provided in
the respite care provider's residence.
(h) Authorize the licensing or supervising
agency to conduct a criminal records check as described in s. DCF 56.05 (1)
(f).
(i) Agree to provide quality,
reliable, and temporary care for the child in foster care that is consistent
with the child's treatment, case, or service plan.
(j) Obtain from the foster parent appropriate
information about the specific care procedures and interaction strategies
relevant for the child's care.
(k)
Agree to perform household and emergency tasks directly related to the general
health and well-being of the foster child.
(l) Possess a valid driver's license and
automobile insurance if transporting a foster child.
(m) Agree to abide by s. DCF 56.09 (1g), (2)
(d) and (e), and (5).
(n) May not
be an employee of the licensing agency or a relative of an employee of the
licensing agency if the employee works in the area of the agency that issues
foster care licenses.
(4) ELIGIBILITY FOR SUBSIDIZED RESPITE CARE.
(a)
Level 1 or 2. A licensing agency may establish policies and
procedures to fund respite care for a foster parent who operates a foster home
with a Level 1 or 2 certification.
(b)
Level 3 or 4.
1. A licensing agency shall fund and arrange
for a foster parent who operates a foster home with a Level 3 or 4
certification to have 8 to 24 consecutive hours of respite care per month of
care provided. Respite care shall be provided in a combination of days to be
determined by the foster parent and the licensing agency. The licensing agency
may require that any respite care include an overnight stay.
2. Notwithstanding subd. 1., a licensing
agency is not required to fund and arrange respite care of a child with a level
of need below 3 who is placed in a foster home with a Level 3 or 4
certification.
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