Wisconsin Administrative Code
Department of Children and Families
DCF 021-99 - Safety and Permanence
Chapter DCF 56 - Foster Home Care For Children
Section DCF 56.22 - Assessment of needs and strengths
Universal Citation: WI Admin Code ยง DCF 56.22
Current through August 26, 2024
(1) RESPONSIBILITY FOR ASSESSMENT.
(a) A placing agency shall use
a standardized assessment tool prescribed by the department to assess the needs
and strengths of a child placed or to be placed into a foster home and the
needs of the child's foster parent. A placing agency may subcontract this
responsibility.
Note: The assessment tool is available in the forms section of the department's website at http://dcf.wisconsin.gov.
(b) Notwithstanding par. (a), this
section does not apply to a child placed or to be placed into a foster home
that 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.
(2) QUALIFICATION TO ASSESS. An individual performing the assessment shall be trained and certified in the use of the department's standardized assessment tool.
(3) TIMES OF ASSESSMENT.
(a)
Assessment within 30 days after
placement. A placing agency shall assess each foster child before
placement in a foster home or within 30 days after the child's placement. A
placing agency shall assess each foster parent within 30 days after the child's
placement in the foster home.
(b)
Reassessment every 6 months. A placing agency shall reassess
each foster child and the child's foster parent within 6 months after the
child's last assessment or reassessment. The placing agency, licensing agency,
or foster parent may request a reassessment more frequently.
(4) STANDARDIZED ASSESSMENT TOOL.
(a)
Basics of the tool. The
standardized assessment tool shall include a list of items that may have a
direct impact on service planning for the child and the child's foster parent.
The list of items included in the standardized assessment tool shall assist
with evaluation of all of the following:
1.
The child's functioning, including all of the following:
a. The impact of trauma on the
child.
b. Life functioning,
including physical, mental, and dental health; relationships with family
members; and social skills.
c.
Functioning in a child care or school setting.
d. Behavioral and emotional needs.
e. Risk behaviors.
f. Strengths.
g. The effect of the culture of the child and
the child's family on service provision.
2. The foster parent's functioning in
relation to the identified foster child, including all of the following:
a. Supervision.
b. Problem solving.
c. Involvement with care.
d. Knowledge.
e. Empathy with the child.
f. Organization.
g. Social resources.
h. Physical health.
i. Mental health.
j. Substance use.
k. Developmental.
L. Family stress.
m. Cultural congruence.
(b)
Gather
information. Before administering the standardized assessment tool,
the person who will administer the tool shall first do all of the following:
1. Review the child's case record.
2. Interview or collect information from an
individual who has interviewed the child, child's family, foster parent or
other out-of-home care provider, the child's team or treatment team, and the
licensing agency.
3. Review
information gathered in collaboration with the child's team or treatment team
and the licensing agency.
Note: See s. DCF 56.17(1) on treatment team membership.
(c)
Rating a child. The person administering the standardized
assessment tool shall rate the child on each item in the tool on a 4-point
scale relative to what is developmentally appropriate for a child of a similar
age, as follows:
1. `Needs.' The following
ratings shall apply to items representing needs of a child or the child's
family:
a. A rating of 0 means there is no
evidence of the existence of a special need.
b. A rating of 1 means there is a history or
concern that a basic special need may exist.
c. A rating of 2 means there is a presence of
a moderate special need.
d. A
rating of a 3 means there is a presence of an intensive special need.
2. `Strengths.' The following
ratings shall apply to items representing strengths of a child or the child's
family:
a. A rating of 0 indicates a
centerpiece strength.
b. A rating
of 1 indicates a useful strength.
c. A rating of 2 indicates an identified
strength.
d. A rating of 3
indicates no strength has been identified.
(d)
Rating a foster parent.
The person administering the standardized assessment tool shall rate a foster
parent's needs on each item in the tool on a 4-point scale in relation to a
specific identified child, as follows:
1. A
rating of 0 means there is no reason to believe a need exists.
2. A rating of 1 means there is a history or
concern that needs to be monitored.
3. A rating of 2 means there is a presence of
a need that must be acted upon.
4.
A rating of 3 means there is a presence of a need that requires immediate or
intensive action.
(5) USE OF ASSESSMENT INFORMATION.
(a) The placing agency shall use information
from the assessment of the child, the child's family, the child's foster
parent, the supervising agency, and the licensing agency for all of the
following:
1. To communicate information
about the needs and strengths of the child and child's family.
2. To assist with determining the child's
service needs and developing the child's plan of care.
3. To determine a level of need of 1/2, 3, 4,
5, or 6 for the child.
4. To inform
decisions regarding a placement at a level of care that is appropriate to meet
the child's level of need.
5. To
evaluate the match between the knowledge, skills, and abilities of a foster
parent and the needs and strengths of the child.
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.
7. To
provide a mental health screen to all children entering foster care.
8. To determine any supplemental payments
under s.
DCF 56.23(2).
9. To determine any supplemental payments for
purposes of an adoption assistance agreement under s.
48.975,
Stats., and ch. DCF 50.
(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).
(6) MATCHING AND PREPLACEMENT VISITS.
(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:
1. Meet the child's
identified specific needs.
2.
Address any concerns of the birth or adoptive parents.
3. Accomplish the goals of the child's
permanency plan.
(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.
(7) PLACEMENT IN A FOSTER HOME.
(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.
(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.
(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).
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.
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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