Wisconsin Administrative Code
Department of Children and Families
DCF 021-99 - Safety and Permanence
Chapter DCF 57 - Group Homes
Subchapter I - General Provisions
Section DCF 57.13 - Licensee reporting requirements to the department

Universal Citation: WI Admin Code ยง DCF 57.13

Current through August 26, 2024

A licensee shall report all of the following to the department:

(1) SERIOUS INCIDENTS. The licensee shall report a serious incident by telephone, mail or facsimile to the regional office that serves the group home within 72 hours after each occurrence including all of the following:

(a) Any incident of suspected child abuse or neglect by an employee of the group home, volunteer of the group home or household member of the group home; including a report made to a law enforcement agency, a county department of social or human services, or a child welfare agency.

(b) Each incident requiring law enforcement services at the group home or that involves a resident.

Note: Examples of serious incidents requiring law enforcement services include acts such as physical or sexual assault, drug related offenses, damage or theft of property or weapons offenses. Serious incidents also include incidents in which a runaway resident is held by law enforcement for an offense such as assault, theft or weapons violations.

(c) The use of a restraint on a resident. A report on the use of a restraint shall be made following the requirements in s. DCF 57.27(3) (c).

(d) Any injury or trauma to a resident or staff member for which the resident or staff member requires the services of a licensed medical professional including all of the following:
1. A broken bone.

2. A burn.

3. A concussion.

4. A wound requiring stitches.

5. The ingestion of poison or drug overdose.

6. A traumatic incident such as a resident who nearly drowns or suffocates or who goes into shock.

(e) An error in medication administration by either a resident or staff member.

(f) The death of a resident.

(g) A suicide attempt by a resident.

(h) Outbreak of a reportable communicable disease as defined in ch. DHS 145.

Note: Information regarding reportable communicable diseases can be obtained from local county public health departments.

(i) A condition or situation that requires the removal of residents from the group home or the closure of the group home.

(j) Any physical damage to the premises that would affect compliance with this chapter including any structural damage that would affect the safe shelter of residents or any failure in the heating, cooling, electrical, plumbing, or smoke or fire detection system that is not repaired or that cannot be repaired within 24 hours after the failure occurs or becomes known.

(k) A fire on the premises that requires the services of a fire department.

Note: Form CFS2146, Serious Incident Report, is available in the forms section of the department website, http://dcf.wisconsin.gov or by calling or writing any field office in Appendix A.

(2) DISCHARGE OF RESIDENTS FROM OUT-OF-STATE. At the end of each month, the licensee shall report in writing to the department's interstate compact office of each resident from out-of-state that is discharged from the group home that month. The report shall include all of the information specified in s. DCF 57.20(1) (a) to (e).

Note: Reports of discharged residents from out-of-state may be mailed or faxed to Interstate Compact on Placement of Children, Division of Safety and Permanence, 1 West Wilson St., P.O. Box 8916, Madison, WI 53708-8916. The facsimile number is (608) 266-5144.

(3) VEHICLE ACCIDENTS. Within 7 calendar days after an accident involving a vehicle transporting a resident, the licensee shall submit a copy of any resulting police report to the department.

(4) PLACEMENT OF JUVENILE OFFENDERS. The group home shall notify the department field office that serves the group home in writing, by phone, or facsimile within 48 hours of the admission of each serious juvenile offender as defined in s. DCF 57.04(38) unless that is the primary client group served by the group home.

(5) BEHAVIOR INTERVENTION. A licensee shall report to the department each incident of physical restraints used with a resident within 72 hours of each occurrence.

Note: To report use of physical restraint, use form CFS2146, Serious Incident Report, which is available in the forms section of the Department's website at http://dcf.wisconsin.gov or by writing or telephoning any one of the field offices listed in Appendix A.

(6) PROOF OF INSURANCE. The licensee shall annually submit to the department proof of insurance purchased and maintained pursuant to s. DCF 57.08.

(7) DISCONTINUING OR CHANGING OPERATIONS.

(a) The licensee shall notify the department in writing at least 30 calendar days before discontinuing operation of a group home. The notice shall include the discharge summary specified in s. DCF 57.20(1) and the post-discharge plan required under s. DCF 57.23(3) (b), for each resident

(b) The licensee of a corporation-operated group home shall notify the department within 30 calendar days of any change in the executive responsible for the group home, the chairperson of the board or in the corporate structure.

(8) PLANS OF CORRECTION. If requested by the department, the licensee shall submit a plan of correction for cited violations of this chapter or ch. 48, Stats., in a format provided by the department. The plan of correction must be received by the date specified by the department and be approved by the licensing representative.

Note: The licensing representative will notify the licensee at the conclusion of a licensing visit or within 10 working days after the licensing visit, if a plan of correction is required, the date the plan of correction is to be received by the department, and format.

(9) FIRE SAFETY INSPECTION. The licensee shall submit annually to the department, the results of the fire safety inspection required under s. DCF 57.42(4).

(10) BACKGROUND INFORMATION REPORTING.

(a) When an individual that is not a client becomes a household member or is expected to become a household member, the licensee, as soon as possible, but no later than the department's next business day, shall submit to the department a background information disclosure form for the individual.

Note: DCF-F-2978-E, Background Information Disclosure, is available in the forms section of the department website, http://dcf.wisconsin.gov, or by calling or writing any field office in Appendix A.

(b) As soon as possible but no later than the department's next business day, the licensee shall report to the department for the licensee and each household member who is 10 years old or older all of the following background changes:
1. The person has been convicted of any crime.

2. The person has been or is being investigated by any governmental agency for any act, offense or omission, including an investigation related to the abuse or neglect, or threat of abuse or neglect, to a resident or other individual; or an investigation related to misappropriation of a client's property.

3. The person has a governmental finding substantiated against them of abuse or neglect of a client or of misappropriation of property.

4. In the case of a position for which the person must be credentialed by the department of safety and professional services, the person has been denied a license or the person's license has been restricted or otherwise limited.

5. The person has pending criminal charges.

(11) WELL WATER NITRATE LEVELS. For group homes with expectant mothers or infants under 6 months old, the licensee shall report water nitrate levels as required in ss. DCF 57.36(8) and 57.37(8).

Reports submitted under this section should be submitted to the field office listed in Appendix A that serves the group home.

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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