Current through August 26, 2024
(1) DEFINITIONS. In this section, "college"
or "university" means an institution which is accredited on a degree granting
level by an accrediting agency which is listed by the United States department
of education as a nationally recognized accrediting agency.
(2) AGE REQUIREMENT.
(a) A hired or contracted staff member shall
be at least 21 years old and 2 years older than the oldest resident.
(b) Notwithstanding par. (a), a staff member
who is 19 to 21 years old and 2 years older than the oldest resident may be
hired or employed for any position except program director under sub. (4) (a)
if during the individual's course of employment the individual is enrolled in
and regularly attends a college or university with a major in any of the
following:
1. Social work.
2. Sociology.
3. Special education.
4. Psychology.
5. Counseling and guidance.
6. Criminal justice.
7. Any other area in the human services field
as approved by the department.
(c) Notwithstanding par. (a) or (b), a staff
member who is 19 years of age or over may retain employment or contract if the
staff member is hired or contracted for before a new resident who is 18 years
of age or over is admitted to the group home.
(3) HEALTH.
(a) Each staff member and volunteer shall be
physically, mentally and emotionally able to provide responsible care for
residents and shall not pose an imminent threat of harm to residents or to the
quality and manner of their care.
(b) If the department has reason to believe
that the physical or mental health of a staff member or an applicant for
employment may endanger a resident, the department may require that a written
statement be submitted by a physician or, if appropriate, by a licensed mental
health professional that certifies the condition of the individual and the
possible effect of that condition on the group home or the residents in
care.
(4) REQUIRED
STAFF.
(a)
A program
director. A licensee shall staff each group home with a program
director who complies with all of the following:
1. 'Qualifications.' A program director shall
be at least 21 years old, have a 4-year college degree in one of the major
fields of study specified in sub. (2) (b) 1. to 7., and have 2 years of
supervised child welfare work experience.
2. 'Program operation and development.' The
program director function can be provided by a sponsoring agency. The program
director or sponsoring agency shall oversee program operation and development
and do all of the following:
a. Review the
appropriateness of admission of each child to the group home.
b. Participate in developing, reviewing, and
updating resident assessments and treatment planning.
c. Provide technical assistance to the
resident care staff and agencies.
d. Periodically review and update group home
policies and procedures.
Note A sponsoring agency is defined in s.
DCF 57.04(39) to mean a child welfare
agency licensed to place children in group homes; county agency specified in
ch. 48.56 (1), Stats.; or the department, which enters into a written contract
with the licensee.
(b)
Group home manager. A
licensee shall staff each group home with a group home manager who oversees the
day-to-day operations of the group home. The group home manager shall have the
qualifications specified in par. (c). A group home manager may also function as
the program director if the group home manager meets the requirements specified
in par. (a).
(c)
Resident
care staff. A licensee shall staff each group home with resident care
staff in numbers sufficient to meet the staff to resident ratios specified in
ss.
DCF 57.21 and 57.36(5) and for any off-premise activities.
Resident care staff shall be responsible for the daily supervision of residents
and direct care to residents to ensure their safety and well-being. Resident
care staff shall have at least one of the following qualifications:
1. A bachelor or associate degree from a
college or university in any one of the majors specified in sub. (2).
2. At least one year of full-time experience
working in a formal program with the type of resident population served by the
group home.
3. Certification as a
child and youth care worker under the standards of the Wisconsin Association of
Child and Youth Care Professionals or other department-recognized certifying
authority.
Note A copy of the standards of the Wisconsin
Association of Child and Youth Care Professionals can be obtained from
http://www.wacycp.org or by
contacting WACYCP at 161 W. Wisconsin Avenue, Milwaukee, WI 53202; telephone
(414) 227-3130. Information regarding other recognized certifying authorities
may be obtained by contacting any field office listed in Appendix A.
4. Completion of a traineeship
program in which the resident care staff has worked with qualified, experienced
resident care staff for at least the first 80 hours of employment and received
orientation training as specified under s.
DCF 57.16(1), before working
independently with residents.
(4m) AUTOMATED EXTERNAL DEFIBRILLATOR
TRAINING. All staff members of a group home who provide care for the residents
of the group home shall have current proficiency in the use of an automated
external defibrillator, as defined in s.
256.15(1) (cr), Stats., achieved through instruction
provided by an individual, organization, or institution of higher education
that is approved under s.
46.03(38),
Stats., to provide such instruction.
(5) RELIEF HELP. The licensee may use relief
help to temporarily provide care and supervise residents when the number of
resident care staff is not sufficient to meet the staff to resident ratios
specified under s.
DCF 57.21 or 57.36(5).
(6) VOLUNTEERS. Each volunteer used by the
group home shall be supervised by a staff member. Before a volunteer may begin
performing activities, the licensee shall do all of the following:
(a) Orient the volunteer to the activities
that the volunteer may perform as specified in the group home's personnel
policies and procedures.
(b)
Provide each volunteer with the confidentiality requirements specified under s.
DCF 57.39 and the
child abuse and neglect reporting requirements specified under s.
DCF 57.18(1).
