Wisconsin Administrative Code
Department of Children and Families
DCF 021-99 - Safety and Permanence
Chapter DCF 59 - Shelter Care Facilities
Section DCF 59.06 - Physical plant and environment

Universal Citation: WI Admin Code ยง DCF 59.06

Current through August 26, 2024

(1) APPLICABILITY. This section applies to all shelter care facilities except that only subs. (2), (4) (c), (5) (b) to (g), (j) and (k), (7) (c), (8) (d), (10) (g), (13) to (18), (19) (a), (20) and (21) (d) apply to hold-over rooms.

(2) BUILDING SITE LOCATION. In the judgment of the department, the location of the facility shall be related to the program offered and age, sex, needs and interest levels of the residents. Factors to be considered in determining the acceptability of the location shall include: access to educational, recreational, religious, shopping, and cultural opportunities; health resources; access to public or private utilities and services such as safe water supply, sewage disposal, fire and police protection.

(3) GENERAL BUILDING REQUIREMENTS. The shelter care facility and grounds shall be maintained in a clean, safe and sanitary condition and a good state of repair.

(4) SPACE REQUIREMENTS.

(a) There shall be at least 200 square feet of living space for each resident of the facility. "Living space" excludes unfinished basements, attics, garages, or similar areas not usually occupied by residents in daily living.

(b) There shall be at least 55 square feet of floor space in a bedroom designed for only one child, 50 square feet of floor space for each child in a bedroom occupied by 2 children and 45 square feet of floor space for each child in a bedroom occupied by 3 or 4 children.

(c) A hold-over room licensed for the first time on or after January 1, 1994 shall have at least 60 square feet of living space for one occupant and at least 100 square feet of living space for 2 occupants.

(5) BEDROOMS.

(a) Regular sleeping provisions for children shall not be in any building, apartment, or other structure which is separate from the shelter care facility.

(b) Children shall not be permitted to sleep in an unfinished attic, in an unfinished basement, or in a hall or any other room which is normally used for other than sleeping purposes.

(c) Children with handicaps limiting mobility shall not be permitted to sleep in finished basement rooms or in bedrooms above the second floor.

Note: "Handicaps limiting mobility" means any mental, developmental, or physical disability which restricts the child's mobility or ability to function without supervision.

(d) Children shall not be permitted to sleep in finished basement rooms unless provisions have been made for heating, ventilation and humidity control and there are 2 means of exit from the basement, at least one of which will open to the outside.

(e) Children shall not be permitted to sleep in bedrooms above the second floor of a one or 2 family dwelling unless provisions have been made for heating and ventilation and there are at least 2 means of exit to grade level.

(f) No child in shelter care shall be required to sleep in a bed with an adult.

(g) No child in shelter care shall be permitted to share a bedroom with a child of the opposite sex.

(h) No more than 4 children shall occupy any bedroom.

(i) Children of the shelter care workers shall not be displaced and permitted to occupy sleeping quarters not acceptable for shelter care children except as indicated in other sections of these rules.

(j) No child in shelter care shall be required to share a bedroom with a shelter care worker or a hold-over room attendant.

(k) During sleeping hours a shelter care worker or relief help or, for a hold-over room, a hold-over room attendant, shall be within call of the child or children.

(6) AREAS.

(a) There shall be a quiet area in the home suitable for study, or simply being alone.

(b) Space shall be provided where children may receive and talk with visitors privately.

(7) DINING AREA.

(a) In family and small group shelter facilities, dining facilities shall be such as to permit all members of the household to sit down to meals together.

(b) In large group shelter facilities dining facilities shall be provided with sufficient space and equipment to serve all the residents.

(c) The unit supervisor of a hold-over room shall arrange for nutritious meals for the occupant or occupants held in a hold-over room over a meal period or when the occupant or occupants have not had the most recent meal, and shall provide the occupant or occupants a snack between lunch and supper and at night before the occupant or occupants go to sleep.

(8) BATHROOM.

(a) The facility shall contain one complete bathroom including stool, washbowl, and tub or shower, for each 8 individuals residing there.

(b) Bathroom facilities shall be within the facility and within one floor of sleeping room occupied by children.

(c) In large group shelter facilities separate bathroom facilities shall be provided for both sexes if the facility is co-educational.

(d) A hold-over room shall have bathroom facilities available on the premises that are accessible at any time to a child placed in the hold-over room.

(9) INDOOR RECREATION AREA. Indoor recreation equipment and space appropriate to the age and interest levels of children shall be provided.

(10) FURNISHINGS.

(a) The living area shall be adequately furnished and allow for free and informal use by the children.

(b) Each child in shelter care shall be provided with a separate bed except that siblings of the same sex may share a double bed.

(c) Each bed shall be of such size as to ensure comfort of the child, be in good condition, have a clean and comfortable mattress with waterproof covering when necessary, and be provided with a pillow, 2 sheets, bedspread and blankets adequate for the season.

(d) All sheets and pillow cases shall be changed at least once a week, more often if necessary and when the bed is occupied by a new resident.

(e) Triple decker bunks shall not be used.

(f) An adequate supply of clean wash cloths, and bath towels shall be available to each child.

(g) A hold-over room shall have a table. The hold-over room shall also have a chair for each occupant. Where necessary, comfortable sleeping accommodations shall be provided for each occupant.

(11) KITCHEN.

(a) The kitchen shall be of adequate size and equipped with adequate household appliances and utensils to meet the needs of residents.

(b) Dishes, silverware, utensils and food shall be maintained and stored in clean and sanitary manner.

(12) LAUNDRY.

(a) Private or public laundry facilities shall be available to meet the needs of all residents.

(b) Any laundry equipment in the facility shall be installed and vented in accordance with the manufacturer's recommendations.

(13) STORAGE SPACE.

(a) The shelter care facilities shall have sufficient storage space to accommodate, within reason, each child's clothing and other belongings.

(b) All medicines shall be labeled and stored in a locked compartment designated for this use only except that medicines requiring refrigeration shall be properly stored and clearly labeled. All outdated medicines shall be destroyed.

(c) Provisions shall be made for the safe storage of potentially dangerous items.

(14) TELEPHONE. A telephone shall be provided with emergency instructions posted nearby for fire, police and medical assistance. A telephone in a locked room or requiring payment to reach the operator shall not satisfy this requirement.

(15) EMERGENCY EQUIPMENT. Each shelter care facility shall have first aid supplies readily available.

(16) HEATING.

(a) The shelter care facility shall provide a heating system which is capable of maintaining a temperature in living and sleeping quarters of at least 68°F.

(b) The heating unit shall be maintained in a safe condition as determined through an annual check by a qualified individual acceptable to the department.

(c) Portable electric or unvented space heaters shall not be permitted.

(17) ELECTRIC SYSTEM. Electrical systems and appliances shall be in good repair and properly protected.

(18) SANITATION.

(a) All regularly opened windows and doors shall be properly screened.

(b) The water supply shall be of safe, sanitary quality and shall be obtained from a water supply system and location, construction and operation of which shall comply with the standards approved by the department of natural resources. When water is obtained from a private well, its safety shall be determined by annual testing by a certified laboratory.

(c) The shelter care facility shall be equipped with a water heater adequate to meet the needs of all residents.

(d) All spoiled and deteriorated food products shall be disposed of immediately. All garbage while in the home shall be kept in non-combustible, watertight containers. Garbage shall be removed from the living quarters at least daily, except for those facilities using a garbage compactor, which shall establish a regular schedule for the removal of garbage.

(19) LIGHT AND VENTILATION.

(a) All habitable rooms shall be provided with adequate light and ventilation.

(b) All sleeping rooms occupied by children shall be rooms with an outside wall and an openable window.

(c) All bath and toilet rooms shall be provided with an openable window or exhaust ventilation.

(20) FIRE PREVENTION AND SAFETY.

(a) Habitable rooms on the second floor shall be provided with access to 2 exits, at least one of which shall be a stairway exit.

Note: A window shall be considered an "exit" if it and its screen or storm window is openable from the inside without the use of tools, not less than 22 inches in the smallest dimension, at least 5 square feet in area and with a lower sill not more than 4 feet from the floor.

(b) Passageways leading to exits shall be clear and unobstructed. One exit door shall be at least 3 feet in width.

(c) All stairs serving 3 or more levels shall have a door at either the bottom or top of the stairs and the door shall be kept closed.

(d) Except for a hold-over room under par. (dm), a shelter care facility shall have a smoke detection system. The smoke detection system shall be an interconnected system of smoke detectors listed by Underwriter's Laboratory or a radio-transmitted smoke detection system which has a centrally mounted alarm horn or alarm horns which, when activated, can be heard throughout the facility. The smoke detection system shall be installed and regularly tested in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions, and a smoke detector shall be located at each of the following locations in the facility:
1. At the head of every open stairway;

2. Above the door leading to every enclosed stairway on each floor level;

3. In every corridor spaced not more than 30 feet apart nor more than 15 feet from any wall;

4. In each common use room, including every living room, dining room, lounge, family room and recreation room, but not in the kitchen;

5. In each sleeping room if smoking is allowed there; and

6. In staff quarters if smoking is allowed there.

(dm) A hold-over room shall either meet the requirements under par. (d) for a smoke detection system or have, at minimum, a functioning battery operated smoke detector located in the room and tested at least once a month and a functioning battery operated smoke detector located outside the room but in proximity to the room, also tested at least once a month, to provide early enough detection and adequate warning for exiting.

(e) There shall be a written posted plan for emergency evacuation of the facility and at the time of placement each resident shall be instructed in the use of the plan. Evacuation procedures shall include provisions for handling residents with limited mobility and shall be reviewed with the staff every 2 months. Large group shelter facilities shall conduct fire drills at least every 2 months.

(f) A charged fire extinguisher acceptable to the local fire department shall be provided in the kitchen and on each floor of the facility. Staff shall be instructed in its use.

(g) Smoking in bedrooms shall not be permitted.

(h) The licensee shall demonstrate that the facility has passed an annual fire safety inspection acceptable to the licensing agency.

Note: The licensing agency is the Department of Children and Families.

(i) All interior doors shall be openable from both sides in case of emergency.

(j) All exterior doors shall be openable from the inside at all times without the use of a key.

(21) SAFETY MEASURES.

(a) Tubs and showers shall have safety strips applied or other provisions shall be made to prevent slipping.

(b) Stairways, halls and aisles shall be maintained in good repair, adequately lighted and free from obstacles.

(c) Each stairway shall be provided with a handrail and steps shall have a non-slip surface.

(d) Each facility shall have a written plan on file which specifies action and procedures for meeting emergency situations including serious illness, severe weather and missing children.

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.
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.