Wisconsin Administrative Code
Department of Children and Families
DCF 201-252 - Early Care and Education
Chapter DCF 252 - Day Camps For Children
Section DCF 252.42 - Personnel

Universal Citation: WI Admin Code ยง DCF 252.42

Current through August 26, 2024

(1) STAFF RECORDS.

(a) The licensee shall maintain a file on each employee and contracted employee that shall be available for examination by the licensing representative. Each employee's file shall include all of the following:
1. The employee's name, address, date of birth, education, position, previous experience in child care including the reason for leaving previous positions, and the name, address, and telephone numbers of persons to be notified in an emergency.

Note: The licensee may use the department's form, Staff Record - Child Care Centers, or the licensee's own form for recording staff information. The form is available on the department's website at https://dcf.wisconsin.gov/cclicensing/ccformspubs.

2. Documentation of any pertinent certification or training required for the position, including department-approved training in abusive head trauma, and appropriate ways to manage crying, fussing, or distraught children prior to beginning to work with children in care, if the person will provide care to children under 5 years of age.

3. Documentation from the department, either paper or electronic, that indicates a child care background check was completed in compliance with the timelines and requirements specified in s. 48.686, Stats., and ch. DCF 13 and the person is eligible to work in a child care program.

Note: Information on child care background checks is available on the department's website, https://dcf.wisconsin.gov/ccbgcheck.

4. Documentation of successful completion of pre-camp training.

Note: The licensee may use the department's form, Pre-camp Training Documentation - Day Camps, or the licensee's own form to document the successful completion of pre-camp training. The form is available on the department's website at https://dcf.wisconsin.gov/cclicensing/ccformspubs.

5. Documentation of the days and hours worked when the person was included in the counselor-to-child ratio.

6. Documentation of a high school diploma or its equivalent as determined by the Wisconsin department of public instruction.

(b) The licensee shall maintain a listing at the base camp of the name, address, and telephone number of the person to be notified in the event of an emergency involving an employee.

(c) The licensee shall maintain a staff record that meets the requirements specified in par. (a) 1. to 6. for each student teacher or person who works at the camp and is compensated from sources other than the camp.

(2) CAMP STAFF.

(a) Camp staff members, including the camp director, counselors, and volunteers, shall be physically, mentally, and emotionally able to provide responsible care for all children, including children with disabilities.

(b)
1. Each day camp shall have a person designated as camp director. The camp director shall be responsible for the administration of the camp, including program operations, staff supervision, business operations, food service, health service, and other supportive services.

2. A camp director shall be at least 21 years of age and shall have at least one of the following:
a. The Wisconsin Afterschool and Youth Development Credential.

b. A bachelor's degree in outdoor education, recreation, coaching, juvenile justice, social work, psychology, child development, or education, or another camp-related field.

c. Two or more years of supervisory or administrative experience in an organized camp or children's program.

(d) Counselors who are counted in determining the counselor-to-child ratio shall be at least 18 years of age and have a high school diploma or the equivalent, as determined by the department of public instruction.

(e) In the absence of a regular staff member, there shall be a similarly qualified staff member or substitute to replace the absent staff member.

(3) STAFF TRAINING.

(a) Each day camp shall develop a written pre-camp training plan. A copy of the plan shall be submitted to the department and implemented. The plan shall include all of the following:
1. A review of the applicable parts of this chapter.

2. A review of camp policies and procedures, as required under s. DCF 252.41 (1) (f).

3. Job responsibilities in relation to job descriptions.

4. Training in the recognition of childhood illnesses and infectious disease control, including handwashing procedures and universal precautions for handling bodily fluids.

Note: A copy of the universal precautions may be obtained from the Child Care Information Center by calling 800-362-7353 or from the Occupational Health Section, Bureau of Public Health, Department of Health Services, 1 W. Wilson St. Madison, WI 53703.

5. Daily activity plans and schedules.

6. First aid procedures.

7. A review of plans required under ss. DCF 252.41 (1) (f) 7. and 8. and 252.43 (2), including the plans for a missing child, fire, or tornado, and for supervision when children are swimming, if applicable.

8. The procedure for ensuring that camp counselors know the children assigned to their care and their whereabouts at all times.

9. Training in the use of fire extinguishers and recognition of local poisonous plants, snakes, and other potential hazards on the premises, and procedures to be followed to protect the children from these hazards.

10. A review of child abuse and neglect laws and the camp reporting procedures under s. DCF 252.07 (3).

11. Information on the care of children with disabilities enrolled in the camp and the procedure for sharing information related to a child's special health care needs, including any physical, emotional, social, or cognitive disabilities with any person who may be assigned to care for that child throughout the day.

12. Child management techniques.

13. For any person who will be providing care and supervision to children under 5 years of age, department-approved training in shaken baby syndrome and abusive head trauma and appropriate ways to manage crying, fussing, or distraught children.

(b) All counselors and volunteers who are counted in determining the counselor-to-child ratio shall receive pre-camp training. The pre-camp training shall be for a minimum of 24 hours and shall include orientation at the base camp.

(c) Volunteers who are not counted as counselors for meeting the required counselor-to-child ratio are exempt from the 24-hour pre-camp training if all of the following conditions are met:
1. The volunteer receives at least 4 hours of training in day camp programming, as required under par. (a), including orientation at the base camp.

2. The volunteer works under the supervision of a counselor who has met the training requirements specified in par. (b).

(d) The camp director shall plan and implement monthly staff meetings that provide ongoing supervision and in-service training for the staff.

(e) All camp staff in regular contact with the children, including the camp director and each counselor, shall obtain and maintain a current certificate of completion for child and adult cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), including department-approved training in the use of an automatic external defibrillator prior to working with children in care. The CPR training may be included in pre-camp training.

(f) The camp director shall coordinate the volunteer program and keep on file documentation of the days and hours worked for volunteers who are included for meeting the required counselor-to-child ratio.

(4) HEALTH.

(a) No licensee, employee, volunteer, visitor, or parent with symptoms of a communicable disease reportable under ch. DHS 145 or a serious illness that presents a safety or health risk to children may be in contact with the children in care.

(b)
1. No licensee, employee, volunteer, visitor, or parent whose behavior gives reasonable concern for the safety of the children may be in contact with the children in care.

2. The department may require a licensee, employee or other person in contact with the children in care whose behavior gives reasonable concern for the safety of children to submit to an examination by a licensed mental health professional as a condition of licensure or employment.

(c) No person with a health history of typhoid, paratyphoid, dysentery, or other diarrheal disease may work in a camp until it is determined by appropriate tests that the person is not a carrier of the disease.

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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