1. (1) Who must apply. Any person proposing to provide foster care for a foster child shall apply to a licensing agency for a license to operate a foster home. Each household member who will act in the role of foster parent shall be an applicant.

2. (2) Initial license. Before an applicant may be issued an initial license to operate a foster home, the applicant shall submit all of the following to the licensing agency:

   1. (a) A completed application form provided by the licensing agency that is signed by each applicant.
   2. (b) References required under s. DCF 56.13 (4) (b), (5) (c), or (6) (c).
   3. (c) Information required for the background check under s. DCF 56.055 (1) (a) and (b).
   4. (d) Verification of homeowner’s or renter’s liability insurance coverage, a request for a waiver, or a request for licensure for a period of no more than 90 days to allow time to obtain the necessary documentation to request a waiver under s. DCF 56.05 (9) (c).
   5. (e) Verification of vehicle liability insurance for any vehicle owned by the applicant that will be used to transport a foster child.
   6. (f) For each household member other than a foster parent, a written statement indicating whether the household member has any physical or mental conditions that would threaten the health or safety of a foster child. The statement may be from the household member or a medical provider who has performed an exam within the previous 12 months.
   7. (g) A written statement from a medical provider that states that the applicant had a physical exam performed within the previous 12 months, and whether the results of that exam indicate the applicant has any physical or mental conditions that would prevent them from safely caring for a foster child.
   8. (h) Information on any previous licensure as a foster parent or as any other type of licensed caregiver for children, including the name of the licensing agency and the period during which the license was held.

   9. (i) An attestation on a form prescribed by the department that as a foster parent they will comply with all of the requirements in this chapter.

      Note: DCF-F-CFS0787, Nonrelative Child Foster Home Licensing Checklist, is available on the department’s website at https://dcf.wisconsin.gov/cwportal/fc/forms.

   10. (j) If required by the licensing agency, documentation of an inspection of the heating, electrical, plumbing, water, or sewage system under s. DCF 56.07 (1) (c).
   11. (k) If required by the licensing agency, the results of private well water test under s. DCF 56.07 (1) (d).
   12. (L) The results of an inspection of a wood-burning stove or other alternative heating source, except a fireplace, under s. DCF 56.07 (6) (c) 1.
   13. (m) If required by the licensing agency, the results of a fireplace inspection under s. DCF 56.07 (6) (c) 2.

3. (3) License renewal. At least 60 days prior to the expiration of a current license to operate a foster home, an applicant for renewal of the license shall submit all of the following to the licensing agency:

   1. (a) A completed application form provided by the licensing agency that is signed by each applicant.
   2. (b) Information required for the background check under s. DCF 56.055 (1) (a).
   3. (c) Verification of homeowner’s or renter’s liability insurance coverage, a request for a waiver, or a request for licensure for a period of no more than 90 days to allow time to obtain the necessary documentation to request a waiver under s. DCF 56.05 (9) (c).
   4. (d) Verification of vehicle liability insurance coverage for any vehicle owned by the applicant that will be used to transport a foster child.
   5. (e) If required by the licensing agency, a written statement from a medical provider that states that the applicant had a physical exam performed within the most recent 12 months and whether the results of that physical indicate the applicant has any physical or mental conditions that would affect their ability to safely care for a child.
   6. (em) If required by the licensing agency, a written statement indicating whether a household member other than the applicant has any physical or mental conditions that would threaten the health or safety of a foster child. The statement may be from the household member or a medical provider who has performed an exam within the previous 12 months.

   7. (f) An attestation on a form prescribed by the department that as a foster parent they will comply with all of the requirements in this chapter.

      Note: DCF-F-CFS0787, Nonrelative Child Foster Home Licensing Checklist, is available on the department’s website, at https://dcf.wisconsin.gov/cwportal/fc/forms.

   8. (g) If required by the licensing agency, documentation of an inspection of the heating, electrical, plumbing, water, or sewage system under s. DCF 56.07 (1) (c).
   9. (h) If required by the licensing agency, the results of private well water test under s. DCF 56.07 (1) (d).
   10. (i) The results of an inspection of a wood-burning stove or other alternative heating source, except a fireplace, under s. DCF 56.07 (6) (c) 1.
   11. (j) If required by the licensing agency, the results of a fireplace inspection under s. DCF 56.07 (6) (c) 2.
4. (4) Change in application information. An applicant shall notify the licensing agency within 5 working days if any of the information included in the application changes prior to the licensing agency’s determination on whether to approve or deny the application.

5. (5) Home study. An applicant shall cooperate with the licensing agency’s process of determining the applicant’s ability to meet the needs of a foster child by doing all of the following:

   1. (a) Allowing the licensing agency access to the applicant’s home and premises to ensure it meets the standards in this chapter.
   2. (b) Ensuring that each household member attends at least one scheduled interview in the applicant’s home to allow the licensing agency to observe family functioning and assess the family’s capacity to meet the needs of a foster child.
   3. (c) Complying with requests from the licensing agency to provide additional information or complete supplemental assessments needed for the licensing agency to do a comprehensive foster home study.
   4. (d) Providing truthful and sufficient information to the licensing agency on their ability to meet the requirements of this chapter.
6. (6) Discrimination. A licensing agency may not discriminate against an applicant for a foster home license or a foster parent applying for renewal of a foster home license on the basis of age, sex, race, color, creed, sexual orientation, national origin or handicap.
7. (7) License modification. A licensing agency may modify a license to operate a foster home at any time based on a request from a foster parent or at the licensing agency’s discretion.

8. (8) Action by the licensing agency.

   1. (a) Background check. Within 10 working days after receiving the information required for the background check under s. DCF 56.055 (1), the licensing agency shall begin the background check of the applicant and any nonclient resident in the foster home.
   2. (b) Decision timeframe. Within 60 working days after receiving all information necessary to make a decision on an application for an initial license, license renewal, or license modification, the licensing agency shall approve the application and issue or modify the license or shall deny the application.
   3. (c) Notice of appeal rights. If an application for an initial license, license renewal, or license modification is denied, the licensing agency shall provide the applicant with written reasons for the denial and information on how to file an appeal under s. DCF 56.10.
9. (9) Agency requirements prohibited. A licensing agency may not create eligibility or termination criteria for a foster home license that are in addition to the criteria in this chapter and applicable statutes. A licensing agency may develop policies and procedures to implement this chapter.

10. (10) License prohibition. No licensing agency may issue a foster home license to an employee of the agency or to the relative of an employee of the agency if the employee works in the child welfare area of the agency. This subsection does not apply to a volunteer for the agency.

    Note: The intent of this requirement is to prevent possible conflicts of interest.

11. (11) No multiple licenses. No foster parent may hold more than one license to operate a foster home under this chapter.
12. (12) Effective period of a license. A foster home license shall be effective for a period not to exceed 2 years and may be renewed upon successful completion of the relicensing requirements.

13. (13) License revocation.

    1. (a) Basis for revocation. A foster home license may be revoked by a licensing agency if the foster parent has violated any provision in ch. 48, Stats., or this chapter or if the foster parent has failed to meet the minimum requirements for a license under this chapter.
    2. (b) Procedure for revocation. To revoke a foster home license, a licensing agency shall provide the foster parent with written notice of the revocation, the grounds for revocation, and information on how to file an appeal under s. DCF 56.10.
14. (14) Reapplication following denial or revocation. No applicant or former foster parent who, for a substantive reason, was denied a license or whose license was revoked may reapply for a license at any licensing agency within a 2-year period following the effective date of the license denial or revocation.

History

History: CR 00-020: cr. Register February 2002 No. 554, eff. 3-1-02; corrections in (3) (a), (b), (4) (a) 2., 3., 9., (b) 2., (5) (a), (c) and (8) made under s. 13.92 (4) (b) 7., Stats., Register November 2008 No. 635; EmR0937: emerg. revisions as in CR 10-021 (except for (4) (a) 5m., eff. 1-1-10; CR 10-021: am. (4) (a) 2., (b) 2. and (c) 1., r. and recr. (4) (a) 3., 4., and (b) 5., cr. (4) (a) 5m. and (b) 5m. Register September 2010 No. 657, eff. 10-1-10; correction to numbering of (4) (a) 5m. made under s. 13.92 (4) (b) 1., Stats., Register September 2010 No. 657; EmR1050: emerg. r. and recr. (2), (4) (a) 5m., am. (8), eff. 1-1-11; CR 10-148: r. and recr. (2), (4) (a) 5m., am. (8) Register August 2011 No. 668, eff. 9-1-11; CR 16-014: renum. (3) (intro.) to (3), r. (3) (a), (b), am. (4) (a) 9. c. Register June 2016 No. 726, eff. 7-1-16; CR 21-107: am. (4) (a) 2., 4., (b) 2., 5m. Register June 2022 No. 798, eff. 7-1-22; CR 25-043: r. and recr. (1) to (5), (7), (8), cr. (9) to (14) Register November 2025 No. 839, eff. 12-1-25; renum. (1) (a) to (1) under s. 13.92 (4) (b) 1., Stats., Register November 2025 No 839.