1. (1) Contact requirements.

   1. (a) Level of care 1 or 2. If a foster child is placed in a Level 1 or 2 foster home, the licensing agency, supervising agency, or placing agency shall have contact with the foster parent and foster child as follows:

      1. 1. With the foster parent, at least one contact per month. The contact may be in person, by phone, or by an interactive electronic format.
      2. 2. With the foster child, at least one in-person contact each full calendar month that the foster child is placed in the foster home.
      3. 3. More than 50 percent of the agency in-person contacts with a foster child shall be in the foster child’s foster home, occurring no less than every other month.

   2. (b) Level of care 3 or 4. If a foster child is placed in a Level 3 or 4 foster home, the licensing agency, supervising agency, or placing agency shall have contact with the foster parent and foster child as follows:

      1. 1. With the foster parent, at least 2 in-person contacts per month. At least one of these contacts shall be in the foster home.
      2. 2. With the foster child, at least one in-person contact every other week. At least one contact per month shall be in the foster home.
      3. 3. Notwithstanding subd. 2., if a foster child with a level of need below 3 is placed in a Level 3 or 4 foster home, the licensing agency, placing agency, or supervising agency shall have at least one in-person contact with the foster child each full calendar month that the foster child is in the foster home.

   3. (c) Level of care 5.

      1. 1. If a foster child is placed in a Level 5 foster home, the licensing agency, supervising agency, or placing agency shall have at least 2 in-person contacts per month with the foster parent. At least one of these contacts shall be in the foster home.
      2. 2. A licensing agency, placing agency, or supervisory agency representative other than the foster parent shall have an in-person contact with a foster child placed in a Level 5 foster home at least every other week. At least one contact per month shall be in the foster home.

2. (2) Purposes of contact.

   1. (a) The agency contact with the foster parent and the foster child shall focus on the safety, permanence, and well-being of the foster child.

   2. (b) The agency contact with the foster parent and the foster child shall also be used to do all of the following:

      1. 1. Evaluate the compatibility of the foster child with the foster parent and other household members.
      2. 2. Evaluate the ability of the foster parent to meet the needs of the foster child in a safe manner.
      3. 3. Evaluate the experiences the foster child has had to regularly engage in age or developmentally appropriate activities following the reasonable and prudent parent standard.
      4. 4. Discuss any additional support needed by the foster parent to safely care for the foster child.
      5. 5. Confirm the safety of the placement setting.
   3. (c) The agency contact with the foster child shall provide an opportunity for the foster child to have contact with their child welfare professional to openly discuss their adjustment to the placement setting and express their thoughts and feelings about their foster care experience.
   4. (d) The agency contact with the foster parent shall be of sufficient duration and substance to address the goals of the foster child’s permanency plan or treatment plan, if applicable.
3. (3) Multiple agencies. If the licensing agency, placing agency, and supervisory agency under sub. (1) are different agencies, those agencies shall determine a contact plan.
4. (4) Multiple foster parents. If there is more than one foster parent on the license to operate the foster home, the agency may have contact with only one of the foster parents.
5. (5) Combining foster parent and foster child contacts. One agency contact with a foster parent per month may be combined with an agency contact with a foster child.
6. (6) Placing a foster child in a level 3 to 5 foster home with no current placement. If a foster home with a Level 3 to 5 certification has not had placement of a foster child for 3 or more months and the licensing agency, supervising agency, or placing agency has not seen the foster parent in the foster home during that time, the licensing agency, supervising agency, or placing agency shall have an in-person contact with the foster parent in the foster home before a foster child is placed in the home or within 24 hours after the foster child’s placement in the foster home.

History

History: CR 25-043: cr. Register November 2025 No. 839, eff. 12-1-25.