1. (2) Personnel policies. A licensee shall have written personnel policies that describe the roles and responsibilities of staff members.

2. (3) Required staff.

   1. (a) Program director.

      1. 1. Each group home shall have a program director who oversees program operation and development and does all of the following:

         1. a. Develops, reviews, and updates resident assessments and treatment plans under s. DCF 57.18.
         2. b. Periodically reviews and updates group home policies and procedures.

      2. 2. The program director shall have either of the following qualifications:

         1. a. A bachelor’s degree or higher and 2 or more years of supervised child welfare work experience.
         2. b. Five or more years of experience working in a licensed group care setting working with children or adults.

   2. (b) Group home manager.

      1. 1. Each group home shall have a group home manager who oversees the daily operations of the group home and the admission of each resident to the group home.

      2. 2. A group home manager shall meet the qualifications of resident care staff under par. (c) and have either of the following qualifications:

         1. a. An associate degree or higher.
         2. b. Two or more years of experience in a licensed group care setting working with children or adults.
      3. 3. A group home manager may also function as the program director if the group home manager has the qualifications of the program director under par. (a) 2.

   3. (c) Resident care staff.

      1. 1. Each group home shall have resident care staff who are responsible for the daily supervision and direct care to residents to ensure their safety and well-being.

      2. 2. Before working independently with a resident, resident care staff shall do all of the following:

         1. a. Complete the orientation training under s. DCF 57.12 (1).
         2. b. Work with a qualified, experienced staff member of the group home for at least the first 80 hours of employment.
3. (4) Age requirement. A staff member shall be 18 years of age or older.
4. (5) Competency. A staff member shall demonstrate competency in their role, including the topics covered in the orientation training in s. DCF 57.12 (1).

5. (6) Driving a resident.

   1. (a) A staff member may not drive a vehicle transporting a resident if they do not possess a valid driver’s license or if their driving record indicates a reckless driving violation under s. 346.62, Stats., or an operating under the influence of an intoxicant or other drug violation under s. 346.63, Stats., within the previous 12 months.

   2. (b) The licensee shall obtain a staff member’s driving record annually and review it to determine if par. (a) applies if the staff member may drive a vehicle transporting a resident.

      Note: A driving record is available from the Department of Transportation, DMV Online Services, “Other Online Services” website at https://wisconsindot.gov/Pages/online-srvcs/OtherServices.aspx.

   3. (c) The licensee shall require a staff member to provide proof of motor vehicle bodily injury and property damage liability insurance if the staff member uses their personal motor vehicle to transport a resident as part of their required duties.

6. (7) Health.

   1. (a) A staff member may not have a physical or mental condition that would prevent them from safely caring for a resident or that would threaten the health or safety of a resident.

   2. (b)

      1. 1. If at any time, a licensee has reason to believe that the physical or mental health of a staff member or a prospective staff member may pose a threat to the health, safety, or welfare of a resident, the licensee may require an evaluation of the person’s physical or mental health or an assessment, such as an alcohol or other drug abuse assessment.
      2. 2. The licensee shall require the medical provider or licensed mental health professional to submit a written statement that indicates the professional’s opinion on the condition of the staff member or prospective staff member and the possible effect of that condition on a group home resident. A copy shall be kept in the staff member’s personnel file under s. DCF 57.13(2).

7. (8) Background reporting requirements.

   1. (a) A licensee shall require each staff member to notify the licensee as soon as possible, but no later than the staff member’s next working day, if any of the following conditions apply:

      1. 1. The person is the subject of a pending criminal charge alleging that the person committed a serious crime as defined in s. 48.685 (1) (c), Stats.
      2. 2. The person has been convicted of any crime.
      3. 3. A final substantiated finding has been made that the person abused or neglected a child.
      4. 4. A finding that is comparable to a final substantiated finding has been made in any other jurisdiction.
      5. 5. A unit of government or a state agency, as defined in s. 16.61 (2) (d), Stats., has made a finding that the person has abused or neglected a client or misappropriated the property of a client.

      6. 6. The person has had a credential revoked or otherwise restricted by the department of safety and professional services.

         Note: Publication DCF-P-5616, Barred offenses – residential care centers, group homes, shelter care facilities, and child placing agencies, is a list of serious crimes, as defined in s. 48.685 (1) (c), Stats. It is available on the department publications website at https://dcf.wisconsin.gov/publications.

   2. (b) A licensee shall include the requirements in par. (a) in the group home personnel policies.
8. (9) Background information disclosure. The licensee shall require each staff member to complete a background information disclosure form every 4 years.

History

History: CR 26-005: cr. Register May 2026 No. 845, eff. 6-1-26.