1. (1) Court order or voluntary placement agreement. A resident may only be admitted for placement in a group home under a court order or a voluntary placement agreement.
2. (2) Voluntary placement agreement. Except for care specified in s. DCF 57.38 and s. 48.63 (5), Stats., a resident may not be placed in a group home under a voluntary placement agreement for more than 15 days from the date of removal from their home that is specified in the agreement.

3. (3) Out-of-home care agreement. The licensee shall enter into and obtain a written agreement under s. 48.64 (1m), Stats., from any placing agency that places a resident in the group home. The agreement shall include all of the following provisions:

   1. (a) The licensee will allow the placing agency access to the resident and the group home at all times.
   2. (b) The resident will be released to the placing agency whenever the placing agency or the department finds that the best interest of the resident requires it.
4. (4) Admissions decision. The licensee shall make an admission decision in accordance with this chapter and the group home’s program statement and ability to meet the needs of the resident.

5. (5) Information to resident at intake.

   1. (a) During a resident’s initial intake meeting, the responsible staff member shall provide in writing and discuss with the resident all of the following:

      1. 1. Exits and evacuation routes.
      2. 2. The house rules created under s. DCF 57.24.
      3. 3. Resident rights under s. DCF 57.25.
      4. 4. Name and contact information for the group home manager.
      5. 5. Documentation of any known scheduled court hearings, family interactions, or other appointments.
      6. 6. A description of the daily activities available to the resident.

   2. (b) The responsible staff member shall document in the resident record that the resident received all of the information specified in par. (a).

      Note: DCF-F-CFS2381, Resident Orientation Documentation – Group Home, is a voluntary form that can be used to comply with this paragraph. The form is available at https://dcf.wisconsin.gov/cwlicensing/forms.

   3. (c) The licensee shall also provide the information specified in par. (a) 2. to 4. to the resident’s parent, guardian, legal custodian, or Indian custodian.
6. (6) Medical consent. A licensee shall obtain from the placing agency a copy of the consent for medical care and administration of medication signed by a resident’s parent, guardian, legal custodian, or Indian custodian and retain a copy of the consent in the resident’s record.

7. (7) Schedule medical and dental examinations.

   1. (a) The licensee shall complete the act of scheduling a medical examination and a dental examination within 30 days after the resident’s admission unless the resident has already had the specified exam within the recommended periodicity schedule.
   2. (b) Documentation of par. (a) in the resident’s record shall include the date that the act of scheduling the exam is completed or a statement as to when the resident’s next medical and dental examination is required.

History

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