1. (1) In this section, “supervision” means guidance of the behavior and activities of a resident by a staff member who is within sight or sound of a resident to ensure the safety and well-being of the resident.

2. (2) The staff-to-resident ratios of a group home shall be as follows:

   1. (a) One to four during waking hours. A group home shall have at least one staff member awake and providing direct supervision for every 4 or fewer residents present during waking hours.
   2. (b) One to eight during sleeping hours. A group home shall have at least one staff member awake and providing supervision during sleeping hours.

3. (3) The staff-to-resident ratios in sub. (2) and s. DCF 57.38 (10) are the minimal staffing requirements. The number of staff members on duty shall be increased as necessary to meet the needs of each resident.

   Note: A licensee may submit an extraordinary payment request under s. DCF 57.64 to cover the expenses of providing more intensive supervision for the specific needs of a resident or a youth in respite care.

4. (4) A licensee shall ensure that supervision is provided for each resident appropriate to the resident’s age, maturity, behavior, and developmental level and sufficient to ensure the safety of each resident.

5. (5) A licensee who operates more than one group home may not do any of the following to meet the supervision requirements in subs. (2) and (4):

   1. (a) Consider a staff member to be providing supervision at more than one group home during a scheduled shift.
   2. (b) Temporarily move a resident from one group home to another group home.
6. (6) No resident may be left intentionally in the group home without supervision by a staff member.
7. (7) When all residents are scheduled to be away from the group home, at least one staff member shall be on call to provide supervision if a resident needs to return to the group home before their scheduled return time. The licensee shall provide each resident with a means of contacting the staff member who is on call.
8. (8) The staff-to-resident ratios for off-premises activities that are sponsored by the group home shall be the same as the ratios in sub. (2).
9. (9) A licensee shall have written procedures that specify how the group home complies with the requirements of this section.

History

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