1. (1) Orientation and training.

   1. (a) Orientation program. A CCF shall develop and implement an orientation for all new staff to ensure that staff know and understand all of the following:

      1. 1. Pertinent parts of this chapter.
      2. 2. The program’s policies and procedures.
      3. 3. Job responsibilities and scope of practice for staff and volunteers of the program.
      4. 4. Applicable parts of chs. 51 and 55, Stats., ch. DHS 34, and chs. DHS 33 (effective March 1, 2026), 50, 75, and 94 related to the provision of emergency mental health services and care for voluntary and involuntary clients.
      5. 5. The provisions of ss. 51.30 and 51.61, Stats., related to client rights and confidentiality of treatment records.

   2. (b) All employee training. A CCF shall provide, obtain, or otherwise ensure adequate training for all employees in all of the following:

      1. 1. Standard precautions.
      2. 2. Fire safety.
      3. 3. First aid and choking.
      4. 4. Abuse, neglect, and misappropriation prevention.
      5. 5. Basic mental health and psychopharmacology concepts applicable to crisis situations.
      6. 6. Techniques and procedures for non-violent crisis intervention with clients, including verbal de-escalation, positional de-escalation, methods for obtaining backup, and acceptable methods for self-protection and protection of the client and others.
      7. 7. Emergency safety interventions consistent with s. 51.61 (1) (i) (1), Stats., and industry best practices for seclusion and restraint training that emphasize prevention, safety, and least restrictive interventions.

      8. 8. Crisis intervention considerations for all of the following populations:

         1. a. Clients with intellectual or developmental disabilities.
         2. b. Clients with dementia.
         3. c. Clients who are suicidal or engage in self-harm.
         4. d. Clients with acute symptoms related to mental health or substance use.
      9. 9. Training on the use of opioid reversal medications.

   3. (c) Task-specific training. A CCF shall provide, obtain or otherwise ensure adequate training for employees who, based on their position will provide any of the following services:

      1. 1. Screening, assessment, and intervention of clients in crisis including those exhibiting or verbalizing acute, threatening, or dangerous behaviors, suicidal behaviors, and those using alcohol or drugs.
      2. 2. Crisis, safety, and discharge planning with individuals in crisis.
      3. 3. Medication administration and management.

   4. (d) Training program for serving minors. A CCF treating minors shall provide training on all of the following to all staff working with minors:

      1. 1. Applicable parts of chs. 48 and 938, Stats.
      2. 2. Content specific to minors and families in crisis and their care and treatment needs.

   5. (e) Orientation and training requirements.

      1. 1. Each newly hired staff with less than 6 months of experience providing behavioral or mental health, or substance use services shall complete a minimum of 40 hours of documented orientation and training within 3 months after beginning work with the program.
      2. 2. Each newly hired staff person who has had 6 months or more of prior experience providing behavioral or mental health, or substance use services shall complete a minimum of 20 hours of documented orientation and training within 3 months after beginning work with the program.
      3. 3. Training topics covered in pars. (a) to (d) count toward the minimum required orientation and training hours in subds. 1. and 2.
      4. 4. All staff shall receive annual refresher training on standard precautions, client rights, prevention and reporting of abuse neglect and misappropriation, fire safety, emergency safety interventions, and first aid.
      5. 5. Staff who administer or manage medication shall receive annual refresher training on medication administration and management.
      6. 6. Staff with credentials, licensure, or certification that requires continuing educational requirements shall maintain compliance with those requirements as it relates to their professional role within a CCF.
      7. 7. Staff without continuing education requirements shall receive at least 8 hours per year of in-service training on topics related to clients and relevant to the services provided at a CCF. This is in addition to annual refresher training requirements in subd. 3.

   6. (f) Exemptions for training requirements.

      1. 1. Employees who, based on their professional education and training have completed training or coursework that is minimally equivalent, in content and duration, to those required may be exempt from required training under pars. (b) to (d).
      2. 2. Exemptions do not apply for standard precautions, fire safety, first aid and choking, abuse neglect and misappropriation, and emergency safety interventions.
      3. 3. A CCF shall ensure and determine the training or coursework is relevant, current, and meets the requirements of this subchapter.
      4. 4. Employees shall provide documentation of the professional education or training and a CCF shall have that available.

2. (2) Clinical supervision and consultation.

   1. (a) A CCF shall have written policies and procedures for clinical supervision of, and consultation with staff to ensure that:

      1. 1. The services provided by the program are appropriate and being delivered in a manner most likely to result in positive outcomes for clients.
      2. 2. Staff have the training and experience needed to carry out the roles for which they have been retained and receive the ongoing support and supervision they need to provide effective services.
   2. (b) Staff with credentials, licensure, or certification that requires clinical supervision shall maintain compliance with those requirements as it relates to their professional role within a CCF.
   3. (c) Staff who have not had 3,000 hours of supervised clinical experience, or who do not possess at least one of the qualifications in s. DHS 31.08 (1) (a) to (h), shall receive a minimum of one hour of clinical supervision per week or for every 30 hours of direct care they provide.
   4. (d) Staff who have completed 3,000 hours of supervised clinical experience and who have at least one of the qualifications in s. DHS 31.08 (1) (a) to (i), (m) to (n), or (q) 4., shall participate in a minimum of one hour of peer clinical consultation per month or for every 120 hours of direct care they provide.

   5. (e) Clinical supervision of staff includes review, assessment, and feedback regarding each staff member’s delivery of services and can be accomplished by one or more of the following means:

      1. 1. Individual consultation with staff to review cases, assess performance, and provide feedback.
      2. 2. Side-by-side sessions in real time in which the supervisor is present while staff provides services and in which the supervisor assesses, coaches, and gives feedback.
      3. 3. Group supervision and clinical staffing to review and assess cases and provide consultation or clinical direction.
      4. 4. Other professionally recognized methods of supervision as described in a program’s written policies and procedures and approved by the department.
   6. (f) Clinical supervision shall be provided by at minimum, a master’s level clinical practitioner, who is fully licensed, credentialed, or certified in Wisconsin in the field of psychology, psychiatry, counseling, social work, or psychiatric nursing.
3. (3) Personnel records. A CCF shall maintain current copies of its orientation and training program, evidence of current licensure and certification of staff as applicable, and proof that training and supervision requirements are met. These records should be documented in writing and made available to the department upon request.

History

History: EmR2507: emerg. cr., eff. 6-16-25; CR 25-051: cr. Register February 2026 No. 842, eff. 3-1-26; correction in (1) (a) 5., (e) 3., (f) 1. made under s. 35.17, Stats., Register February 2026 No. 842.