Wis. Admin. Code Department of Children and Families DCF 56.23 - Supplemental payments, exceptional payments, initial clothing allowance, and retainer fee

(1) COVERAGE.

(a) A placing agency shall determine the amount of any payment made directly to a foster parent for the care and maintenance of a foster child under one or more of the following:

1. Basic maintenance payments established under s. 48.62(4), Stats.

2. Supplemental payments under sub. (2).

3. Exceptional payments under sub. (3).

4. Initial clothing allowance under sub. (4).

(b) The total monthly payment amount to a foster parent under par. (a) 1., 2., and 3. is subject to a maximum determined by the department.

(c) A placing agency may not make a supplemental or exceptional payment or pay an initial clothing allowance for a child placed in a Level 1 foster home.

Note: See s. DCF 56.16(2) (c) on licensing agency participation in rate determination.

(2) SUPPLEMENTAL PAYMENTS. A placing agency shall make a supplemental payment to a foster parent for a child's special needs. The placing agency shall determine the amount of a supplemental payment based on the total under the following:

(a) Identified needs and strengths.

1. On a form prescribed by the department, the placing agency shall use information obtained using the standardized assessment tool to rate the child under s. DCF 56.22(4) (c) relative to what is developmentally appropriate for a child of a similar age in the following areas:

a. Adjustment to trauma.

b. Life functioning, including physical, mental, and dental health; relationships with family members; and social skills.

c. Functioning in a child care or school setting.

d. Behavioral and emotional needs.

e. Risk behaviors.

f. Child's language.

g. Strengths.

2. For points that have been assigned in the areas under subd. 1., the placing agency shall add the total points that represent all of the following:

a. A child's need that has a rating of 2 indicating there is a presence of a moderate special need.

b. A child's need that has a rating of a 3 indicating there is a presence of an intensive special need.

c. A child's strength that has a rating of 2 that indicates an identified strength.

d. A child's strength that has a rating of 3 that indicates no strength has been identified.

3. A placing agency shall make a supplemental payment under this paragraph that is a dollar amount determined by the department multiplied by the total points determined under subd. 2.

(b) Level of care higher than level of need. A placing agency shall make a supplemental payment under this paragraph that is an amount determined by the department if a foster home's level of care certification is higher than the level of need of a child placed in the foster home and the foster home has a Level 3 or 4 certification.

(3) EXCEPTIONAL PAYMENT.

(a) A placing agency may make an exceptional payment to a foster parent to accomplish any of the following:

1. Enable the child to be placed or remain in a foster home instead of being placed or remaining in a more restrictive setting.

2. Enable the placement of siblings or minor parent and minor children together.

3. Assist with transportation costs to the school the child was attending prior to placement in out-of-home care.

4. Replace a child's basic wardrobe that has been lost or destroyed in a manner other than normal wear and tear.

5. For a child placed in a foster home before February 21, 2011, and who remains placed in that foster home, equalize the total payment amount lost by the child's foster parent due to implementation of the method of determining supplemental payments in sub. (2).

(b) A placing agency may determine the frequency and amount of an exceptional payment necessary to meet one or more purposes in par. (a), provided no total monthly payment to the foster parent exceeds the maximum amount determined by the department under sub. (1) (b).

(4) INITIAL CLOTHING ALLOWANCE.

(a) A placing agency may pay an initial clothing allowance to a foster parent when a child is initially placed in foster care.

(b) The amount of the initial clothing allowance shall be the actual cost of the clothing not to exceed a maximum determined by the department.

(c) If a child is placed in foster care 120 days or more after a previous out-of-home care placement was terminated, the placement shall be considered an initial placement for the purpose of par. (a).

Note: See the department's uniform foster care rate-setting policy and forms related to rates on the department's website http://dcf.wisconsin.gov in the section on foster care program and services. The policy includes current information for all of the following:

1. Total monthly maximum payment to a foster parent.

2. Dollar amount that is multiplied by the total points of a child's identified needs and strengths to determine the portion of a supplemental payment under sub. (2) (a).

3. Dollar amount of the portion of a supplemental payment under sub. (2) (b) if a foster home's level of care is higher than a child's level of need.

4. Maximum initial clothing allowance.

(5) RETAINER FEE. A placing agency may provide a monthly retainer fee to a foster parent to maintain openings in a foster home for emergency placements under ss. 48.205 and 938.205, Stats. This fee may not be considered part of the foster care payment for a specific child.

Notes

Wis. Admin. Code Department of Children and Families DCF 56.23

EmR1050: emerg. cr., eff. 1-1-11; CR 10-148: cr. Register August 2011 No. 668, eff. 9-1-11.