Section 40.07. Required personnel and services.

 

(1)   Clinical services.

(a) Level I programs. A program operating at Level I shall make available at least the following hours of direct clinical services, provided either by program staff or by professionals under contract to the program:

1. One hour per week of psychiatric or psychological consultation for every 4 full-time clients in the program;

2. One hour per week of services by a physician or registered nurse for every 4 full-time clients in the program. In addition, the program shall arrange for emergency and other necessary medical and nursing services to be readily available at all times clients are present in the program;

3. One hour per week of individual or family therapy by either a clinician or a clinical psychologist for each full-time client in the program. A program may select a particular type of professional or combination of professionals to provide those services based upon the specific needs of the clients served by the program;

4. One hour per week of social work services, including case management, community liaison, family contacts, interagency communication and similar services, for every 2 full-time clients in the program, provided by a person with a bachelor's or master's degree in social work or a qualified mental health professional;

5. Two hours per week of occupational therapy services provided by registered occupational therapists or structured recreational or vocational services for each full-time client in the program. A program may select the specific professional or combination of professionals to provide those services based upon the specific needs of the clients served by the program; and

6. Two hours per week of individual or group counseling by qualified mental health professionals for each full-time client in the program.

(b) Level II programs. A program operating at Level II shall make available at least the following hours of direct clinical services provided either by program staff or professionals under contract to the program:

1. One hour per week of psychiatric or psychological consultation for every 2 full-time clients in the program;

2. One hour per week of services by a registered nurse for each full-time client in the program. In addition the program shall arrange for emergency and other necessary medical and nursing services to be readily available at all times clients are present;

3. Two hours per week of individual or family therapy by either a clinician or a clinical psychologist for each full-time client in the program. A program may select a particular type of professional or combination of professionals to provide those services based upon the specific needs of the clients served by the program;

4. One hour per week of social work services, including case management, community liaison, family contacts, interagency communication and similar services, for every 2 full-time clients in the program, provided by a person with a bachelor's or master's degree in social work or a qualified mental health professional;

5. Three hours per week of occupational therapy services provided by a registered occupational therapist or 3 hours per week of structured recreational or vocational services provided by specialists in specific areas of therapeutic assistance for each full-time client in the program, or a combination of the 3 services. A program shall select the type and mix of services under this category which best meets the needs of the clients the program is intended to serve; and

6. Three hours per week of individual or group counseling by qualified mental health professionals for each full-time client in the program.

(c) Level III programs. A program operating at Level III shall make available at least the following hours of direct clinical services provided either by program staff or professionals under contract to the program:

1. One hour per week of psychiatric or psychological consultation for every full-time client in the program;

2. A registered nurse on duty at all times that clients are present;

3. Three hours per week of individual or family therapy by either a clinician or a clinical psychologist for each full-time client in the program. A program may select a particular type of professional or combination of professionals to provide those services based upon the specific needs of the clients served by the program;

4. One hour per week of social work services, including case management, community liaison, family contacts, interagency communication and similar services for every full-time client in the program, provided by a person with a bachelor's or master's degree in social work or a qualified mental health professional;

5. Four hours per week of occupational therapy services provided by a registered occupational therapist or 4 hours per week structured recreational or vocational services provided by specialists in specific areas of therapeutic assistance for each full-time client in the program, or a combination of the 3 services. A programs shall select the type and mix of services under this category which best meets the needs of the clients the program is intended to serve; and

6. Four hours per week of individual or group counseling by qualified mental health professionals for each full-time client in the program.

(d) General requirements and conditions. For purposes of this subsection:

1. Two part-time clients shall be calculated as the equivalent of a full-time client;

2. The minimum hours established for service delivery apply to the overall delivery of services by the program. A specific client may receive more or less of a type of service, depending on the individual treatment plan developed for the client;

3. A program providing services at any level shall ensure that qualified professionals are on staff or available through a contract for purchase of services sufficient to meet the specific treatment needs of each child accepted into the program as identified by the child's treatment plan developed pursuant to s. DHS 40.10 ;

4. In communities where access to psychiatrists is limited, a program may use a psychologist licensed under ch. 445 , Stats. , to satisfy the requirement for psychiatric services established in this subsection unless the specific duties to be performed require a physician, such as the prescription of medications; and

5. Group counseling and psychotherapeutic groups shall include no more than 10 clients with one qualified mental health professional or a maximum of 12 clients if 2 qualified mental health professionals are present with the group.

(2)   Staffing levels.

(a) At all times that clients are present at a program, the program shall have a minimum of 2 staff persons qualified under s. DHS 40.06 (4) on duty, at least one of whom shall be a qualified mental health professional.

(b) If more than 10 clients are present at a program operating at Level I, an additional staff person qualified under s. DHS 40.06 (4) shall be present for every 10 additional clients or fraction thereof.

(c) If more than 10 clients are present at a program operating at Level II or III, an additional staff person qualified under s. DHS 40.06 (4) shall be present for every 5 additional clients or fraction thereof.

(d) At least one male staff member qualified under s. DHS 40.06 shall be present at a program when one or more male clients are present, and at least one similarly qualified female staff member shall be present at a program when one or more female clients are present.

(3)   Volunteers. A program may use volunteers. Volunteers who work directly with clients or their families shall have received a minimum of 10 hours of training and shall be supervised by a qualified mental health professional employed by the program. Volunteers may not be counted in calculation of the staff-to-client ratios for the program.

(4)   Hours of operation. The amount of time a client spends at a program shall be established by the individual treatment plan developed under s. DHS 40.10 for the client, but a program shall be in operation and able to provide services for the following period:

(a) A Level I program shall be in operation and available to provide services to clients for a minimum of 4 hours a day, 5 days a week, and may suspend operations for no more than 12 weeks each year;

(b) A Level II program shall be in operation and available to provide services to clients for a minimum of 6 hours a day, 5 days a week, and may suspend operations for no more than 10 weeks each year; and

(c) A Level III program shall be in operation and available to provide services to clients for a minimum of 8 hours a day, 5 days a week, and may suspend operations for no more than 4 weeks each year.

History: Cr. Register, August, 1996, No. 488 , eff. 9-1-96.