Section 43.03. Definitions.

  In this chapter:

(1)  "Access" means the function of the agency to gather information leading to a determination of the need for child protective services intervention.

(2)  "Agency" means the department, a county department under s. 46.215 , 46.22 , or 46.23 , Stats., or a child welfare agency licensed under s. 48.60 , Stats., and under contract with the department or a county department to provide child protective services.

(3)  "Child protective services" means specialized casework services provided to children and their families where there is abuse or neglect, or threatened abuse or neglect, or emotional damage to the child.

(4)  "Child protective services caseworker" or "caseworker" means an employee of an agency whose primary job function is the provision of child protective services, including access, investigation/initial assessment, and ongoing child protective services.

(5)  "Child protective services supervisor" "or supervisor" means a person who directly supervises a child protective services caseworker.

(6)  "Child welfare agency" means a person licensed by the department under s. 48.60 , Stats., and ch. DCF 54 .

(7)  "Continuing education" means training hours that can be met through attending one or more of the following:

(a) Formal presentations at seminars, workshops, programs, or institutes.

(b) A university, college, or vocational technical adult education course.

(c) Educational telecommunications network.

(d) Interactive internet learning courses approved by the department or offered by an accredited college or university.

(e) A self-study course approved by an accredited college or university school of social work or a local or national professional social work organization.

(8)  "Department" means the Wisconsin department of children and families.

(8m)  "Employing agency" means the department, a county department under s. 46.215 , 46.22 , or 46.23 , Stats., or a child welfare agency licensed under s. 48.60 , Stats., and under contract with the department or a county department to provide child protective services that employs a child protective services caseworker or supervisor.

(9)  "Foundation training" means curriculum content approved by the department that provides essential skills and applications training. Foundation training may include information on subjects such as professionalism; the legal aspects of child welfare; case assessment and planning, including safety; effects of abuse and neglect on child development; separation, placement and unification.

(10)  "Investigation/Initial assessment" means the process by which information about a family is gathered and analyzed in response to an indication that a child or unborn child may be in need of protection or services under ss. 48.13 or 48.133 , Stats.

(11)  "In-service training" means continuing education in child welfare approved by the department.

(12)  "Pre-service training" means a curriculum approved by the department that provides beginning knowledge and awareness of areas essential to child welfare practice. This includes, but is not limited to, knowledge of the scope and philosophical base of child welfare services and the basic process and functions of providing those services.

(13)  "Statewide automated child welfare information system" means Wisconsin's computerized system under s. 48.47 (7g) , Stats., that is designed to document and manage casework associated with public child welfare responsibilities.

History: CR 06-081 : cr. Register January 2008 No. 625 , eff. 2-1-08; correction in (13) made under s. 13.92 (4) (b) 7. , Stats., Register January 2008 No. 625 ; corrections in (6), (8) and (13) made under s. 13.92 (4) (b) 6. and 7. , Stats., Register November 2008 No. 635 .

Note

In-service training may include information on subjects such as: adolescent drug and alcohol abuse in addictive families, effective case presentation and courtroom testimony, independent living, mental health issues in child welfare practice, or termination of parental rights training. Microsoft Windows NT 6.1.7601 Service Pack 1