Section 54.02. Organization and administration.

 

(1)   Incorporation. Every child welfare agency shall be incorporated. Any agency incorporated outside of Wisconsin shall secure authorization from the secretary of state to do business in Wisconsin.

(2)   Board of directors.

(a) Every agency shall be governed by a board of directors which is responsible for the operation of the agency according to its defined purposes.

(b) If the agency is incorporated in another state, the board of directors shall:

1. Meet in Wisconsin at least once during the period for which the license is issued, or

2. Have a subcommittee of at least 3 Wisconsin residents one of whom shall be a member of the board. This subcommittee shall be responsible to the board of directors to see that board policies are carried out and that there is adherence to licensing rules.

(c) When requested, the board, or its subcommittee if it is in the category covered by par. (b) 2. , shall meet with its licensing representative.

(d) The board shall:

1. Define its responsibilities. These responsibilities shall include:

a. The establishment of policies to be followed by the agency and regular planned review of policies and purposes of the agency to determine that the interests of children are being served.

b. Surveillance that the agency does not discriminate in its personnel practices, intake and services on the basis of race, color and national origin.

c. The exercise of trusteeship for property, investment and protection from liability.

d. Approval of the budget and responsibility for obtaining and disbursing of funds.

e. Employment of a qualified executive and delegation to that executive the responsibility for the administration of the agency and the employment of other staff members.

2. Meet at least semiannually and keep minutes of each meeting which shall be made a part of the permanent records of the agency.

3. Keep informed to ensure that the agency fulfills its functions.

4. Consult with the department prior to the establishment of a new agency or the changing of a basic program of care of an existing agency or the extension of service into additional program or geographic areas.

5. Notify the department when there is a change in the executive of the agency and/or the chief officer of the board.

6. Notify the department of any major changes pending or occurring in the corporate structure, organization or administration of the agency.

(3)   Application.

(a) The board shall submit to the department an application to operate an agency in a form prescribed by the department for a license. The application shall be signed by the chief officer of the board and the agency executive. It shall not operate the agency until it receives such a license.

(b) If the board is applying for a license for the first time the application shall be submitted at least 60 days prior to the date on which it proposes to begin operation.

(c) The following material shall accompany the first application for a license:

1. A copy of the articles of incorporation and if existent, a copy of the constitution and by-laws.

2. Evidence of the availability of funds to carry the agency through the first year of operation.

3. A statement of purpose which includes a description of the geographic area to be served, the types of children to be accepted for care, the services to be provided and the program objectives.

4. A general description of each type of position proposed for the agency.

5. A proposed organization chart insuring that there will be staff in number and qualifications for the scope of the agency services.

6. A list of board members including the addresses of the officers of the board.

7. A proposed per client administrative rate that the child-placing agency will charge for services for foster homes with a Level 3 or 4 certification in the current year and a proposed budget with the same cost categories as the department's cost and service report under s. DCF 54.09 (1) (a) .

(d) Subsequent applications shall be submitted to the department:

1. At least 30 days prior to the continuation date of the current license.

2. When an additional office is to be opened.

3. When a new program subject to licensing is to be initiated.

4. When the geographic area served is to be extended.

5. When the address of the agency is to be changed.

6. When the name of the agency is to be changed.

(e) Subsequent applications shall be sent with the following materials:

1. Copies of the annual reports published since the last license was issued.

2. The budget for the current fiscal year and the most recent financial audit.

3. A list of the current members of the board of directors and its committees.

4. The number, names, qualifications and classifications of current staff.

5. A copy of the current staff organization chart.

6. A description of any program review and evaluation and changes in program content and purpose which have occurred since the last license was issued.

7. If the expiring license is provisional, a statement showing whether the requirements on which a provisional license was based have been met, or if not, plans for meeting them.

8. A copy of any revisions of personnel practices that have been made since the last license was issued.

9. Upon the request of the department, a copy of the current staff development and in-service training plan.

(em) Within 60 days after receiving a complete application for a child-placing agency license, the department shall either approve the application and issue a license or deny the application. If the application for a license is denied, the department shall give the applicant reasons, in writing, for the denial.

(er) Pursuant to s. 48.60 , Stats., before the department may issue or continue a license under par. (em) , the department shall review the need for additional placement resources that would be made available by licensing or continuing the license of any child welfare agency after August 5, 1973, providing care under s. 48.61 (3) , Stats. If the department's review fails to indicate the need for additional placement resources neither the department nor the department of corrections may make any placements to any child welfare agency.

(f) A written amendment to the license shall be secured from the department by the board of directors prior to any changes in the conditions of the current license.

(g) When a license is granted, the board shall display the certificate of license in a prominent place in the agency.

(3m)   License denial or revocation. The department may deny, revoke or suspend a license, initiate other enforcement actions specified in this chapter or in ch. 48 , Stats. , or place conditions on a license if the applicant or licensee, a proposed or current employee, a volunteer or any other person having regular contact with the children, has or has been any of the following:

(a) The subject of a pending criminal charge for an action that substantially relates to the care of children or activities of the center.

(b) Convicted of a felony, misdemeanor or other offense that substantially relates to the care of children or activities of the center.

(c) Determined to have abused or neglected a child pursuant to s. 48.981 , Stats., or has been determined to have committed an offense which substantially relates to the care of children or the activities of the center.

(d) The subject of a substantiated finding of misconduct in the department's nurse aide registry under s. DHS 129.10 .

(e) The subject of a court finding that the person has abandoned his or her child, or has inflicted physical abuse or neglect on the child.

(f) Had a child welfare agency, group home or shelter care facility license revoked or denied within the last 5 years.

(g) Violated any provision of this chapter or ch. 48 , Stats. , or fails to meet the minimum requirements of this chapter.

(h) Made false statements or withheld information.

(i) Failed to comply with the requirements in s. DCF 54.09 (1) and (3) .

(4)   Financing.

(a) The board, with the executive, shall be responsible for the safety and judicious use of the funds of the agency. Policies and practices shall be in accord with sound budgeting, disbursement and audit control procedures.

(b) Each agency shall:

1. Have sufficient funds assured to carry a new agency through its first year of operation and be able to furnish evidence to that effect.

2. Have a sound plan of financing to assure sufficient funds to enable it to carry out its defined purposes and to provide proper care for children, as required by the administrative rules relating to licensing child placing agencies.

3. Provide for annual audit of all accounts by a certified public accountant who is not in the employ of the agency nor a member of the board.

4. On request, provide the department with financial records or financial statements.

(c) The financial operation of the agency shall be on the basis of an annual budget approved by the board. This budget shall reflect anticipated expenditures and sources of income.

History: Cr. Register, August, 1957, No. 20 , eff. 9-1-57; r. and recr. Register, September, 1970, No. 177 , eff. 4-1-71; renum. from PW-CY 40.41, Register, September, 1982, No. 321 , eff. 10-1-82; cr. (3) (em), Register, October, 1985, No. 358 , eff. 11-1-85; emerg. cr. (5), eff. 9-5-92; CR 04-040 : cr. (3) (er) and (3m) Register December 2004 No. 588 , eff. 1-1-05; correction in (3m) (d) made under s. 13.92 (4) (b) 7. , Stats., Register November 2008 No. 635 ; EmR1106 : emerg. cr. (3) (c) 7., eff. 9-16-11; CR 11-026 : cr. (3) (c) 7., (3m) (i) Register December 2011 No. 672 , eff. 1-1-12; correction in (3m) (i) made under s. 13.92 (4) (b) 7. , Stats., Register December 2011 No. 672 ; 2015 Wis. Act 132 : am. (3) (d) 1. Register February 2016 No. 722 , eff. 3-1-16.

Note

An application form may be obtained from the department's website at http://dcf.wisconsin.gov or by writing or telephoning any field office listed in Appendix A. Microsoft Windows NT 6.1.7601 Service Pack 1