Wisconsin Administrative Code › Department of Children and Families › DCF 021-99 - Safety and Permanence › Chapter DCF 52 - Residential Care Centers For Children And Youth › Subchapter VIII - Need Determination and License Application › Section DCF 52.62 - Licensing administration

Current through June 24, 2024
(1) GENERAL
				  CONDITIONS FOR APPROVAL OF LICENSE. An applicant for a license under this
				  chapter shall complete all application forms truthfully and accurately and pay
				  all fees and forfeitures due and owing prior to receiving a license. The
				  department shall issue a residential care center license to an applicant within
				  60 days based upon receipt and department approval of a properly completed
				  application and a department investigation and determination that the applicant
				  is fit and qualified. Continued licensure requires a licensee to remain fit and
				  qualified. In determining whether an applicant is fit and qualified, the
				  department shall consider any history of civil or criminal violation of
				  statutes or regulations of the United States, this state, or any other state or
				  other offenses substantially related to the care of children or adults by the
				  applicant, owner, manager, representative, employee, center resident, or other
				  individual directly or indirectly participating in the operation of the
				  residential care center. This includes substantiated findings by a county
				  social services or human services department of child abuse or neglect under s.
				  48.981,
				  Stats., or substantiated reports of abuse of residents or patients under ch.
				  50, Stats., whether or not it results in criminal charges or
				  convictions.
(2) INITIAL LICENSE
				  APPLICATION.
(a) A person wanting a license to
				  operate a residential care center for children and youth shall apply on a form
				  provided by the department and shall include all information requested on the
				  form and all related materials and information required under par. (c), along
				  with the license fee required under s.
				  48.615,
				  Stats. A complete application includes completion of all information requested
				  on the application form and all related materials and information required
				  under par. (c) and the license fee.
Note:
An application form may be obtained by
					 writing or telephoning any field office listed in Appendix D. The completed
					 form and required related materials and information and the license fee should
					 be returned to the field office responsible for the county where the center is
					 located.
(b) A complete
				  application for a license shall be submitted to the department at least 60 days
				  before the date proposed for the center to begin operating.
(c) An applicant for a license shall submit
				  all of the following information and materials along with the completed
				  application form:
1. A copy of the certificate
				  of need under s. DCF 52.61 (7) (b).
2. A statement signed by the applicant
				  agreeing to comply with this chapter.
3. A completed and signed background
				  information disclosure on a form prescribed by the department.
Note:
DCF-F-2978-E,
Background
					 Information Disclosure
is available in the forms section of the
					 department's website at https://dcf.wisconsin.gov/ or by writing or telephoning
					 any field office listed in Appendix D. The background information disclosure
					 form does not need to be notarized.
4. Diagrammatic floor plans of all center
				  buildings showing all of the following:
a. The
				  location of all exits.
b. All rooms
				  to be used by residents with their dimensions and use.
c. The number of residents and the age range
				  of residents proposed for each living area.
d. Rooms that are exclusively for male or
				  female residents.
e. For bathrooms,
				  the number of toilets, tubs or showers and washbasins.
5. A diagram of the outdoor area of the
				  center showing dimensions and all buildings, and a map of the surrounding area
				  showing the location of the center.
6. The names, addresses and telephone numbers
				  of 3 persons, other than relatives, who personally know the
				  applicant.
7. A completed
				  department-provided checklist indicating that the applicant complies with all
				  requirements for initial licensure.
8. A description of other licenses or
				  certifications currently held or expected to be obtained by the applicant, or
				  business enterprises that will be a part of the operation of the residential
				  care center or operating on the grounds of the residential care
				  center.
9. For an applicant
				  operating any other type of licensed children's program or other human services
				  program on the grounds of the center, a statement that describes how each
				  program will remain separate and distinct.
10. A description of the organizational
				  structure of the center, showing the chain of command and identifying staff
				  members, with their titles and work schedules, who will be on the premises in
				  charge of the center for all hours of operation. This document shall be signed
				  by the applicant.
11. A copy of the
				  report of an inspection by a local fire department or other fire safety
				  inspection acceptable to the department showing approval of the facility for
				  fire safety.
12. A copy of the
				  approval of the center's electrical system by an inspector certified under ch.
				  SPS 316.
13. If the center gets its
				  water from a private well, a letter indicating that the water is safe to drink
				  according to tests made on water from the private well, as required under s.
				  DCF 52.56 (1).
14. A copy of the
				  Wisconsin department of safety and professional services building safety
				  inspection approval or, if new construction, the Wisconsin department of safety
				  and professional services building construction approval.
15. A statement signed by the applicant
				  specifying the geographical area to be served by the center, such as counties
				  or states covered.
16. A financial
				  statement with evidence of availability of funds to carry the center through
				  the first year of operation.
17. A
				  proposed per client rate that each residential care center program will charge
				  for services provided in the current year and a proposed budget with the same
				  cost categories as the department's cost and service report under s. DCF 52.66
				  (1) (a).
(d) Within 30
				  working days after receiving a complete application, the department's licensing
				  representative shall inspect the center to determine the applicant's ability to
				  comply with this chapter.
(e) If
				  the department, following its review of a license application and the results
				  of the inspection under par. (d), finds that the applicant meets the
				  requirements for a license established under this chapter and has paid the
				  applicable fee referred to in s.
				  48.68(1),
				  Stats., the department shall issue a probationary license for 6 months in
				  accordance with s.
				  48.69,
				  Stats. The probationary license shall be issued after completion of the
				  inspection under par. (d) and may be renewed for one 6-month period. If the
				  center remains in satisfactory compliance with this chapter during the
				  probationary license period, the department shall issue a regular license. The
				  center shall post the license in a conspicuous place in the center where the
				  public can see it.
(f) If the
				  department, following its review of a license application and the results of
				  the inspection under par. (d), finds that the applicant is not in compliance
				  with this chapter, the department shall specify in writing to the applicant
				  each area of noncompliance. The department's written response shall be sent to
				  the applicant after the date of the inspection under par. (d). The applicant
				  shall have an opportunity to come into compliance. When the applicant believes
				  that all areas of noncompliance have been corrected, the applicant may request
				  a re-inspection by the department's licensing representative. The department's
				  licensing representative shall complete a new inspection of the center within
				  20 working days after being notified by the applicant that the center is ready
				  to be re-inspected.