A child specific license is issued to a relative of a child or to an individual who has a previous existing relationship with the child or the child’s family. Training requirements are a minimum of 6 hours of pre-placement training under DCF 56.14(6) before or after the child is placed in the home.  This must be completed within 6 months of the date the license is issued.  A relative or like-kin child may be placed before pre-placement training is complete, yet the necessary training is still referred to as pre-placement training.

A basic foster home license is issued to individuals who want to provide foster care to children with whom they may not have a previous relationship.  Training requirements are a minimum of 6 hours of pre-placement training under DCF 56.14(6) before or after initial licensure but prior to the placement of a foster child in the home.  Within the first two years of licensure as a Level 2 foster home, foster parents must complete 30 hours of initial licensing training under DCF 56.14(7) (also called Foundation Training).  Each foster parent who operates a Level 2 foster home shall complete 10 hours of ongoing training under DCF 56.14(8) in each 12-month period of licensure subsequent to the initial licensing period.

An applicant for a level 3 license must have more education caring for foster children.  See DCF 56.13(5) for more details.  The training requirements are a minimum of 36 hours of pre-placement training under DCF 56.14(6d) before or after the initial licensure but prior to the placement of any child in the home.  During the initial licensing period as a Level 3 foster home, foster parents shall complete a minimum of 24 hours of initial licensing training under DCF 56.14(7e) and shall complete 18 hours of ongoing training under DCF 56.14(8) in each 12-month period subsequent to the initial licensing period.  

Note:  Outagamie County does not license at this level.

An applicant for a level 4 license must have even more education and experience caring for foster children.  See DCF 56.13(6) for more details.  The training requirements are a minimum of 40 hours of pre-placement training under DCF 56.14(6h) before or after initial licensure but prior to the placement of any child in the home.  During the initial licensing period as a Level 4 foster home, foster parents shall complete a minimum of 30 hours of initial licensing training under DCF 56.14(7e), during the initial licensing period and shall complete 24 hours of ongoing training under DCF 56.14(8) in each 12-months period of licensure subsequent to the initial licensing period.

Note:  Outagamie County does not license at this level.

This is a shift-staffed home where children who are placed have behaviors or conditions that require a high degree of supervision.  Care that is provided by staff that rotates shifts within a 24-hour period. 

Respite care provides support to families in need for children between the ages of 0-18.  A child or a member of the family may have mental health issues, developmental disabilities, delinquency, or child abuse or neglect concerns. Respite care often helps to prevent out-of-home placements for these families.  Respite care provides an opportunity to help others while working a flexible schedule in the provider’s home or in the child’s home. Payment varies with the level-of-care or behavioral challenges of the child.  

The following are requirements for certification:

• Providers must be at least age 18 and at least five years older than the child for whom the respite is being requested.
• Providers must provide consent for local and state criminal record checks for any adult in the home or any adult that will be having regular unsupervised contact with the child. Also reviewed are any child protection contacts, mental health and AODA (alcohol or other drug abuse) records for the provider or member of the provider’s immediate family.
• Providers must return any necessary paperwork with signature.
• Providers must verify necessary vehicle insurance coverage and if the respite care will occur in the provider’s home, homeowner/renter insurance verification is necessary.
• Providers will meet with a Foster Care Coordinator a minimum of 2 times for initial certification and/or recertification (on a bi-annual basis).
• The provider will meet the requirements on the respite home checklist.
• The provider will demonstrate knowledge and skill in the desired respite care areas.
• The provider will understand the reporting requirements related to child abuse and neglect.
• The provide will demonstrate an ability to accept responsibility, work independently, exercise good judgment, maintain confidentiality and manage the varied medical, behavioral and basic care needs of children in respite care.
• Giving false information or withholding information shall constitute grounds for denial or revocation of the certification.

The Outagamie County Foster Care Program utilizes Emergency Resource homes (ER homes), which are available 24/7 to accept children who are in need of safe homes.  ER homes are on a 7-day rotation to insure that a home is always available for Outagamie County children that come into care through emergency-type circumstances. 

Some important facts about ER homes:

• ER homes must have at least 1 bed designated for emergencies in order to be considered a resource.  If necessary, they may are for no more than 4 foster children (6 to keep siblings together) at a time.
• Placements in an ER home will not exceed 30 days unless all parties agree that continued placement is in the child’s best interest.  Additionally, placement may be extended another 30 days or indefinitely if all parties agree.
• When on rotation, ER homes must accept placement unless safety concerns are identified.
• ER homes are required to drive children to their school of origin until or unless alternative transportation arrangements are made.
• ER homes receive a placement rate prorated by the number of days a child is placed in their care.  They also receive a daily stipend when on rotation.