Wisconsin Legislature: AB663, s. 7

Under current law, the Department of Health and Family Services (DHFS)
distributes grants for the prevention of child abuse and neglect under a program
commonly referred to as "Family Foundations". DHFS is required to distribute this
funding to six rural counties, three urban counties, and two Indian tribes.

The amount of funding that each county (other than a county with a population of
500,000 or more, currently, only Milwaukee County) or Indian tribe receives in excess of
the $10,000 minimum grant amount is based on the number of births funded by medical
assistance (MA) in that county or in the reservation of the tribe in proportion to the
number of MA-funded births in all counties and the reservations of all tribes selected to
participate in the program. Milwaukee County's grant award is based on 60 percent of
the MA-funded births in that county in proportion to the number of MA-funded births
in all counties and the reservations of all tribes selected to participate in the program.

Except for Milwaukee County, the grant funds may be used for a primary
intervention, home visitation program for first-time parents who are eligible for MA and
to support the cost of case management. In all counties and tribes, grants may also be
used to provide intervention services and flexible funds to participating families for
appropriate expenses. DHFS is required to provide technical assistance and training to
programs receiving a grant.

The bill makes the following changes to current law:

• Deletes the provision requiring funding to be distributed to six rural counties,
three urban counties, and two Indian tribes.

• Deletes references to Milwaukee County so that Milwaukee County may use
grant funds to provide home visitation and case management services.

• Requires counties and Indian tribes that receive a grant to agree to match at least
25 percent of the grant amount in funds or in-kind contributions.

• Deletes the current formula for determining the amount of a grant in excess of
the minimum $10,000 grant amount and instead requires DHFS to determine the
amount of a grant in excess of $10,000 based upon the number of MA-funded births in
the county or the reservation of the tribe.

• Provides that if a family with a child identified as being at risk of abuse or neglect
has been continuously receiving home visitation program services for not less than 12
months, those services may continue to be provided until the child reaches three years
of age, regardless of whether the child continues to be eligible for MA.

• Requires a county or Indian tribe, when applying for a grant, to provide
information on how the applicant's home visitation program incorporates practice
standards and critical elements that have been developed for successful home visitation
programs by a nationally recognized home visitation program model and that are
acceptable to DHFS.

• Requires DHFS to evaluate the availability of home visitation programs in the
state and determine whether there are gaps in home visitation services. DHFS must then
cooperate with counties and Indian tribes providing home visitation programs to address
any gaps identified.

• Requires each county and Indian tribe providing a home visitation program to
collect and report data as required by DHFS, using forms prescribed by DHFS.

• Requires each county and Indian tribe providing a home visitation program to
develop a plan for evaluating the effectiveness of its program for approval by DHFS. The
bill sets forth outcomes that must be tracked and measured. The evaluation must be used
to improve the quality and outcomes of the home visitation program.

• Provides that training provided by DHFS to counties and Indian tribes
participating in the program may not be limited to a particular home visitation model.
Requires the training to include training regarding basic skills, uniform administration
of screening and assessment tools, the issues and challenges that families face, and
supervision and personnel skills for program managers. The training may also include
training on data collection and reporting.

• Requires DHFS to cooperate with the Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention Board
to ensure that employees and managers of home visitation programs receive training and
other services to develop and maintain competencies in providing home visitation
services to families.

AB663, s. 1 1Section 1. 46.515 (1) (i) and (j) of the statutes are repealed.

Note: Repeals the definitions of "rural county" and "urban county".

AB663, s. 2 2Section 2. 46.515 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB663,4,43 46.515 (2) Funds provided. If a county or Indian tribe applies and is selected
4by the department under sub. (5) to participate in the program under this section,
5the department shall award, from the appropriation under s. 20.435 (5) (ab), a grant
6annually to be used only for the purposes specified in sub. (4) (a) and (am). The
7minimum amount of a grant is $10,000. The county or Indian tribe shall agree to
8match at least 25 percent of the grant amount annually in funds or in-kind
9contributions. The department shall determine the amount of a grant awarded to
10a county, other than a county with a population of 500,000 or more, or Indian tribe
11in excess of the minimum amount based on the number of births that are funded by
12medical assistance under subch. IV of ch. 49 in that county or the reservation of that
13Indian tribe in proportion to the number of births that are funded by medical
14assistance under subch. IV of ch. 49 in all of the counties and the reservations of all
15of the Indian tribes to which grants are awarded under this section. The department
16shall determine the amount of a grant awarded to a county with a population of
17500,000 or more in excess of the minimum amount based on 60% of the number of

1births that are funded by medical assistance under subch. IV of ch. 49 in that county
2in proportion to the number of births that are funded by medical assistance under
3subch. IV of ch. 49 in all of the counties and the reservations of all of the Indian tribes
4to which grants are awarded under this section.

Note: Requires a county or Indian tribe that receives a grant to agree to match at
least 25 percent of the grant amount annually in funds or in-kind contributions. Also,
this Section deletes the language setting forth the formula for awarding grants above
$10,000 and, instead, requires DHFS to determine the amount of the grant in excess of
$10,000 based upon the number of births that are funded by MA in that county or the
reservation of the Indian tribe.

AB663, s. 3 5Section 3. 46.515 (2) of the statutes, as affected by 2007 Wisconsin Act .... (this
6act), is renumbered 48.983 (2) and amended to read:

AB663,4,167 48.983 (2) Funds provided. If a county or Indian tribe applies and is selected
8by the department under sub. (5) to participate in the program under this section,
9the department shall award, from the appropriation under s. 20.435 (5) 20.437 (2)
10(ab), a grant annually to be used only for the purposes specified in sub. (4) (a) and
11(am). The minimum amount of a grant is $10,000. The county or Indian tribe shall
12agree to match at least 25 percent of the grant amount annually in funds or in-kind
13contributions. The department shall determine the amount of a grant awarded to
14a county or Indian tribe in excess of the minimum amount based on the number of
15births that are funded by medical assistance under subch. IV of ch. 49 in that county
16or the reservation of that Indian tribe.

Note: 2007 Wisconsin Act 20 renumbers s. 46.515, stats., as s. 48.983, stats.,
effective July 1, 2008, as part of the creation of the Department of Children and Families.

AB663, s. 4 17Section 4. 46.515 (3) (title) of the statutes is repealed.

Note: Repeals a provision of current law specifying how many counties and Indian
tribes may be selected for grants in the 1997-99 fiscal biennium.

AB663, s. 5 18Section 5. 46.515 (3) of the statutes, as affected by 2007 Wisconsin Act .... (this
19act), is renumbered 48.983 (3).

Note: 2007 Wisconsin Act 20 renumbers s. 46.515, stats., as s. 48.983, stats.,
effective July 1, 2008, as part of the creation of the Department of Children and Families.

AB663, s. 6 1Section 6. 46.515 (3) (a) of the statutes is repealed.

Note: Repeals a provision of current law specifying how many counties and Indian
tribes may be selected for grants in the 1997-99 fiscal biennium.

AB663, s. 7 2Section 7. 46.515 (3) (b) of the statutes is renumbered 46.515 (3) and amended
3to read:

AB663,5,84 46.515 (3) Joint application permitted. Two or more counties and Indian tribes
5may submit a joint application to the department. Each county or Indian tribe in a
6joint application shall be counted as a separate county or Indian tribe for the purpose
7of limiting the number of counties and Indian tribes selected in each state fiscal
8biennium.

Note: Repeals language relating to the limit on the number of counties and Indian
tribes that may be selected for grants in the 1997-99 fiscal biennium.

AB663, s. 8 9Section 8. 46.515 (4) (a) 4m. of the statutes is amended to read:

AB663,5,1510 46.515 (4) (a) 4m. Other than in a county with a population of 500,000 or more,
11to To reimburse a case management provider under s. 49.45 (25) (b) for the amount
12of the allowable charges under the medical assistance program that is not provided
13by the federal government for case management services provided to a medical
14assistance beneficiary described in s. 49.45 (25) (am) 9. who is a child and who is a
15member of a family that receives home visitation program services under par. (b) 1.

Note: Deletes a reference to Milwaukee County.

AB663, s. 9 16Section 9. 46.515 (4) (a) 4m. of the statutes, as affected by 2007 Wisconsin Act
17.... (this act), is renumbered 48.983 (4) (a) 4m.

Note: 2007 Wisconsin Act 20 renumbers s. 46.515, stats., as s. 48.983, stats.,
effective July 1, 2008, as part of the creation of the Department of Children and Families.

AB663, s. 10 18Section 10. 46.515 (4) (b) 1. of the statutes is amended to read:

AB663,7,2

146.515 (4) (b) 1. A county, other than a county with a population of 500,000 or
2more, or an Indian tribe that is selected to participate in the program under this
3section shall select persons who are first-time parents and who are eligible for
4medical assistance under subch. IV of ch. 49 and shall offer each of those persons an
5opportunity to undergo an assessment through use of a risk assessment instrument
6to determine whether the parent presents risk factors for perpetrating child abuse
7or neglect. Persons who are selected and who agree to be assessed shall be assessed
8during the prenatal period, if possible, or as close to the time of the child's birth as
9possible. The risk assessment instrument shall be developed by the department and
10shall be based on risk assessment instruments developed by the department for
11similar programs that are in operation. The department need not promulgate as
12rules under ch. 227 the risk assessment instrument developed under this
13subdivision. A person who is assessed to be at risk of abusing or neglecting his or her
14child shall be offered home visitation program services. Home visitation program
15services may be provided to a family with a child identified as being at risk of child
16abuse or neglect until the identified child reaches 3 years of age. If a family has been
17receiving home visitation program services continuously for not less than 12 months,
18those services may continue to be provided to the family until the identified child
19reaches 3 years of age, regardless of whether the child continues to be eligible for
20medical assistance under subch. IV of ch. 49. If risk factors for child abuse or neglect
21with respect to the identified child continue to be present when the child reaches 3
22years of age, home visitation program services may be provided until the identified
23child reaches 5 years of age. Home visitation program services may not be provided
24to a person unless the person gives his or her written informed consent to receiving
25those services or, if the person is a child, unless the child's parent, guardian, or legal

1custodian gives his or her written informed consent for the child to receive those
2services.

Note: Deletes a reference to Milwaukee County. Also, specifies that if a family with
a child identified as being at risk of child abuse or neglect has been continuously receiving
home visitation program services for not less than 12 months, those services may
continue to be provided until the identified child reaches three years of age, regardless
of whether the child continues to be eligible for MA.

AB663, s. 11 3Section 11. 46.515 (4) (b) 1. of the statutes, as affected by 2007 Wisconsin Act
4.... (this act), is renumbered 48.983 (4) (b) 1.

Note: 2007 Wisconsin Act 20 renumbers s. 46.515, stats., as s. 48.983, stats.,
effective July 1, 2008, as part of the creation of the Department of Children and Families.

AB663, s. 12 5Section 12. 46.515 (6) (a) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB663,7,96 46.515 (6) (a) (intro.) The part of an application, other than a renewal
7application, submitted by a county, other than a county with a population of 500,000
8or more, or an Indian tribe that relates to home visitation programs shall include all
9of the following:

Note: Deletes a reference to Milwaukee County.

AB663, s. 13 10Section 13. 46.515 (6) (a) (intro.) of the statutes, as affected by 2007 Wisconsin
11Act .... (this act), is renumbered 48.983 (6) (a) (intro.).

Note: 2007 Wisconsin Act 20 renumbers s. 46.515, stats., as s. 48.983, stats.,
effective July 1, 2008, as part of the creation of the Department of Children and Families.

AB663, s. 14 12Section 14. 46.515 (6) (a) 1. of the statutes is amended to read:

AB663,7,1713 46.515 (6) (a) 1. Information on how the applicant's home visitation program
14is comprehensive and incorporates practice standards and critical elements that
15have been developed for successful home visitation programs by entities concerned
16with the prevention of child abuse and neglect a nationally recognized home
17visitation program model and that are acceptable to the department.

Note: Modifies current law relating to information that must be provided in an
application by a home visitation program.

AB663, s. 15

1Section 15. 46.515 (6) (a) 1. of the statutes, as affected by 2007 Wisconsin Act
2.... (this act), is renumbered 48.983 (6) (a) 1.

Note: 2007 Wisconsin Act 20 renumbers s. 46.515, stats., as s. 48.983, stats.,
effective July 1, 2008, as part of the creation of the Department of Children and Families.

AB663, s. 16 3Section 16. 46.515 (6) (a) 6. of the statutes is amended to read:

AB663,8,84 46.515 (6) (a) 6. An identification of how the home visitation program is
5comprehensive and incorporates the practice standards for and critical elements for
6successful home visitation programs referred to in subd. 1., including how services
7will vary in intensity levels depending on the needs and strengths of the
8participating family.

Note: Modifies current law relating to information that must be provided in an
application by a home visitation program.

AB663, s. 17 9Section 17. 46.515 (6) (a) 6. of the statutes, as affected by 2007 Wisconsin Act
10.... (this act), is renumbered 48.983 (6) (a) 6.

Note: 2007 Wisconsin Act 20 renumbers s. 46.515, stats., as s. 48.983, stats.,
effective July 1, 2008, as part of the creation of the Department of Children and Families.

AB663, s. 18 11Section 18. 46.515 (6) (c) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB663,8,1712 46.515 (6) (c) Case management benefit. The applicant, other than a county
13with a population of 500,000 or more, states in the grant application that it has
14elected, or, if selected, that it will elect, under s. 49.45 (25) (b), to make the case
15management benefit under s. 49.45 (25) available to the category of beneficiaries
16under s. 49.45 (25) (am) 9. who are children and who are members of families
17receiving home visitation program services under sub. (4) (b) 1.

Note: Deletes a reference to Milwaukee County.

AB663, s. 19 18Section 19. 46.515 (6) (c) of the statutes, as affected by 2007 Wisconsin Act ....
19(this act), is renumbered 48.983 (6) (c).

Note: 2007 Wisconsin Act 20 renumbers s. 46.515, stats., as s. 48.983, stats.,
effective July 1, 2008, as part of the creation of the Department of Children and Families.

AB663, s. 20

1Section 20. 46.515 (7) (ag) and (ar) of the statutes are created to read:

AB663,9,62 46.515 (7) (ag) The department shall evaluate the availability of home
3visitation programs in the state and determine whether there are gaps in home
4visitation services in the state. The department shall cooperate with counties and
5Indian tribes providing home visitation programs to address any gaps in services
6identified.

AB663,9,107 (ar) Each county and Indian tribe providing a home visitation program shall
8collect and report data to the department, as required by the department. The
9department shall require each county and Indian tribe providing a home visitation
10program to collect data using forms prescribed by the department.

Note: Requires DHFS to evaluate the availability of home visitation programs in
the state and determine whether there are gaps in home visitation services. Requires
DHFS to cooperate with counties and Indian tribes providing home visitation programs
to address any gaps identified.

Also provides that DHFS must require each county and Indian tribe providing a
home visitation program to collect data using forms prescribed by DHFS. Under the bill,
each county and Indian tribe providing a home visitation program must collect and report
data to DHFS as required by DHFS.

AB663, s. 21 11Section 21. 46.515 (7) (ag) and (ar) of the statutes, as created by 2007
12Wisconsin Act .... (this act), are renumbered 48.983 (7) (ag) and (ar).

Note: 2007 Wisconsin Act 20 renumbers s. 46.515, stats., as s. 48.983, stats.,
effective July 1, 2008, as part of the creation of the Department of Children and Families.

AB663, s. 22 13Section 22. 46.515 (7) (c) of the statutes is repealed and recreated to read:

AB663,9,2014 46.515 (7) (c) Each county and Indian tribe providing a home visitation
15program shall develop a plan for evaluating the effectiveness of its program for
16approval by the department. The plan shall demonstrate how the county or Indian
17tribe will use the evaluation of its program to improve the quality and outcomes of
18the program and to ensure continued compliance with the home visitation program
19criteria under sub. (6) (a). The plan must demonstrate how the outcomes will be
20tracked and measured. The outcomes must be related to all of the following:

AB663,10,3

11. Parents receiving home visitation services acquiring knowledge of early
2learning and child development and interacting with their children in ways that
3enhance the children's development and early learning.

AB663,10,44 2. Children receiving home visitation services being healthy.

AB663,10,55 3. Children receiving home visitation living in a safe environment.

AB663,10,76 4. Families receiving home visitation services accessing formal and informal
7support networks.

AB663,10,98 5. Children receiving home visitation services achieving milestones in
9development and early learning.

AB663,10,1110 6. Children receiving home visitation services who have developmental delays
11receiving appropriate intervention services.

Note: Repeals language requiring DHFS to determine the most appropriate way
to evaluate strengthened family functioning, enhanced child development, and positive
parenting practices and to evaluate those criteria as part of its evaluation of home
visitation programs. Instead, under the bill, each county and Indian tribe providing a
home visitation program must develop a plan for evaluating the effectiveness of its
program for approval by DHFS. The plan must demonstrate how the county or Indian
tribe will use the evaluation to improve the quality and outcomes of the program and to
ensure continued compliance with the home visitation program criteria required to be
demonstrated when applying for a grant. The plan must also demonstrate how the
outcomes will be tracked and measured. The outcomes to be measured are set forth in
the Section.

AB663, s. 23 12Section 23. 46.515 (7) (c) of the statutes, as affected by 2007 Wisconsin Act ....
13(this act), is renumbered 48.983 (7) (c).

Note: 2007 Wisconsin Act 20 renumbers s. 46.515, stats., as s. 48.983, stats.,
effective July 1, 2008, as part of the creation of the Department of Children and Families.

AB663, s. 24 14Section 24. 46.515 (8) (title) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB663,10,1515 46.515 (8) (title) Technical assistance and training; competency training.

AB663, s. 25 16Section 25. 46.515 (8) (title) of the statutes, as affected by 2007 Wisconsin Act
17.... (this act), is renumbered 48.983 (8) (title).

Note: 2007 Wisconsin Act 20 renumbers s. 46.515, stats., as s. 48.983, stats.,
effective July 1, 2008, as part of the creation of the Department of Children and Families.

AB663, s. 26

1Section 26. 46.515 (8) of the statutes is renumbered 46.515 (8) (a) and
2amended to read:

AB663,11,103 46.515 (8) (a) Technical assistance and training. The department shall provide
4technical assistance and training to counties and Indian tribes that are selected to
5participate in the program under this section. The training may not be limited to a
6particular home visitation model. The training shall include training in best
7practices regarding basic skills, uniform administration of screening and
8assessment tools, the issues and challenges that families face, and supervision and
9personnel skills for program managers. The training may also include training on
10data collection and reporting.

Note: Specifies that training for counties and Indian tribes selected to receive
home visitation grants may not be limited to a particular home visitation model. This
Section requires the training to include training in best practices regarding basic skills,
uniform administration of screening and assessment tools, the issues and challenges that
families face, and supervision and personnel skills for program managers. The training
may also include training on data collection and reporting.

AB663, s. 27 11Section 27. 46.515 (8) (a) of the statutes, as affected by 2007 Wisconsin Act ....
12(this act), is renumbered 48.983 (8) (a).

Note: 2007 Wisconsin Act 20 renumbers s. 46.515, stats., as s. 48.983, stats.,
effective July 1, 2008, as part of the creation of the Department of Children and Families.