DSL MEMO SERIES 2001-09
June 7, 2001
STATE OF WISCONSIN
Department of Health and Family Services
Division of Supportive Living
To:
Area Administrators/Assistant Area Administrators
Assessment Facility Contacts for the Intoxicated Driver Program
Bureau Directors
Designated County Coordinators for the Intoxicated Driver Program
County Departments of Community Programs Directors
County Departments of Developmental Disabilities Services Directors
County Departments of Human Services Directors
County Departments of Social Services Directors
Section Chiefs
From:
Sinikka McCabe, Administrator
Division of Supportive Living
Re: Phase Out of Education-Evaluation Programs for Intoxicated Drivers
Document Summary
The Division of Supportive Living is phasing out the use of Ed-Eval programs
for intoxicated driver clients in accordance with HFS 62, TRANS 106, and TRANS 107.
Effective January 1, 2003, Ed-Eval programs may no longer be used unless a waiver is
obtained from the Bureau of Substance Abuse Services. |
In December 1999, a county survey was conducted to identify the usage of
Education-Evaluation (Ed-Eval) program alternatives for intoxicated drivers. We learned
that there are Ed-Eval programs in at least 25 counties having a total of 1,520 referrals
each year. After completing a review of administrative rules TRANS 106, TRANS 107, and HFS
62, the Joint Intoxicated Driver Program Advisory Committee has recommended that
Ed-Eval
programs are not appropriate for driver safety plans since they are not approved treatment
or education programs. Therefore, the Division of Supportive Living and the Division of
Motor Vehicles are instituting a procedure to phase out the use of Ed-Eval programs for
intoxicated driver clients by December 31, 2002. Designated county coordinators for the
intoxicated driver program (IDP) should notify Ed-Eval programs of this decision and begin
an orderly phase out of the programs. There are two options to replace these programs:
- Department of Transportation (DOT) approved education programs
- Department of Health and Family Services (DHS
) certified treatment programs
Under the state's intoxicated driver program, education programs are to be DOT-approved
programs. This includes Group Dynamics and Multiple Offender Programs operated by the
Wisconsin Technical College System. Treatment programs are to be DHS
-certified under
administrative rule HFS 75. Effective January 1, 2003, driver safety plan recommendations
must be either education or treatment, or education and treatment. A more detailed
explanation of this policy follows.
According to HFS 62.04, persons with a WAID finding of irresponsible use and two or
fewer operating while intoxicated (OWI) violations, shall be referred to DOT-approved
education programs (Group Dynamics or Multiple Offender Program) unless there are
extenuating circumstances. Persons with a WAID finding of irresponsible use-borderline
shall be referred to education programs, treatment programs, or both education and
treatment programs. HFS 62.04(4)(d) allows for: "short-term treatment counseling or
group participation for clients with a borderline irresponsible use finding supported by
assessment criteria." Driver safety plans and programs under HFS 62.04(4)(d) must be
treatment programs and are for those clients having treatment needs.
In rare instances where an assessor is unable to confirm or rule out treatment need
during the customary IDP assessment, and treatment need is suspected, assessment may be
extended by no more than one additional session (at client expense) until treatment need
is either confirmed or ruled out. Extending the customary assessment should be an
infrequent occurrence, and the client should always be notified ahead of time that an
additional session might be necessary at his or her expense.
If there is a lack of availability of DOT-approved education programs in the county, a
waiver may be obtained from the State Bureau of Substance Abuse Services to allow for the
provision of alternative education programs. In counties that have DOT-approved education
programs, the designated IDP coordinator and the traffic safety school coordinator must
jointly determine any extenuating factors or circumstances that would permit the use of an
alternative to a DOT-approved education program. An allowable exception to this joint
determination would include out-of-state referrals for education programs.
Staff in the Bureau of Substance Abuse Services are available to provide technical
assistance during this transition. Thank you for your cooperation.
Regional Office Contact:
Area Administrators/Assistant Area Administrators
Central Office Contact:
John W. Vick, Section Supervisor
Program Planning, Evaluation, and Monitoring Section
Bureau of Substance Abuse Services
1 W. Wilson St.
P.O. Box 7851
Madison WI 53707-7851
608-266-1987
E-mail: VickJW@wisconsin.gov
cc
Department of Transportation, Division of Motor Vehicles
Traffic Safety School Coordinators
Tribal Chairpersons/Human Services Facilitators
University of Wisconsin Department of Professional Development and Applied Studies
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