Wisconsin's Functional Screen
Wisconsin's Functional Screen system is a web-based application used to collect information about an individual's functional status, health, and need for assistance for various programs that serve:
- People who are elderly.
- People who have intellectual/development or physical disabilities.
- People who have mental health and substance use disorders.
Professionals, usually social workers or registered nurses, who have taken an online training course and passed a certification exam are able to access and administer functional screens.
Resources for certified functional screeners:
- Adult Long-Term Care Functional Screen (LTCFS)
- Children's Long-Term Support (CLTS) Functional Screen
- Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder Functional Screen
- General resources for all screeners
General information
- Overview of the Long Term-Care Functional Screen (LTCFS): Background information on the history and use of the LTCFS.
- Papers on the validity and reliability of Wisconsin's functional screens:
- Adult Long-Term Care Functional Screen (LTCFS) Validity (PDF)
- Children's Long-Term Support Functional Screen (CLTS FS) Validity (PDF)
These papers were prepared as part of Wisconsin's applications to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services for approval of the CLTS FS and Adult LTCFS.
Resources for Adult Long-Term Care Functional Screen screeners
- Wisconsin Adult Long-Term Care Functional Screen, F-00366 (Word) Updated October 1, 2024
- Wisconsin Long-Term Care Functional Screen Instructions Updated October 1, 2024
- Glossary of Acronyms, P-01010 (PDF)
- Basic Information for Screeners, P-01604 (PDF)
- Tools and guides for Adult LTCFS screeners:
- Functional Screener Learning Center: Online Certification Course
- Functional Screen Learning Center: Continuing Skills Testing (CST)
- Sign up for email updates about the Adult Long-Term Care Functional Screen
Adult Functional Screen Liaison Toolkit
Learn about your role as a screen liaison and find step-by-step instructions on how to add and remove screeners, run reports, and fill out the agency contact information page, and more.
Resources for Children's Long-Term Support (CLTS) Functional Screen screeners
- CLTS FS Clinical Instructions (Updated April 2025)
- Children’s Long-Term Support Functional Screen and Clinical Instruction Updates, P-03083 (PDF)
- Institutional Levels of Care: Children’s Long-Term Support Programs in Wisconsin, P-03027 (PDF)
- Sign up for email updates about the CLTS Functional Screen
- Tools and guides for CLTS FS screeners
- Creating a Document of Age-Dependent ADL and IADL Questions (FSIA), P-03470 (PDF)
- Creating Timeline Reports in Functional Screen Information Access (FSIA), P-03295 (PDF)
- Diagnosis Cue Sheet, P-00920 (PDF)
- Norm-Referenced Assessment Tools for Communication and Learning, P-00933 (PDF)
- Paper Form, F-00367 (PDF)
- Screener Certification Online Course
- Child Development Modules: Typical and Atypical Development
CLTS FS teleconferences
- November 13, 2025
2025
August 14, 2025: CLTS FS Certified Screener Course and access, Active Screener Report in FSIA, MyWisconsin ID, not functionally eligible (NFE) quality assurance, CLTS FS best practices, resources, outreach
May 8, 2025: CLTS FS Certified Screener Course and access, CLTS FS best practices, not functionally eligible (NFE) quality assurance, resources, outreach
February 13, 2025: CLTS FS Certified Screener course and access, CLTS FS helpful reports, CLTS FS best practices: FS efficiencies, ForwardHealth entry errors, resources, outreach
2024
November 14, 2024: CLTS Program eligibility appeals, CLTS FS best practices, resources, outreach
August 8, 2024: Questions received on Clinical Instruction updates, detailed preview of Functional Screen changes, resources, outreach
May 9, 2024: Overview of Functional Screen Clinical Instruction updates, preview Functional Screen changes, Oshkosh Learning Center screen lead outreach
February 8, 2024: Functional screen not functionally eligible (NFE) reviews, functional screen data from 2023, functional screen reminders, functional screen clarifications
2023
November 9, 2023: Functional screen access, functional screen reports, functional screen reminders, not functionally eligible (NFE) screen confirmation process
August 10, 2023: Rescreen reviews, Katie Beckett Medicaid/CLTS Unwinding update, resources, upcoming outreach
May 11, 2023: Rescreen Q&A
April 20, 2023: Rescreen essentials
February 9, 2023: Screener essentials
2022
November 10, 2022: Coordination between CLTS Waiver and CCS and the CLTS FS (program selection, “CCS Question,” quality review of screens, joint memo, FAQ review)
August 11, 2022: Initial eligibility determination timelines (terminology, barriers, tips); quality screen review (behaviors, IADLs, ADLs)
May 12, 2022: Screen timeliness; NFE review process; behaviors/social competency; COVID-19 Unwinding; resources/trainings
February 10, 2022: CLTS Waiver Renewal; defining roles, activities, resources for CLTS FS Leads
2021
November 4, 2021: Overview of CLTS FS updates' CLTS FS Clinical Instructions Module 6 ADL/IADLs; Module 9 Screen time and Notes; Module 10 Functional Eligibility Results; Module 11 Resources for Certified Screeners
October 14, 2021: Overview of CLTS FS updates; CLTS FS Clinical Instructions: Module 4 Mental Health; Module 5 Behaviors; Module 7 School & Work; Module 8 Health-Related Services
September 9, 2021: Overview of CLTS FS updates; CLTS FS Clinical Instructions: Module 1 Information pages; Module 3 Diagnoses
Contact information
- DHS SOS Email: dhssoshelp@dhs.wisconsin.gov
- CLTS FS Email: dhscltsfs@dhs.wisconsin.gov
Archived documents
- Summary of Changes to the CLTS FS, P-02035C (PDF)
- System Change Notice: Age Cohorts, Non-Functional Eligibility Results Display, Suicidality Look-Back Period (PDF)
- CLTS Functional Screen Tips
Resources for Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder Functional Screen screeners
The Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder Functional Screen determines eligibility for:
Tools for screeners
- Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder Functional Screen Instructions, P-00934
- Functional Eligibility Screen for Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder Services, F-00258 (PDF)
If you have a question about the Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder Functional Screen, contact the Division of Care and Treatment Services at dhsdctsfs@dhs.wisconsin.gov.
Sign up for email updates regarding the Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder Functional Screen.