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, have intellectual, developmental, or physical disabilities, or have mental health and substance use disorders. Experienced 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 the screen.
Resources for certified screeners:
- Adult Long Term Care Functional Screen (LTCFS)
- Children's Long-Term Support Program (CLTS)
- Mental Health and Substance Use
- 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 testing 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)
- Contact Cheat Sheet for LTCFS Certified Screeners, P-02121 (PDF)
- Tools and Guides for Adult LTCFS Screeners:
- UW Oshkosh Continuing Skills Test
page (opens external link) - Screener certification online
course (opens external link) - Sign up for email updates about the Adult Long Term Care Functional
Screen (opens external link)
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 (opens external link) - 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 On-line
Course (opens external link) - Child Development Modules: Typical and Atypical
Development (opens external link)
CLTS FS teleconferences
- August 14, 2025
- November 13, 2025
2025
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
May 2023 recording (opens external video)
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 (opens external email) - CLTS FS Email:
dhscltsfs@dhs.wisconsin.gov (opens external email)
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:
A series of changes to the Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder Functional Screen took effect in 2023.
- Watch a presentation that provides an overview of the changes (opens external video)
- See the slides presented in the video (PDF)
Tools for screeners
- Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder Functional Screen – Instruction Manual and Best Practices, P-00934 (PDF)
- Functional Eligibility Screen for Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder Services, F-00258 (PDF)
- Functional Screen: Mental Health/Substance Use – Screener Instructions
If you have a question about the Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder Functional Screen, contact the Division of Care and Treatment Services at