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Intoxicated Driver Program Best Practices Guide

Section 2: Assessment Agency Roles and Responsibilities

Assessment agencies serve as the gateway to Intoxicated Driver Program (IDP). In accordance with Wis. Admin. Code ch. DHS 62, Tribal nations and counties must authorize a single IDP assessment agency to conduct assessments and develop driver safety programs. These agencies also are responsible for maintaining policies and procedures that promote consistent, equitable service delivery.

Assessment agencies should create and maintain written procedures that:

  • Clarify agency-specific expectations for IDP service delivery.
  • Align with administrative code and relevant DHS guidance.
  • Prepare the agency for periodic review by the Division of Quality Assurance.

Clear internal policies help ensure compliance, protect client rights, and support uniform implementation of IDP statewide.

It is important to note that the IDP assessment is not a diagnostic evaluation and should not be used to establish a clinical diagnosis. Rather, it functions as a structured screening tool designed to identify patterns of substance use, related risk factors, and service needs. The purpose of the assessment is to support appropriate therapeutic referral and placement within the driver safety plan (DSP), consistent with Wisconsin Assessment of the Impaired Driver (WAID) criteria and applicable administrative code. While clinical information may inform decision-making, the IDP assessment is intended to guide level-of-care recommendations and service matching, not to replace a comprehensive diagnostic assessment conducted by a qualified treatment provider as part of the DSP referral.

WAID

The WAID is the tool created for and owned by the State of Wisconsin for use in conducting intoxicated driver assessments per Wis. Admin. Code ch. DHS 62.

It was initially developed by Dr. George Jacobson and has been adapted over time to address both alcohol and other substances. The current version (F-01336 revised in January 2025) must be used in all IDP assessments ordered through DHS.

The WAID must be administered using a personal interview with the client.

Wis. Admin. Code § DHS 62.07(3)(a) states that the WAID document may not be copied or distributed. The official use of the WAID is limited to usage only during OWI assessments by approved IDP assessment agencies and trained assessors designated by a Tribal nation or county. IDP assessment agencies must have an appointment by the county as the single-identified assessment agency and hold the proper certifications under Wis. Admin. Code chs. DHS 62 and DHS 75. Therefore, the blank WAID document may not be shared or distributed to unauthorized individuals or entities.

Once client information is placed on the WAID, the document becomes part of the patient record. DHS does not consider uploading the completed WAID into an electronic health record or electronic medical record copying of the WAID document. A health or medical record should be maintained on each patient and should be completely and accurately documented, systematically organized, and readily accessible to authorized personnel. Health or medical record information should be safeguarded against loss, destruction, or unauthorized use. Written procedures developed by each Tribal nation and county should be established to control use and removal of records, and to identify conditions for release of information. Each Tribal nation and county, and if designated by the Tribal nation or county, the IDP assessment agency, should ensure due diligence and security related to the WAID and authorize written policies and procedures as such.

Assessment agencies must develop clear protocols for storing, securing, and accessing WAID forms, with policies reflecting Wis. Admin. Code ch. DHS 62, Wis. Admin. Code § DHS 75.15, and HIPAA-compliant recordkeeping standards. Per Wis. Admin. Code § DHS 75.15(5)(d), a service shall have written policies, procedures and staff training to ensure compliance with confidentiality provisions of 42 CFR part 2, 45 CFR parts 164 and 170, and Wis. Stats. § 51.30, and Wis. Admin. Code ch. DHS 92. Each staff member shall sign a statement acknowledging his or her responsibility to maintain confidentiality of personal information about persons served.

DSP provider collaboration

Assessment agencies are encouraged to maintain open, collaborative communication with local DSP providers, including education programs and treatment agencies, to ensure expectations and protocols are well understood.

There should be:

  • A shared understanding of the WAID and its non-diagnostic function, including the “diagnostic terms” required of the WAID.
  • Clarification that DSP referrals are based on administrative code, not placement criteria.
  • Agreement that DSP services must reflect the least restrictive level of intervention appropriate to the WAID finding, per Wis. Admin. Code § DHS 62.07(1)(h).

Each assessment agency is responsible for maintaining a current list of approved DSP providers in accordance with DHS 62.05(1)(b), which must be provided to clients at the time of referral. This list should be reviewed at least monthly to ensure accuracy, including confirmation of active certification status with DHS, the Division of Quality Assurance.

Assessment agencies are also responsible for promptly reporting any changes in DSP provider status, including changes in certification or agency information (example: address updates) to DOT.

All approved DSP providers must be submitted to DOT for assignment of a DSP provider number, which the assessor needs for the Wisconsin Assessment Program (WASP).

Client interactions

Although IDP assessments are not treatment, counseling, or clinical, they can serve as an important intervention point for behavior change.

Assessment agencies should support a respectful, transparent, and trauma-informed approach to client communication. Client frustrations can often be minimized when they feel heard.

Assessment agencies must:

  • Prohibit discrimination [Wis. Admin. Code § DHS 62.05(1)(a)4].
  • Encourage client participation in DSP development [Wis. Admin. Code § 62.07(1)(e)].
  • Provide a current list of approved DSP providers and their right to choose [Wis. Admin. Code § DHS 62.07(6)(a)].
  • Protect client confidentiality [Wis. Admin. Code § DHS 62.13].
  • Safeguard client rights as defined in Wis. Admin. Code ch. DHS 62.

Training in motivational interviewing, cultural responsiveness, and trauma-informed care is encouraged to improve engagement and support client autonomy.

Appeals and grievances

Every client has the right to appeal their assessment finding or DSP recommendation.

While many concerns can be resolved through open communication with a client, assessors must follow due diligence to ensure defensible, code-aligned assessments.

Assessment agencies should:

  • Establish written appeal/grievance procedures, aligned with the requirements noted in Wis. Admin. Code § DHS 62.15 and Wis. Admin. Code ch. DHS 94.
  • Use the WAID scoring rubric with fidelity, avoiding judgment-based decisions.
  • Communicate DSP expectations clearly and respectfully.
  • Work with clients to develop their DSP and explain expectations/requirements.
  • Ensure recommendations are based on Wis. Admin. Code ch. DHS 62, not assessor preferences or availability.

If a client chooses to seek a second opinion, they may do so through a different approved assessment agency, at their own expense. The original agency is still responsible for submitting the DSP to DOT and must review the second assessment before making any plan modifications. DHS maintains an online directory of approved IDP assessment agencies.

Note: Appeals are rare. Assessors report that going the findings of the WAID and DSP recommendations with clients at the time of the assessment decreases misunderstandings and supports a client's readiness to change, including complying with their DSP requirements.)

Go back - Section 1: Tribal Nation/County Roles and Responsibilities
Next - Section 3: Assessor Roles and Responsibilities

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