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Children's Long-Term Support Program: Completing a Functional Screen
(#3 of 8 in Series)
Reviewed December 2025
The Children’s Long-Term Support Program (CLTS) provides funding and support for families who have children with disabilities so they can care for their children at home and fully participate in their communities.
Getting Started
The functional screen is an evaluation tool that considers a variety of information on your child’s health including their need for support and how they play and interact with others. Many programs in Wisconsin providing services for children with special needs require a functional screen to determine eligibility. Examples include: CLTS, the Children’s Community Options Program (CCOP), Comprehensive Community Services (CCS), and the Katie Beckett Medicaid Program.
The functional screen is only used to establish your child’s functional eligibility, not their overall program eligibility. Children who are found to be functionally eligible for these programs will also need to be financially eligible for Medicaid to participate.
To get started, a service coordinator will meet with your family and ask questions about your child. They will complete a functional screen based on these answers. It is reviewed and a determination of eligibility is made by the Department of Health Services (DHS).
Preparing for a Functional Screen: Rosy vs. Realistic
Parents want to be positive about what their child can or may be able to do, this paints an overly rosy picture of their child’s skills for friends and family. When meeting with county staff to complete a functional screening, it’s important to be as realistic as possible about your child’s daily living skills, and less rosy. Before you meet with agency staff, think about the following situation:
Imagine you have to leave your child with a distant relative for a week or a month. How would you explain everything that you do to keep your child safe, healthy, and cared for? Your instructions would have to be very detailed. This is the level of detail to share during the functional screen. Tell the screener the issues that might happen only occasionally as well as things that happen every day. Remember, this is the time to be as realistic as possible.
On an average day, how much help or support do you provide to your child and how much time does that take? Then, consider a difficult day—What does that look like?
Tip for Families
Talking about what is difficult for our kids in front of them can be very hard. It’s okay to ask them to play in another room when you respond to the screener’s questions. It may be more comfortable opening up knowing your children can’t hear you.
These questions can assist you to have a more realistic view of the care that you provide and can help give a realistic view of your child to the screener:
- Are you up with your child during the night?
- How much of your involvement and support is needed at mealtimes?
- What is it like when your child does not feel well or has a bad day at school?
- What support or help is provided by other family members and what if that help is not available?
Examples of a Rosy vs. Realistic Perspective:
Rosy = Ben can dress himself independently.
Realistic = Ben can dress independently but only if I have weather-appropriate clothes set out and I handle any zippers and buttons.
Rosy = Sophie can communicate her needs to me.
Realistic = Most of the time, people who are unfamiliar with Sophie do not know what she wants or cannot understand her words or signs.
Rosy = Aiden plays with his siblings after school.
Realistic = If he’s supervised by an adult, and he’s not having a bad day, Aiden can play with his brother and sister for about a half hour before he has a meltdown.
If it helps you prepare, families can see the functional screen questions on the DHS website at dhs.wisconsin.gov/functionalscreen/index.htm. You can also see the completed functional screen questions and your responses. This can be reviewed (if requested) with the screener or you can ask for a copy.
Tip for Families
While the questions asked by the screener might appear to be looking for a yes or no, your responses don’t need to be. If something needs to be explained to be understood, take the time to spell things out until you feel you have answered completely.
The Appeals Process
If your child is found not functionally eligible and you disagree, you can appeal this denial. Contact the county staff who completed the screen and ask to review the results. Was information missing or not thoroughly explained about your child’s needs as the tool was completed? Families can request a new functional screen, especially as children grow and their needs change.
If you still feel your child is eligible but that this process isn’t giving the results you’re looking for, consider completing the state appeals process.
Learn more: Appealing a Denial
Give it Time: Families are encouraged to wait 9-to-12 months to request a new functional screen. Sometimes in younger children, the differences between a typically developing child and a child with a disability are not as profound. As your child gets older their challenges may become clearer, and they may then qualify for the CLTS Program or other services. You can request a new functional screen if there are changes in your family’s living situation, your child’s condition, or behavior.
Resources
- The CLTS Program Participant and Family Handbook offers explanations of all topics related to the CLTS Program and where to learn more if your family has questions.
INFORMATION AND RESOURCES
Wisconsin Wayfinder: Children’s Resource Network, 877-WiscWay (877-947-2929): Wisconsin Wayfinder offers families one name and phone number to find services for children with special health care needs. Wayfinder connects you to a resource guide at one of the five Children’s Resource Centers in your area.
Do you need a resource in another format or a printed copy? Contact Lynn@fvofwi.org.
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