Wisconsin Administrative Code

DCF 39.11 Procedures for being identified as a parent of a newborn. (1) If a parent who relinquished a newborn anonymously under s. DCF 39.08 (1) later wishes to be identified as a parent of the newborn, or the other parent of the newborn wishes to be identified as a parent of th…

DCF 39.12 Immunity from liability. Any parent who relinquishes custody of a newborn under this chapter and any person who assists a parent in that relinquishment, and any law enforcement officer, emergency medical technician, or hospital staff member who takes a newborn into cust…

DCF 39.13 Medical assistance eligibility. A newborn who is taken into custody under this chapter is presumed to be eligible for medical assistance as specified in s. 48.195 (5), Stats. the chapter was last published.

DCF 40.01 Purpose. This chapter specifies the procedures for review of a determination that a specific person has abused or neglected a child under s. 48.981 (3) (c) 5m., and 5p., Stats., and for ensuring that authorized information is available for background checks as provided …

DCF 40.02 Definitions. In this chapter: (1) XAbuseY has the meaning given in s. 48.02 (1), Stats., and as further defined in the standards established by the department for conducting child abuse and neglect investigations under s. 48.981 (3) (c) 1. a., Stats. Note: The departmen…

DCF 40.03 Review of an initial determination. (1) NOTICE. If an agency makes an initial determination that a specific person has abused or neglected a child, the agency shall send by first class mail all of the following information to the person by the next working day: DCF 40.0…

DCF 40.04 Final determination and hearing procedures. (1) Within 10 days after the date of the review of the initial determination, the individual or panel conducting the review of the initial determination under s. DCF 40.03 shall make a final determination on whether the person…

DCF 40.05 Other requirements. (1) The agency records related to an initial determination and the subsequent review and hearing shall be governed by the confidentiality provisions of s. 48.981 (7), Stats. (2) An initial or final determination that a specific person has abused or n…

DCF 40.06 Background checks. The agency shall ensure that authorized information regarding the final determination that a specific person has abused or neglected a child is available for background checks under ss. 48.685, 48.686, and 50.065, Stats., within 15 days after the agen…

DCF 43.01 Authority and purpose. This chapter is promulgated under the authority of s. 48.981 (8) (d) 1. and 2., Stats., to establish standards for pre-service, foundation, and inservice training for child protective services caseworkers and supervisors who provide child protecti…

DCF 43.02 Applicability. This chapter applies to the department; county departments under ss. 46.215, 46.22, and 46.23, Stats.; child welfare agencies licensed under s. 48.60, Stats., and under contract with the department or a county department to provide child protective servic…

DCF 43.03 Definitions. In this chapter: (1) XAccessY means the function of the agency to gather information leading to a determination of the need for child protective services intervention. (2) XAgencyY means the department, a county department under s. 46.215, 46.22, or 46.23, …

DCF 43.04 Child protective services caseworker training. (1) PRE-SERVICE TRAINING REQUIREMENTS. (a) Except as specified in s. DCF 43.06 (1), each individual who is employed as a child protective services caseworker shall complete pre-service training. The web-based portion of the…

DCF 43.05 Child protective services supervisor training. (1) PRE-SERVICE TRAINING REQUIREMENTS. (a) Unless granted an exemption under s. DCF 43.06 (1), each individual who is employed as a child protective services supervisor shall complete pre-service training under s. DCF 43.04…

DCF 43.06 Training exemptions; child protective services caseworkers and supervisors. (1) PRE-SERVICE TRAINING. At the discretion of the employing agency, the employing agency may exempt a child protective services caseworker or supervisor from pre-service training for any one of…

DCF 43.07 Monitoring of compliance with the child protective service training requirements. The employing agency shall enter the effective date of employment of each child protective services caseworker and supervisor in the training section of the statewide automated child welfa…

DCF 43.08 Agency initiated training. Nothing in this chapter prevents an employing agency from requiring a child protective services caseworker or supervisor to complete training that is in addition to the training required under this chapter. the chapter was last published.

DCF 49.01 Authority and purpose. These rules are promulgated under the authority of s. 48.55 (2), Stats., to specify functions of a state adoption information center which is established pursuant to s. 48.55, Stats., to increase public knowledge of adoption and to bring to the at…

DCF 49.02 Applicability. This chapter applies to the department and to any individual or private agency operating the state adoption information center under contract with the department. History: Cr. Register, May, 1992, No. 437, eff. 6-1-92.

DCF 49.03 Definitions. In this chapter: (1) XCenterY means the state adoption information center established by the department pursuant to s. 48.55, Stats. (2) XDepartmentY means the Wisconsin department of children and families. History: Cr. Register, May, 1992, No. 437, eff. 6-…

DCF 49.04 Establishment and operation of the center. The department shall establish an adoption information center and shall operate the center or contract with a private individual or agency to operate the center. History: Cr. Register, May, 1992, No. 437, eff. 6-1-92.

DCF 49.05 Center functions. The adoption information center shall carry out the following functions: (1) Operate a toll-free telephone line to provide information and referral services, as follows: (a) Provide coverage 24 hours a day by staff, trained volunteers, an answering ser…

DCF 49.06 Administration. (1) ADVISORY BOARD. If the center is not operated by the department, the center director shall appoint a board of volunteers to advise him or her in regard to the focus of center activities, response to department evaluations, and new or controversial pr…

DCF 50.01 Authority and purpose. (1) FACILITATING Sections DCF 50.02 to 50.08 are promulgated under the authority of ss. 48.48 (1), (2), and (8), 48.55 (2), 48.88 (2), and 227.11 (2), Stats., to facilitate public adoptions by doing all of the following: (a) Establishing criteria …

DCF 50.02 Definitions. In this chapter: (1) “Adoption” means a process provided by law to establish the legal relationship of parent and child between persons who do not have that relationship by birth, with the same mutual rights, obligations, and legal consequences that exist b…

DCF 50.03 Need for adoptive parents. (1) ASSESSThe department shall periodically determine the need to MENT. 2 recruit prospective adoptive parents considering a public adoption by reviewing all of the following: (a) Children who need or may need adoptive parents. 1. The number o…

DCF 50.04 Screening for public adoption. (1) IN(a) The department shall offer informational meetings for prospective adoptive parents considering a public adoption. (b) The meetings shall include information on all of the following: 1. Adoption procedures and resources. 2. The ge…

DCF 50.05 Home study for public adoption. (1) DEFINITION. In this section “applicant” means prospective adoptive parents who apply for a home study under this section and are any of the following: (a) An adult married couple who live together, have been married for at least one y…

DCF 50.06 Appeal of screening and home study denials. (1) An individual who received a screening denial under s. DCF 50.04 (5) (c) or a home study denial under s. DCF 50.05 (9) (d) may send a written request for review by the bureau director or a designee within 30 days after the…

DCF 50.07 Adoption information exchange. (1) SERVICES. The department shall establish or contract with an entity with expertise in adoption issues to establish an adoption information exchange that includes all of the following services: (a) An Internet-based photolisting of chil…

DCF 50.08 Placement for the purpose of a public adoption. (1) BEST INTEREST OF THE CHILD. (a) The public adoption agency that is responsible for placing a child for adoption or, if the child is at legal risk, the placing agency, shall determine if placement with specific prospect…

DCF 50.09 Eligibility for adoption assistance. The department shall determine if all of the following conditions are met before entering into an agreement to provide adoption assistance for a child: (1) ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA FOR THE CHILD. (a) Age. The child is under 18 years of a…

DCF 50.10 Application for adoption assistance. (1) TIMING. An application for adoption assistance shall be completed on forms prescribed by the department and a written, signed agreement to provide adoption assistance shall be made prior to the adoption. (2) EXTENUATING CIRCUMSTA…

DCF 50.11 Amount of adoption assistance. (1) MONTHLY ADOPTION ASSISTANCE PAYMENT. (a) The amount of a monthly adoption assistance payment is as indicated in the initial adoption assistance agreement or in an amendment to the agreement signed by the adoptive parent and the departm…

DCF 50.12 Supplemental payments under adoption assistance agreements entered into before July 1, 2011. (1) COVERAGE. This section applies to supplemental payments provided under adoption assistance agreements entered into before July 1, 2011. (2) SUPPLEMENTAL PAYMENTS. (a) The de…

DCF 50.13 Adoption assistance agreement. (1) The department shall enter into a written adoption assistance agreement with the proposed adoptive parents of a child eligible for assistance under s. DCF 50.09 prior to the adoption. The agreement shall be signed by the proposed adopt…

DCF 50.14 Amendment to adjust payment amount. (1) DEFINITION. In this section, “substantial change in circumstances” means a change that has occurred to the child in one or more areas of special needs, including physical, behavioral, or emotional special needs, that would result …

DCF 50.15 Notification and review requirements. (1) POST-AGREEMENT AND PLACEMENT. (a) Family notification requirements. After the department has signed and approved the adoption assistance agreement and the child has been placed in the home, the adoptive or proposed adoptive pare…

DCF 50.16 Adoption assistance overpayments. The department may recover an overpayment of adoption assistance from adoptive parents by any of the following means: (1) Reducing the amount of the monthly adoption assistance payments by an amount agreed to by the adoptive parents and…

DCF 50.17 Adoption assistance reviews and appeals. (1) BEFORE ADOPTION IS FINAL. (a) Prior to the entry of the adoption order, proposed adoptive parents may contest a department action by requesting any of the following: 1. A review by the division administrator or designee. 2. A…

DCF 51.01 Authority and purpose. This chapter is promulgated under the authority of ss. 48.84 and 227.11 (2), Stats., to establish the topics and procedures for the preadoption training required for prospective adoptive parents who have not previously adopted a child.

DCF 51.02 Definitions. In this chapter: (1) “Adoption” means a process provided by law to establish the legal relationship of parent and child between persons who do not have that relationship by birth, with the same mutual rights and obligations that exist between the child and …

DCF 51.03 When preadoption training is required. A prospective adoptive parent who has not previously adopted a child shall complete preadoption training before any of the following: (1) A child may be placed under s. 48.833, Stats., for adoption by the proposed adoptive parent. …

DCF 51.04 Who may provide training. Only an entity authorized under s. 48.84 (1), Stats., may provide preadoption training.

DCF 51.05 Content and number of hours. (1) A prospective adoptive parent shall complete at least 25 hours of preadoption training that includes all of the following topics: (a) Adoption and its impact on parenting and family dynamics. (b) The issues for a child in an adoptive pla…

DCF 51.06 Format of training. (1) Preadoption training shall include all of the following: (a) At least 6 hours of training that is provided in person, either individually or in a group. (b) At least 6 hours of training that is appropriate to the specific needs of the child to be…

DCF 51.07 Credit for foster parent training. (1) COMPLETION OF THE STANDARDIZED CURRICULUM. Notwithstanding s. DCF 51.05, a prospective adoptive parent that has completed the foster parent training under s. DCF 56.14 (6d) or (7) may receive credit as appropriate toward the 25 hou…