Section 51.05. Information for inquirers.

 

(1)   Written information. The department shall provide to each person who makes an inquiry written information describing the special needs adoption program, the number and type of adoptive homes currently needed and the times and places of upcoming informational meetings.

(2)   Regional informational meetings. The department shall conduct at least one group informational meeting in each region following the announcement of needed adoptive family resources under s. DCF 51.04 (2) . The department may hold additional group informational meetings or may meet individually with inquiring families prior to the date of screening. At the group meetings or individual meetings the department shall provide information regarding adoption procedures, the screening process and the number and type of adoptive homes currently needed.

(3)   Required attendance. All persons desiring to proceed to the screening and application process shall attend either a group or individual informational meeting. Attendance is recommended, but not required, for persons who attended a department informational meeting within the past 2 years. Group informational meetings shall be held at handicapped-accessible sites and all letters and notices for the group meetings shall describe how special accommodations can be arranged. Persons invited to either an individual or group informational meeting but failing to respond or attend after 2 notices shall be dropped from the department's inquiry list.

(4)   Screening.

(a) The department shall provide a screening form to each person who attends a group or individual informational meeting and desires to continue with the screening process. The form shall enable persons to document their eligibility under s. DCF 51.07 (8) for the program and to specify special need categories for which they wish to be considered. The department shall not continue the screening process for persons declining to complete a screening form or to persons provided a screening form who do not complete and return the form prior to the published date of screening. The written information provided with the screening form shall indicate the date and place the screening forms are due. All communications regarding the form or requests for additional information shall include instructions for persons needing assistance to complete the form.

(b) The department shall document the date the screening information is received with all required information provided.

(c) The department may obtain additional information needed to make a screening decision by requesting additional written information or by conducting a screening interview.

(d) The information supplied by the person and provided to the department under pars. (a) and (c) shall be reviewed by the department according to the following criteria:

1. That the person meets a need for adoptive family resources determined in s. DCF 51.04 (1) .

2. That the person is likely to meet eligibility criteria in s. DCF 51.07 (8) .

3. That when inquiries exceed the need for adoptive family resources determined in s. DCF 51.04 (1) , preference is given to inquiries from persons who demonstrate greater interest and experience with multiple types of special needs.

(e) If the department determines that the person making the inquiry does not meet the screening criteria in par. (d) or the need for adoptive family resources determined in s. DCF 51.04 (1) has been met, the department shall notify the person making the inquiry within 30 days of the date the screening form was due of the reasons why the department has determined that the person does not meet screening criteria.

(f) If the department determines that a person making an inquiry meets the screening criteria in par. (d) , the department shall notify the inquirer in writing within 30 days of the date the screening form was due and provide the inquirer with a formal application form and instructions for completing it.

(g) Persons interested in adopting a special needs child already in their home who is legally free for adoption are exempt from attending informational meetings and from screening requirements. Those persons may request and shall be provided with an application form from the department's regional office responsible for service to the child at any time after the department becomes the guardian of the child.

(h) An adult relative of a child needing adoptive placement, including a sibling, aunt, uncle or grandparent, may request an application for a home study and is exempt from attending informational meetings and from screening requirements.

(i) The bureau director or a designee may authorize a home study of a family other than a applicant selected in par. (d) , (g) or (h) only if there is documented evidence that the action is necessary to ensure that an adoptive home is made available on a timely basis for a special needs child awaiting placement for whom no studied family or family screened and in the process of home study is known as an appropriate resource.

History: Cr. Register, December, 1995, No. 480 , eff. 1-1-96; corrections in (2), (4) (a), (d) and (e) made under s. 13.92 (4) (b) 7. , Stats., Register November 2008 No. 635 .