Section 51.10. Preadoption preparation training.

 

(1)   Who must receive preadoption training. As required under s. 48.84 (1) , Stats., all of the following individuals shall receive preadoption preparation training before the adoption is finalized:

(a) The proposed adoptive parent or parents of a child placed for adoption under s. 48.833 , Stats., if the proposed adoptive parent or parents have not previously adopted a child.

(b) The proposed adoptive parent or parents prior to petitioning for placement of a child for adoption under s. 48.837 , Stats., if the proposed adoptive parent or parents have not previously adopted a child.

(c) A proposed adoptive parent or parents prior to bringing a child into this state for adoption under s. 48.839 , Stats., if the proposed adoptive parent or parents have not previously adopted a child.

(d) A proposed adoptive parent or parents prior to receiving department approval of the placement for an international adoption under s. 48.97 , Stats.

(2)   Who may provide preadoptive preparation training. As required under s. 48.84 (1) , Stats., preadoptive preparation training shall be provided to a person identified in sub. (1) by any one of the following entities:

(a) A licensed child welfare agency.

(b) A licensed private adoption agency.

(c) The state adoption information exchange under s. 48.55 , Stats.

(d) The state adoption center under s. 48.55 , Stats.

(e) A state-funded foster care and adoption resource center.

(f) A state-funded postadoption resource center.

(3)   Content and number of hours of preadoption preparation training.

(a) Orientation. The training shall include a minimum of 2 hours of orientation for the adoptive parent or parents to the purpose and function of the agency through which the child is being adopted and a description of the support and services available to the adoptive family by that agency and other postadoption services available to the adoptive family through other agencies.

(b) Core competencies.

1. Training on the core competencies identified in this paragraph shall consist of a minimum of 16 hours. Any training provided to meet the requirements of this section by any of the entities described in sub. (2) shall include the attainment of specific knowledge by the adoptive parent or parents through the development of the following competencies:

a. Adoption and its impact on parenting and family dynamics.

b. The issues for a child in an adoptive placement.

c. Loss and grief for the adopted child and the adoptive family.

d. Attachment issues in adoptive placements.

e. Support and resources for adopted children and adoptive families.

f. Cultural sensitivity in adoption.

g. Effects of abuse and neglect in adoption.

h. Legal issues relating to adoption.

i. Issues of children being adopted from an institutionalized care setting.

j. Educational issues in adoption.

2. The training on the competencies shall assure that the adoptive parent or parents are provided with information appropriate to the needs of the child to be adopted.

(c) Format of training. The preadoptive preparation training may be provided using a variety of formats including, but not limited to, face-to-face individual or group training, audio-visual means, and printed material. In all methods, there shall be an opportunity for the adoptive parent to discuss, in person, with a representative of the agency arranging the adoption the material presented and an opportunity to present and receive answers to any questions. The agency through which the adoptive parent or parents are adopting the child shall also determine through in person contact with the adoptive parent or parents whether the adoptive parent or parents have learned the competencies identified in par. (b) 1. a. to j.

(4)   Exception to the preadoption preparation training.

(a) If the preadoptive parent or parents held a foster care license and received foster parent training within the 12 months prior to the application to adopt a child, the preadoptive parent or parents shall do all of the following:

1. Attend the orientation under sub. (3) (a) .

2. Participate in core competency training under sub. (3) (b) , except as provided in par. (b) of this subsection.

(b) The agency through which the preadoptive parent or parents have applied to adopt a child shall compare the competencies included in the foster parent training received by the preadoptive parent or parents under par. (a) with the core competencies identified in sub. (3) (b) . The adoption agency shall require the preadoptive parent or parents to participate in the preadoptive training to the extent that is necessary for the preadoptive parent or parents to have received 2 hours of orientation training under sub. (3) (a) and 16 hours of core training that includes all of the core competencies under sub. (3) (b) through either the previous foster parent training or the preadoptive preparation training.

(5)   Documentation and record of the receipt of the preadoption preparation training.

(a) Documentation of the receipt of the preadoption preparation training shall be maintained in the preadoptive parent's or parents' record for at least 5 years, unless otherwise required by statute or regulation, by all of the following:

1. The preadoptive parent or parents.

2. The agency through which the preadoptive parent or parents have applied to adopt a child.

3. The agency which granted the foster care license under ch. DCF 56 to the preadoptive parent or parents.

4. The agency which provided the preadoptive preparation training to the preadoptive parent or parents.

(b) The documentation of the training received and competencies learned by the preadoptive parent or parents shall be provided by any of the entities under par. (a) 1. to 4. to any county, state, or federal entity which is authorized to determine compliance with the requirements of this chapter.

History: Emerg. cr. eff. 4-1-07; CR 07-028 : cr. Register July 2007 No. 619 , eff. 8-1-07; correction in (5) (a) 3. made under s. 13.92 (4) (b) 7. , Stats., Register November 2008 No. 635 .

Note

A proposed adoptive parent or parents who adopted a child in a foreign jurisdiction before April 1, 2007, and that adoption is recognized by the State of Wisconsin, will not be considered a first-time adoptive parent or parents for purposes of DCF 51.10. Microsoft Windows NT 6.1.7601 Service Pack 1 A proposed adoptive parent or parents who adopted a child in the court of any other state or nation, while the parent was a resident of that state or nation, and then seeks to adopt a different child in a Wisconsin court will not be considered a first-time adoptive parent or parents for the purposes of DCF 51.10. Microsoft Windows NT 6.1.7601 Service Pack 1