Section 55.02. Definitions.

  In this chapter:

(1)  "Agency" means a county department of social services under s. 46.22 , Stats.; a county department of human services under s. 46.23 , Stats.; or, in a county having a population of 750,000 or more, the department.

(2)  "Background information disclosure" means a form prescribed by the department on which a person completes required information for the caregiver background check under s. 48.685 , Stats.

(3)  "Child" means a person less than 18 years of age.

(4)  "Department" means the department of children and families.

(5)  "Division of hearings and appeals" means a division in the department of administration.

(5m)  "Final substantiated finding" means all of the following:

(a) A final determination made after January 1, 2015, that a person has abused or neglected a child under s. 48.981 (3) (c) 5m. , Stats., and s. DCF 40.04 if the final determination has not been reversed or modified on appeal.

(b) A determination made before January 1, 2015, that a person has abused or neglected a child under s. 48.981 (3) (c) 4. , 2011 Stats., if the determination has not been reversed or modified on appeal.

(6)  "Interim caretaker" means a person seeking or receiving payments under s. 48.623 (6) , Stats.

(7)  "Like-kin" means a person who has a significant emotional relationship with the child or the child's family and who, prior to the child's placement in out-of-home care, had an existing relationship with the child or the child's family that is similar to a familial relationship.

(8)  "Nonclient resident" has the same meaning as in s. DCF 12.02 (18) .

(9)  "Out-of-home care" for the purpose of sub. (7) means physical custody of a child or juvenile under any of the following paragraphs:

(a) Sections 48.205 (1) , 48.207 , 48.208 , 48.209 , 48.21 , 48.32 , 48.345 , 48.357 , 48.363 , or 48.365 , Stats., or a substantially similar Wisconsin tribal law.

(b) Sections 938.205 (1) , 938.207 , 938.208 , 938.209 , 938.21 , 938.32 , 938.345 , 938.357 , 938.363 , or 938.365 , Stats., or a substantially similar Wisconsin tribal law.

(c) A voluntary placement agreement under s. 48.63 (1) , Stats., or a substantially similar Wisconsin tribal law.

(10)  "Permanency plan" has the same meaning as in ss. 48.38 (1) (b) and 938.38 (1) (b) , Stats.

(11)  "Relative" means all of the following:

(a) A parent, stepparent, brother, sister, stepbrother, stepsister, half brother, half sister, brother-in-law, sister-in-law, first cousin, 2nd cousin, nephew, niece, uncle, aunt, stepuncle, stepaunt, or any person of a preceding generation as denoted by the prefix of grand, great, or great-great, whether by blood, marriage, or legal adoption, or the spouse of any person named in this paragraph, even if the marriage is terminated by death or divorce.

(b) For purposes of the application of s. 48.028 , Stats., and the federal Indian Child Welfare Act, 25 USC 1901 to 1963 , "relative" includes an extended family member, as defined in s. 48.028 (2) (am) , Stats., whether by blood, marriage, or adoption, including adoption under tribal law or custom.

(12)  "Subsidized guardianship payment" means a payment pursuant to an agreement between an agency and a guardian entered into under s. 48.623 , Stats., or s. 48.62 (5) , 2009 Stats.

(13)  "Supplemental payment" means the portion of a subsidized guardianship payment that is based on a child's identified needs.

CR: 12-045: cr. Register May 2013 No. 689 , eff. 6-1-13; CR 16-014 : cr. (5m), am. (8) Register June 2016 No. 726 , eff. 7-1-16.

Note

Form DCF-F-2978-E, Background Information Disclosure , is available in the forms section of the department website, http://www.dcf.wisconsin.gov , or by writing to the Division of Safety and Permanence, P.O. Box 8916, Madison WI 53708-8916. Microsoft Windows NT 6.1.7601 Service Pack 1 The date in a statutory citation means that was the last edition of the statutes in which that provision appears. Microsoft Windows NT 6.1.7601 Service Pack 1 Sections 48.38 (1) and 938.38 (1) (b) provide that "permanency plan" means "a plan designed to ensure that a child is reunified with his or her family whenever appropriate, or that the child quickly attains a placement or home providing long-term stability." Microsoft Windows NT 6.1.7601 Service Pack 1