Section 51.03. Definitions.

  In this chapter:

(1)  "Administrator" means the administrator of the division.

(2)  "Adoption" means the method provided under ss. 48.81 to 48.975 , Stats., to establish the legal relationship of parent and child between persons who are not related by birth, with the same mutual rights and obligations that exist between children and their birth parents.

(3)  "Adoption information exchange" means the department program under ss. DCF 50.07 to 50.09 , intended to facilitate the adoption of special needs children by disseminating information about the children to adoption agencies and prospective adoptive families.

(4)  "Applicant" means a prospective adoptive family, whether a married couple or a single person, completing and signing a formal application for a home study by the department.

(5)  "Application date" is the date the department receives a complete, signed formal application for a home study from an applicant.

(6)  "Approved for placement" means the department has determined the applicant meets all eligibility criteria and is available for placement of a special needs child of the description recommended in the home study.

(7)  "Bureau director" means the director of the division's bureau of permanence and out-of-home care, which operates the special needs adoption program.

(8)  "Close the application process" means the department discontinues services to an applicant for the reasons given in s. DCF 51.07 (3) .

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

(10)  "Division" means the department's division of safety and permanence.

(11)  "Hold" means that action in the home study process is suspended until the problems or circumstances causing the suspension are resolved, but for no longer than 6 months.

(12)  "Home study" means the evaluation of an applicant for purposes of adoption by assessing and documenting the applicant's potential to appropriately and safely care for a special needs child placed for adoption and includes the procedures in s. DCF 51.07 (1) .

(13)  "Home study application" means a department form used to request a home study and provided to inquirers who have been screened by the department and who meet current needs for adoptive family resources for placement of special needs children, to persons wanting to adopt a special needs child already placed in their home when the child is under guardianship of the department or to persons authorized for a home study under s. DCF 51.05 (4) (h) and (i) .

(14)  "Informational meeting" means a meeting conducted by the department for the purpose of describing special needs children currently needing adoptive families and to provide information about the procedure for adopting through the department and information about adoption resources such as adoption assistance.

(15)  "Inquiry" means a contact made with the department to indicate an interest in adopting a special needs child and requesting information about the program and instructions regarding the screening process.

(15g)  "Licensed child welfare agency" means an agency licensed by the department under s. 48.60 , Stats., and ch. DCF 54 to place children in foster homes and other out-of-home care facilities and to license foster homes or treatment foster homes.

(15r)  "Licensed private adoption agency" means a licensed child welfare agency specifically authorized to place children for adoption.

(16)  "Region" means one of 7 county groupings designated as principal field service areas by the division for purposes of program administration.

(17)  "Screening" means a department procedure to determine which inquiring families appear best able to meet current needs for adoptive homes for special needs children by comparing information provided by a person making an inquiry against program eligibility requirements and the published description of homes needed for children in the months prior to the beginning of the next screening process.

(18)  "Special needs child" means a child legally free for adoption and waiting for an adoptive placement who meets the criteria of s. DCF 50.03 (1) (b) .

(18g)  "State-funded foster care and adoption resource center" means an entity established and funded by the department under s. 48.55 , Stats., to provide information, technical assistance, and other services.

(18r)  "State-funded postadoption resource center" means an entity established and funded by the department under s. 48.55 , Stats., to provide postadoption services.

(19)  "Unit supervisor" means the supervisor of the adoption staff in a region of the division.

History: Cr. Register, December, 1995, No. 480 , eff. 1-1-96; am. (7), (9), (10) and (19), Register, May, 1999, No. 521 , eff. 6-1-99; CR 02-101 : am. (3), Register November 2002 No. 563 , eff. 12-1-02; emerg. cr. (15g), (15r), (18g) and (18r), eff. 4-1-07; CR 07-028 : cr. (15g), (15r), (18g) and (18r), Register July 2007 No. 619 , eff. 8-1-07; corrections in (3), (7), (8), (9), (10), (12), (13), (15g), and (18) made under s. 13.92 (4) (b) 6. and 7. , Stats., Register November 2008 No. 635 .