48.35(1)(a)(a) The judge shall enter a judgment setting forth his or her findings and disposition in the proceeding.
48.35(1)(b)
(b) The disposition of a child, and any record of evidence given in a hearing in court, shall not be admissible as evidence against the child in any case or proceeding in any other court except:
48.35(1)(b)1.
1. In sentencing proceedings after conviction of a felony or misdemeanor and then only for the purpose of a presentence study and report;
48.35(1)(b)2.
2. In a proceeding in any court assigned to exercise jurisdiction under this chapter and
ch. 938; or
48.35(1)(b)3.
3. In a court of civil or criminal jurisdiction while it is exercising the jurisdiction of a family court and is considering the custody of children.
48.35(2)
(2) Except as specifically provided in
sub. (1), this section does not preclude the court from disclosing information to qualified persons if the court considers the disclosure to be in the best interests of the child or of the administration of justice.
48.355
48.355
Dispositional orders. 48.355(1)
(1)
Intent. In any order under
s. 48.345 the judge shall decide on a placement and treatment finding based on evidence submitted to the judge. The disposition shall employ those means necessary to maintain and protect the child's well-being which are the least restrictive of the rights of the parent or child and which assure the care, treatment or rehabilitation of the child and the family, consistent with the protection of the public. Whenever appropriate, and, in cases of child abuse and neglect, when it is consistent with the child's best interest in terms of physical safety and physical health the family unit shall be preserved and there shall be a policy of transferring custody from the parent only where there is no less drastic alternative. If there is no less drastic alternative than transferring custody from the parent, the judge shall consider transferring custody to a relative whenever possible.
48.355(2)
(2) Content of order; copy to parent. 48.355(2)(a)(a) In addition to the order, the judge shall make written findings of fact and conclusions of law based on the evidence presented to the judge to support the disposition ordered, including findings as to the child's condition and need for special treatment or care if an examination or assessment was conducted under
s. 48.295. A finding may not include a finding that a child is in need of psychotropic medications.
48.355(2)(b)
(b) The court order shall be in writing and shall contain:
48.355(2)(b)1.
1. The specific services or continuum of services to be provided to the child and family, the identity of the agencies which are to be primarily responsible for the provision of the services mandated by the judge, the identity of the person or agency who will provide case management or coordination of services, if any, and, if custody is to be transferred to effect the treatment plan, the identity of the legal custodian.
48.355(2)(b)1m.
1m. A notice that the child's parent, guardian or legal custodian or the child, if 14 years of age or over, may request an agency that is providing care or services for the child or that has legal custody of the child to disclose to, or make available for inspection by, the parent, guardian, legal custodian or child the contents of any record kept or information received by the agency about the child as provided in
s. 48.78 (2) (ag).
48.355(2)(b)2.
2. If the child is placed outside the home, the name of the place or facility, including transitional placements, where the child shall be cared for or treated, except that if the placement is a foster home or treatment foster home and the name and address of the foster parent or treatment foster parent is not available at the time of the order, the name and address of the foster parent or treatment foster parent shall be furnished to the court and the parent within 21 days of the order. If, after a hearing on the issue with due notice to the parent or guardian, the judge finds that disclosure of the identity of the foster parent or treatment foster parent would result in imminent danger to the child, the foster parent or the treatment foster parent, the judge may order the name and address of the prospective foster parents or treatment foster parents withheld from the parent or guardian.
48.355(2)(b)4.
4. If the child is placed outside the child's home, a designation of the amount of support, if any, to be paid by the child's parent, guardian or trustee, specifying that the support obligation begins on the date of the placement, or a referral to the county designee under
s. 59.53 (5) for establishment of child support.
48.355(2)(b)5.
5. For a child placed outside his or her home pursuant to an order under
s. 48.345, a permanency plan under
s. 48.38 if one has been prepared.
48.355(2)(b)6.
6. If the child is placed outside the home, the court's finding as to whether a county department which provides social services or the agency primarily responsible for the provision of services under a court order has made reasonable efforts to prevent the removal of the child from the home or, if applicable, that the agency primarily responsible for the provision of services under a court order has made reasonable efforts to make it possible for the child to return to his or her home.
48.355(2)(b)7.
7. A statement of the conditions with which the child is required to comply.
48.355(2)(c)
(c) If school attendance is a condition of an order under
par. (b) 7., the order shall specify what constitutes a violation of the condition and shall direct the school board of the school district in which the child is enrolled to notify the county department that is responsible for supervising the child within 5 days after any violation of the condition by the child.
48.355(2)(d)
(d) The court shall provide a copy of the dispositional order to the child's parent, guardian or trustee.
48.355(2c)(a)(a) When a court makes a finding under
sub. (2) (b) 6. as to whether a county department which provides social services or the agency primarily responsible for providing services to the child under a court order has made reasonable efforts to prevent the removal of the child from his or her home, the court's consideration of reasonable efforts shall include, but not be limited to, whether:
48.355(2c)(a)1.
1. A comprehensive assessment of the family's situation was completed, including a determination of the likelihood of protecting the child's welfare effectively in the home.
48.355(2c)(a)2.
2. Financial assistance, if applicable, was provided to the family.
48.355(2c)(a)3.
3. Services were offered or provided to the family, if applicable, and whether any assistance was provided to the family to enable the family to utilize the services. Examples of the types of services that may have been offered include:
48.355(2c)(a)3.c.
c. Community support services, such as day care, parent skills training, housing assistance, employment training and emergency mental health services.
48.355(2c)(a)4.
4. Monitoring of client progress and client participation in services was provided.
48.355(2c)(a)5.
5. A consideration of alternative ways of addressing the family's needs was provided, if services did not exist or existing services were not available to the family.
48.355(2c)(b)
(b) When a court makes a finding under
sub. (2) (b) 6. as to whether the agency primarily responsible for providing services to the child under a court order has made reasonable efforts to make it possible for the child to return to his or her home, the court's consideration of reasonable efforts shall include, but not be limited to, the considerations listed under
par. (a) 1. to
5. and whether visitation schedules between the child and his or her parents were implemented, unless visitation was denied or limited by the court.
48.355(2e)
(2e) Permanency plans; filing; amended orders; copies. 48.355(2e)(a)(a) If a permanency plan has not been prepared at the time the dispositional order is entered, or if the court orders a disposition that is not consistent with the permanency plan, the agency responsible for preparing the plan shall prepare a permanency plan that is consistent with the order or revise the permanency plan to conform to the order and shall file the plan with the court within the time specified in
s. 48.38 (3). A permanency plan filed under this paragraph shall be made a part of the dispositional order.
48.355(2e)(b)
(b) Each time a child's placement is changed under
s. 48.357 or a dispositional order is revised under
s. 48.363 or extended under
s. 48.365, the agency that prepared the permanency plan shall revise the plan to conform to the order and shall file a copy of the revised plan with the court. Each plan filed under this paragraph shall be made a part of the court order.
48.355(2e)(c)
(c) Either the court or the agency that prepared the permanency plan shall furnish a copy of the original plan and each revised plan to the child's parent or guardian, to the child or the child's counsel or guardian ad litem and to the person representing the interests of the public.
48.355(2m)
(2m) Transitional placements. The court order may include the name of transitional placements, but may not designate a specific time when transitions are to take place. The procedures of
ss. 48.357 and
48.363 shall govern when such transitions take place. However, the court may place specific time limitations on interim arrangements made for the care of the child pending the availability of the dispositional placement.
48.355(3)
(3) Parental visitation. If, after a hearing on the issue with due notice to the parent or guardian, the judge finds that it would be in the best interest of the child, the judge may set reasonable rules of parental visitation.
48.355(4)
(4) Termination of orders. Except as provided under
s. 48.368, all orders under this section shall terminate at the end of one year unless the judge specifies a shorter period of time. Except if
s. 48.368 applies, extensions or revisions shall terminate at the end of one year unless the judge specifies a shorter period of time. Any order made before the child reaches the age of majority shall be effective for a time up to one year after its entry unless the judge specifies a shorter period of time.
48.355(5)
(5) Effect of court order. Any party, person or agency who provides services for the child under this section shall be bound by the court order.
48.355(7)
(7) Orders applicable to parents, guardians, legal custodians and other adults. In addition to any dispositional order entered under
s. 48.345, the court may enter an order applicable to a child's parent, guardian or legal custodian or to another adult, as provided under
s. 48.45.
48.355 History
History: 1977 c. 354;
1979 c. 295,
300,
359;
1983 a. 27,
102,
399,
538;
1985 a. 29;
1987 a. 27,
339,
383;
1989 a. 31,
41,
86,
107,
121,
359;
1991 a. 39;
1993 a. 98,
334,
377,
385,
395,
446,
481,
491;
1995 a. 27,
77,
201,
225,
275.
48.355 Annotation
Mandatory time limits affect trial court's competency to act, but objection must be raised before trial court to avoid waiver. In Interest of LMC, 146 W (2d) 377, 430 NW (2d) 352 (Ct. App. 1988).
48.356
48.356
Duty of court to warn. 48.356(1)
(1) Whenever the court orders a child to be placed outside his or her home or denies a parent visitation because the child has been adjudged to be in need of protection or services under
s. 48.345,
48.357,
48.363 or
48.365, the court shall orally inform the parent or parents who appear in court of any grounds for termination of parental rights under
s. 48.415 which may be applicable and of the conditions necessary for the child to be returned to the home or for the parent to be granted visitation.
48.356(2)
(2) In addition to the notice required under
sub. (1), any written order which places a child outside the home or denies visitation under
sub. (1) shall notify the parent or parents of the information specified under
sub. (1).
48.356 Annotation
Substantial compliance is not adequate to meet (2) notice provision; oral, rather than written, notice is insufficient. In re D.F. 147 W (2d) 486, 433 NW (2d) 592 (Ct. App. 1988).
48.356 Annotation
See note to 48.415 citing In Interest of K.K. 162 W (2d) 431, 469 NW (2d) 881 (Ct. App. 1991).
48.356 Annotation
To comply with sub. (2), the written order needs to contain the same information as the oral notice under sub. (1); that the notice contained more does not mean sub. (2) was violated. In Interest of Jamie L. 172 W (2d) 218, 493 NW (2d) 56 (1992).
48.356 Annotation
When the grounds for potential termination of parental rights is under s. 48.415 (8) for murdering the other parent, no notice under sub. (1) of the conditions necessary for the return of the child is necessary as the grounds for termination, the murder, cannot be remedied. Winnebago County DSS v. Darrell A. 194 W (2d) 628, 534 NW (2d) 907 (Ct. App. 1995).
48.356 Annotation
It was a denial of due process to terminate parental rights on grounds substantially different from those which the parent was warned of under s. 48.356. State v. Patricia A.P. 195 W (2d) 855, 537 NW (2d) 47 (Ct. App. 1995).
48.357
48.357
Change in placement. 48.357(1)(1) The person or agency primarily responsible for implementing the dispositional order, the district attorney or the corporation counsel may request a change in the placement of the child, whether or not the change requested is authorized in the dispositional order and shall cause written notice to be sent to the child or the child's counsel or guardian ad litem, parent, foster parent, treatment foster parent or other physical custodian described in
s. 48.62 (2), guardian and legal custodian. The notice shall contain the name and address of the new placement, the reasons for the change in placement, a statement describing why the new placement is preferable to the present placement and a statement of how the new placement satisfies objectives of the treatment plan ordered by the court. Any person receiving the notice under this subsection or notice of the specific foster or treatment foster placement under
s. 48.355 (2) (b) 2. may obtain a hearing on the matter by filing an objection with the court within 10 days of receipt of the notice. Placements shall not be changed until 10 days after such notice is sent to the court unless the parent, guardian or legal custodian and the child, if 12 or more years of age, sign written waivers of objection, except that placement changes which were authorized in the dispositional order may be made immediately if notice is given as required in this subsection. In addition, a hearing is not required for placement changes authorized in the dispositional order except where an objection filed by a person who received notice alleges that new information is available which affects the advisability of the court's dispositional order. If a hearing is held under this subsection and the change in placement would remove a child from a foster home, treatment foster home or other placement with a physical custodian described in
s. 48.62 (2), the court shall permit the foster parent, treatment foster parent or other physical custodian described in
s. 48.62 (2) to make a written or oral statement during the hearing or to submit a written statement prior to the hearing, relating to the child and the requested change in placement.
48.357(2)
(2) If emergency conditions necessitate an immediate change in the placement of a child placed outside the home, the person or agency primarily responsible for implementing the dispositional order may remove the child to a new placement, whether or not authorized by the existing dispositional order, without the prior notice provided in
sub. (1). The notice shall, however, be sent within 48 hours after the emergency change in placement. Any party receiving notice may demand a hearing under
sub. (1). In emergency situations, the child may be placed in a licensed public or private shelter care facility as a transitional placement for not more than 20 days, as well as in any placement authorized under
s. 48.345 (3).
48.357(2m)
(2m) The child, the parent, guardian or legal custodian of the child or any person or agency primarily bound by the dispositional order, other than the person or agency responsible for implementing the order, may request a change in placement under this subsection. The request shall contain the name and address of the place of the new placement requested and shall state what new information is available which affects the advisability of the current placement. This request shall be submitted to the court. In addition, the court may propose a change in placement on its own motion. The court shall hold a hearing on the matter prior to ordering any change in placement under this subsection if the request states that new information is available which affects the advisability of the current placement, unless written waivers of objection to the proposed change in placement are signed by all parties entitled to receive notice under
sub. (1) and the court approves. If a hearing is scheduled, the court shall notify the child, the parent, guardian and legal custodian of the child, any foster parent, treatment foster parent or other physical custodian described in
s. 48.62 (2) of the child and all parties who are bound by the dispositional order at least 3 days prior to the hearing. A copy of the request or proposal for the change in placement shall be attached to the notice. If all the parties consent, the court may proceed immediately with the hearing. If a hearing is held under this subsection and the change in placement would remove a child from a foster home, treatment foster home or other placement with a physical custodian described in
s. 48.62 (2), the court shall permit the foster parent, treatment foster parent or other physical custodian described in
s. 48.62 (2) to make a written or oral statement during the hearing or to submit a written statement prior to the hearing, relating to the child and the requested change in placement.
48.357(4m)
(4m) The department of corrections shall try to release a child to aftercare supervision under
sub. (4) within 30 days after the date that department determines the child is eligible for the release.
48.357 Note
NOTE: Sub. (4m) is shown as affected by two acts of the 1995 legislature and as merged by the revisor under s. 13.93 (2) (c). Sub. (4) was repealed by
1995 Wis. Act 77.
48.357(5m)
(5m) If a proposed change in placement changes a child's placement from a placement in the child's home to a placement outside the child's home, the court shall order the child's parent to provide a statement of income, assets, debts and living expenses to the court or the person or agency primarily responsible for implementing the dispositional order by a date specified by the court. The clerk of court shall provide, without charge, to any parent ordered to provide a statement of income, assets, debts and living expenses a document setting forth the percentage standard established by the department of industry, labor and job development under
s. 49.22 (9) and the manner of its application established by the department of health and family services under
s. 46.247 and listing the factors that a court may consider under
s. 46.10 (14) (c). If the child is placed outside the child's home, the court shall determine the liability of the parent in the manner provided in
s. 46.10 (14).
48.357(6)
(6) No change in placement may extend the expiration date of the original order.
48.357 Annotation
See note to 48.64, citing Bingenheimer v. DHSS, 129 W (2d) 100, 383 NW (2d) 898 (1986).
48.36
48.36
Payment for services. 48.36(1)(a)(a) If legal custody is transferred from the parent or guardian or the court otherwise designates an alternative placement for the child by a disposition made under
s. 48.345 or by a change in placement under
s. 48.357, the duty of the parent or guardian or, in the case of a transfer of guardianship and custody under
s. 48.839 (4), the duty of the former guardian to provide support shall continue even though the legal custodian or the placement designee may provide the support. A copy of the order transferring custody or designating alternative placement for the child shall be submitted to the agency or person receiving custody or placement and the agency or person may apply to the court for an order to compel the parent or guardian to provide the support. Support payments for residential services, when purchased or otherwise funded or provided by the department or a county department under
s. 46.215,
46.22,
46.23,
51.42 or
51.437, shall be determined under
s. 46.10 (14).
48.36(1)(b)
(b) In determining the amount of support under
par. (a), the court may consider all relevant financial information or other information relevant to the parent's earning capacity, including information reported to the department of industry, labor and job development, or the county child and spousal support agency, under
s. 49.22 (2m). If the court has insufficient information with which to determine the amount of support, the court shall order the child's parent to furnish a statement of income, assets, debts and living expenses, if the parent has not already done so, to the court within 10 days after the court's order transferring custody or designating an alternative placement is entered or at such other time as ordered by the court.
48.36(2)
(2) If a child whose legal custody has not been taken from a parent or guardian is given educational and social services, or medical, psychological or psychiatric treatment by order of the court, the cost thereof, if ordered by the court, shall be a charge upon the county. This section does not prevent recovery of reasonable contribution toward the costs from the parent or guardian of the child as the court may order based on the ability of the parent or guardian to pay. This subsection shall be subject to
s. 46.03 (18).
48.36(3)
(3) In determining county liability, this section does not apply to services specified in
ch. 115.
48.361
48.361
Payment for alcohol and other drug abuse services. 48.361(1)(1) In this section, "alcohol and other drug abuse services" means all of the following:
48.361(1)(a)
(a) Any alcohol or other drug abuse examination or assessment ordered by a court under
s. 48.295 (1).
48.361(1)(b)
(b) Any special treatment or care that relates to alcohol or other drug abuse services ordered by a court under
s. 48.345 (6) (a).
48.361(2)(a)1.1. If a child's parent neglects, refuses or is unable to provide court-ordered alcohol and other drug abuse services for the child through his or her health insurance or other 3rd-party payments, notwithstanding
s. 48.36 (3), the judge may order the parent to pay for the court-ordered alcohol and drug abuse services. If the parent consents to provide court-ordered alcohol and other drug abuse services for a child through his or her health insurance or other 3rd-party payments but the health insurance provider or other 3rd-party payer refuses to provide the court-ordered alcohol and other drug abuse services the court may order the health insurance provider or 3rd-party payer to pay for the court-ordered alcohol and other drug abuse services in accordance with the terms of the parent's health insurance policy or other 3rd-party payment plan.
48.361(2)(a)2.
2. This paragraph applies to payment for alcohol and other drug abuse services in any county, regardless of whether the county is a pilot county under
s. 48.547.
48.361(2)(am)1.1. If a court in a county that has a pilot program under
s. 48.547 finds that payment is not attainable under
par. (a), the court may order payment in accordance with
par. (b).
48.361(2)(am)2.
2. If a court in a county that does not have a pilot program under
s. 48.547 finds that payment is not attainable under
par. (a), the court may order payment in accordance with
s. 48.345 (6) (a) or
48.36.
48.361(2)(b)1.1. In counties that have a pilot program under
s. 48.547, in addition to using the alternative provided for under
par. (a), the court may order a county department of human services established under
s. 46.23 or a county department established under
s. 51.42 or
51.437 in the child's county of legal residence to pay for the court-ordered alcohol and other drug abuse services whether or not custody has been taken from the parent.
48.361(2)(b)2.
2. If a judge orders a county department established under
s. 51.42 or
51.437 to provide alcohol and other drug abuse services under this paragraph, the provision of the alcohol and other drug abuse services shall be subject to conditions specified in
ch. 51.
48.361(2)(c)
(c) Payment for alcohol and other drug abuse services by a county department under this section does not prohibit the county department from contracting with another county department or approved treatment facility for the provision of alcohol and other drug abuse services. Payment by the county under this section does not prevent recovery of reasonable contribution toward the costs of the court-ordered alcohol and other drug abuse services from the parent which is based upon the ability of the parent to pay. This subsection is subject to
s. 46.03 (18).
