48.32
48.32
Consent decree. 48.32(1)(a)(a) At any time after the filing of a petition for a proceeding relating to
s. 48.13 or
48.133 and before the entry of judgment, the judge or a circuit court commissioner may suspend the proceedings and place the child or expectant mother under supervision in the home or present placement of the child or expectant mother. The court may establish terms and conditions applicable to the child and the child's parent, guardian or legal custodian, to the child expectant mother and her parent, guardian or legal custodian or to the adult expectant mother, including the condition specified in
sub. (1b). The order under this section shall be known as a consent decree and must be agreed to by the child if 12 years of age or older, the parent, guardian or legal custodian, and the person filing the petition under
s. 48.25; by the child expectant mother, her parent, guardian or legal custodian, the unborn child by the unborn child's guardian ad litem and the person filing the petition under
s. 48.25; or by the adult expectant mother, the unborn child by the unborn child's guardian ad litem and the person filing the petition under
s. 48.25. The consent decree shall be reduced to writing and given to the parties.
48.32(1)(b)1.1. If at the time the consent decree is entered into the child is placed outside the home under a voluntary agreement under
s. 48.63 or is otherwise living outside the home without a court order and if the consent decree maintains the child in that placement or other living arrangement, the consent decree shall include all of the following:
48.32(1)(b)1.a.
a. A finding that placement of the child in his or her home would be contrary to the welfare of the child .
48.32(1)(b)1.b.
b. A finding as to whether the county department, the department, in a county having a population of 500,000 or more, or the agency primarily responsible for providing services to the child has made reasonable efforts to prevent the removal of the child from the home, while assuring that the child's health and safety are the paramount concerns, unless the judge or circuit court commissioner finds that any of the circumstances specified in
s. 48.355 (2d) (b) 1. to
5. applies .
48.32(1)(b)1.c.
c. A finding as to whether the county department, department, or agency has made reasonable efforts to achieve the goal of the child's permanency plan, unless return of the child to the home is the goal of the permanency plan and the judge or circuit court commissioner finds that any of the circumstances specified in
s. 48.355 (2d) (b) 1. to
5. applies.
48.32(1)(b)1.d.
d. If the child's placement or other living arrangement is under the supervision of the county department or, in a county having a population of 500,000 or more, the department, an order ordering the child into the placement and care responsibility of the county department or department as required under
42 USC 672 (a) (2) and assigning the county department or department primary responsibility for providing services to the child.
48.32(1)(b)2.
2. If the judge or circuit court commissioner finds that any of the circumstances specified in
s. 48.355 (2d) (b) 1. to
5. applies with respect to a parent, the consent decree shall include a determination that the county department, department, in a county having a population of 500,000 or more, or agency primarily responsible for providing services under the consent decree is not required to make reasonable efforts with respect to the parent to make it possible for the child to return safely to his or her home.
48.32(1)(b)3.
3. The judge or circuit court commissioner shall make the findings specified in
subds. 1. and
2. on a case-by-case basis based on circumstances specific to the child and shall document or reference the specific information on which those findings are based in the consent decree. A consent decree that merely references
subd. 1. or
2. without documenting or referencing that specific information in the consent decree or an amended consent decree that retroactively corrects an earlier consent decree that does not comply with this subdivision is not sufficient to comply with this subdivision.
48.32(1)(c)1.1. If the judge or circuit court commissioner finds that any of the circumstances specified in
s. 48.355 (2d) (b) 1. to
5. applies with respect to a parent, the judge or circuit court commissioner shall hold a hearing within 30 days after the date of that finding to determine the permanency plan for the child. If a hearing is held under this subdivision, the agency responsible for preparing the permanency plan shall file the permanency plan with the court not less than 5 days before the date of the hearing.
48.32(1)(c)2.
2. If a hearing is held under
subd. 1., at least 10 days before the date of the hearing the court shall notify the child, any parent, guardian, and legal custodian of the child, and any foster parent, treatment foster parent, or other physical custodian described in
s. 48.62 (2) of the child of the time, place, and purpose of the hearing.
48.32(1)(c)3.
3. The court shall give a foster parent, treatment foster parent, or other physical custodian described in
s. 48.62 (2) who is notified of a hearing under
subd. 2. an opportunity to be heard at the hearing by permitting the foster parent, treatment foster parent, or other physical custodian to make a written or oral statement during the hearing, or to submit a written statement prior to the hearing, relevant to the issues to be determined at the hearing. A foster parent, treatment foster parent, or other physical custodian who receives a notice of a hearing under
subd. 2. and an opportunity to be heard under this subdivision does not become a party to the proceeding on which the hearing is held solely on the basis of receiving that notice and opportunity to be heard.
48.32(1b)
(1b) The judge or a circuit court commissioner may, as a condition under
sub. (1), request a court-appointed special advocate program to designate a court-appointed special advocate for the child to perform the activities specified in
s. 48.236 (3) that are authorized in the memorandum of understanding under
s. 48.07 (5) (a). A court-appointed special advocate designated under this subsection shall have the authority specified in
s. 48.236 (4) that is authorized in the memorandum of understanding under
s. 48.07 (5) (a).
48.32(2)(a)(a) A consent decree shall remain in effect up to 6 months unless the child, parent, guardian, legal custodian or expectant mother is discharged sooner by the judge or circuit court commissioner.
48.32(2)(c)
(c) Upon the motion of the court or the application of the child, parent, guardian, legal custodian, expectant mother, unborn child by the unborn child's guardian ad litem, intake worker or any agency supervising the child or expectant mother under the consent decree, the court may, after giving notice to the parties to the consent decree, their counsel or guardian ad litem and the court-appointed special advocate for the child, if any, extend the decree for up to an additional 6 months in the absence of objection to extension by the parties to the initial consent decree. If the child, parent, guardian, legal custodian, expectant mother or unborn child by the unborn child's guardian ad litem objects to the extension, the judge shall schedule a hearing and make a determination on the issue of extension. An extension under this paragraph of a consent decree relating to an unborn child who is alleged to be in need of protection or services may be granted after the child is born.
48.32(3)
(3) If, prior to discharge by the court, or the expiration of the consent decree, the court finds that the child, parent, guardian, legal custodian or expectant mother has failed to fulfill the express terms and conditions of the consent decree or that the child or expectant mother objects to the continuation of the consent decree, the hearing under which the child or expectant mother was placed on supervision may be continued to conclusion as if the consent decree had never been entered.
48.32(5)
(5) A court which, under this section, elicits or examines information or material about a child or an expectant mother which would be inadmissible in a hearing on the allegations of the petition may not, over objections of one of the parties, participate in any subsequent proceedings if any of the following applies:
48.32(5)(a)
(a) The court refuses to enter into a consent decree and the allegations in the petition remain to be decided in a hearing at which one of the parties denies the allegations forming the basis for a child or unborn child in need of protection or services petition.
48.32(5)(b)
(b) A consent decree is granted but the petition under
s. 48.13 or
48.133 is subsequently reinstated.
48.32(6)
(6) The judge or circuit court commissioner shall inform the child and the child's parent, guardian or legal custodian, or the adult expectant mother, in writing, of the right of the child or expectant mother to object to the continuation of the consent decree under
sub. (3) and the fact that the hearing under which the child or expectant mother was placed on supervision may be continued to conclusion as if the consent decree had never been entered.
48.32 Annotation
A finding that a consent decree has been violated must be made before the consent decree expires. Filing a motion to vacate the consent decree prior to its expiration does not extend the term of the decree and does not prevent the automatic dismissal of the original petition upon the expiration of the decree. Interest of Leif E.N. & Nora M.S.
189 Wis. 2d 480,
526 N.W.2d 275 (Ct. App. 1994).
DISPOSITION
48.33
48.33
Court reports. 48.33(1)(1)
Report required. Before the disposition of a child or unborn child adjudged to be in need of protection or services the court shall designate an agency, as defined in
s. 48.38 (1) (a), to submit a report which shall contain all of the following:
48.33(1)(a)
(a) The social history of the child or of the expectant mother of the unborn child.
48.33(1)(b)
(b) A recommended plan of rehabilitation or treatment and care for the child or expectant mother which is based on the investigation conducted by the agency and any report resulting from an examination or assessment under
s. 48.295, which employs the least restrictive means available to accomplish the objectives of the plan, and, in cases of child abuse or neglect or unborn child abuse, which also includes an assessment of risks to the physical safety and physical health of the child or unborn child and a description of a plan for controlling the risks.
48.33(1)(c)
(c) A description of the specific services or continuum of services which the agency is recommending that the court order for the child or family or for the expectant mother of the unborn child, the persons or agencies that would be primarily responsible for providing those services, the identity of the person or agency that would provide case management or coordination of services, if any, and, in the case of a child adjudged to be in need of protection or services, whether or not the child should receive an integrated service plan.
48.33(1)(d)
(d) A statement of the objectives of the plan, including any behavior changes desired of the child or expectant mother and the academic, social and vocational skills needed by the child or the expectant mother.
48.33(1)(e)
(e) A plan for the provision of educational services to the child, prepared after consultation with the staff of the school in which the child is enrolled or the last school in which the child was enrolled.
48.33(1)(f)
(f) If the agency is recommending that the court order the child's parent, guardian or legal custodian or the expectant mother to participate in mental health treatment, anger management, individual or family counseling or parent or prenatal development training and education, a statement as to the availability of those services and as to the availability of funding for those services.
48.33(2)
(2) Home placement reports. A report recommending that the child remain in his or her home or that the expectant mother remain in her home may be presented orally at the dispositional hearing if all parties consent. A report that is presented orally shall be transcribed and made a part of the court record.
48.33(4)
(4) Other out-of-home placements. A report recommending placement of an adult expectant mother outside of her home shall be in writing. A report recommending placement of a child in a foster home, treatment foster home, group home, or residential care center for children and youth, in the home of a relative other than a parent, or in the home of a guardian under
s. 48.977 (2) shall be in writing and shall include all of the following:
48.33(4)(b)
(b) A recommendation for an amount of child support to be paid by either or both of the child's parents or for referral to the county child support agency under
s. 59.53 (5) for the establishment of child support.
48.33(4)(c)
(c) Specific information showing that continued placement of the child in his or her home would be contrary to the welfare of the child, specific information showing that the county department, the department, in a county having a population of 500,000 or more, or the agency primarily responsible for providing services to the child has made reasonable efforts to prevent the removal of the child from the home, while assuring that the child's health and safety are the paramount concerns, unless any of the circumstances specified in
s. 48.355 (2d) (b) 1. to
5. applies, and specific information showing that the county department, department, or agency has made reasonable efforts to achieve the goal of the child's permanency plan, unless return of the child to the home is the goal of the permanency plan and any of the circumstances specified in
s. 48.355 (2d) (b) 1. to
5. applies.
48.33(4m)
(4m) Support recommendations; information to parents. In making a recommendation for an amount of child support under
sub. (4), the agency shall consider the factors that the court considers under
s. 49.345 (14) (c) for deviation from the percentage standard. Prior to the dispositional hearing under
s. 48.335, the agency shall provide the child's parent with all of the following:
48.33(4m)(a)
(a) A copy of its recommendation for child support.
48.33(4m)(b)
(b) A written explanation of how the parent may request that the court modify the amount of child support under
s. 49.345 (14) (c).
48.33(5)
(5) Identity of foster parent or treatment foster parent; confidentiality. If the report recommends placement in a foster home or a treatment foster home, and the name of the foster parent or treatment foster parent is not available at the time the report is filed, the agency shall provide the court and the child's parent or guardian with the name and address of the foster parent or treatment foster parent within 21 days after the dispositional order is entered, except that the court may order the information withheld from the child's parent or guardian if the court finds that disclosure would result in imminent danger to the child or to the foster parent or treatment foster parent. After notifying the child's parent or guardian, the court shall hold a hearing prior to ordering the information withheld.
48.33 History
History: 1977 c. 354;
1979 c. 300;
1983 a. 399;
1987 a. 27,
339;
1989 a. 31,
41,
107;
1993 a. 377,
385,
446,
481;
1995 a. 27,
77,
201;
1997 a. 27,
292;
2001 a. 59,
109;
2005 a. 25;
2007 a. 20.
48.33 Cross-reference
Cross Reference: See also s.
DCF 58.04, Wis. adm. code.
48.335
48.335
Dispositional hearings. 48.335(1)
(1) The court shall conduct a hearing to determine the disposition of a case in which a child is adjudged to be in need of protection or services under
s. 48.13 or an unborn child is adjudged to be in need of protection or services under
s. 48.133.
48.335(3)
(3) At hearings under this section, any party may present evidence relevant to the issue of disposition, including expert testimony, and may make alternative dispositional recommendations.
48.335(3g)
(3g) At hearings under this section, if the agency, as defined in
s. 48.38 (1) (a), is recommending placement of the child in a foster home, treatment foster home, group home, or residential care center for children and youth or in the home of a relative other than a parent, the agency shall present as evidence specific information showing all of the following:
48.335(3g)(a)
(a) That continued placement of the child in his or her home would be contrary to the welfare of the child.
48.335(3g)(b)
(b) That the county department, the department, in a county having a population of 500,000 or more, or the agency primarily responsible for providing services to the child has made reasonable efforts to prevent the removal of the child from the home, while assuring that the child's health and safety are the paramount concerns, unless any of the circumstances specified in
s. 48.355 (2d) (b) 1. to
5. applies.
48.335(3g)(c)
(c) That the county department, department, or agency has made reasonable efforts to achieve the goal of the child's permanency plan, unless return of the child to the home is the goal of the permanency plan and any of the circumstances specified in
s. 48.355 (2d) (b) 1. to
5. applies.
48.335(3r)
(3r) At hearings under this section, a parent of the child may present evidence relevant to the amount of child support to be paid by either or both parents.
48.335(4)
(4) At hearings under this section,
s. 48.357,
48.363 or
48.365, on the request of any party, unless good cause to the contrary is shown, the court may admit testimony on the record by telephone or live audiovisual means, if available, under
s. 807.13 (2). The request and the showing of good cause may be made by telephone.
48.335(5)
(5) At the conclusion of the hearing, the court shall make a dispositional order in accordance with
s. 48.355.
48.335 History
History: 1977 c. 354;
1979 c. 300,
331,
359; Sup. Ct. Order, 141 Wis. 2d xiii (1987);
1993 a. 98,
481;
1995 a. 77;
1997 a. 252,
292;
2001 a. 109;
2007 a. 20.
48.335 Note
Judicial Council Note, 1988: Sub. (4) allows the court to admit testimony on the record by telephone or live television at hearings on disposition, revision and extension of orders, or change of placement, on request of any party, unless good cause is shown. [Re Order effective Jan. 1, 1988]
48.335 Annotation
The petitioner bears the burden of proof by the greater weight of the credible evidence for purposes of dispositional and extension hearings. In Interest of T.M.S.
152 Wis. 2d 345,
448 N.W.2d 282 (Ct. App. 1989).
48.345
48.345
Disposition of child or unborn child of child expectant mother adjudged in need of protection or services. If the judge finds that the child is in need of protection or services or that the unborn child of a child expectant mother is in need of protection or services, the judge shall enter an order deciding one or more of the dispositions of the case as provided in this section under a care and treatment plan, except that the order may not place any child not specifically found under
chs. 46,
49,
51,
54, or
115 to be developmentally disabled, mentally ill, or to have a disability specified in
s. 115.76 (5) in facilities that exclusively treat those categories of children, and the court may not place any child expectant mother of an unborn child in need of protection or services outside of the child expectant mother's home unless the court finds that the child expectant mother is refusing or has refused to accept any alcohol or other drug abuse services offered to her or is not making or has not made a good faith effort to participate in any alcohol or other drug abuse services offered to her. The dispositions under this section are as follows:
48.345(1)
(1) Counsel the child or the parent, guardian or legal custodian.
48.345(2)
(2) Place the child under supervision of an agency, the department, if the department approves, or a suitable adult, including a friend of the child, under conditions prescribed by the judge including reasonable rules for the child's conduct, designed for the physical, mental and moral well-being and behavior of the child and, if applicable, for the physical well-being of the child's unborn child.
48.345(2m)
(2m) Place the child in the child's home under the supervision of an agency or the department, if the department approves, and order the agency or department to provide specified services to the child and the child's family, which may include but are not limited to individual, family or, group counseling, homemaker or parent aide services, respite care, housing assistance, day care parent skills training or prenatal development training or education.
48.345(2r)
(2r) Place the child as provided in
sub. (2) or
(2m) and, in addition, request a court-appointed special advocate program to designate a court-appointed special advocate for the child to perform the activities specified in
s. 48.236 (3) that are authorized in the memorandum of understanding under
s. 48.07 (5) (a). A court-appointed special advocate designated under this subsection shall have the authority specified in
s. 48.236 (4) that is authorized in the memorandum of understanding under
s. 48.07 (5) (a).
48.345(3)
(3) Designate one of the following as the placement for the child:
48.345(3)(a)
(a) The home of a parent or other relative of the child, except that the judge may not designate the home of a parent or other relative of the child as the child's placement if the parent or other relative has been convicted under
s. 940.01 of the first-degree intentional homicide, or under
s. 940.05 of the 2nd-degree intentional homicide, of a parent of the child, and the conviction has not been reversed, set aside or vacated, unless the judge determines by clear and convincing evidence that the placement would be in the best interests of the child. The judge shall consider the wishes of the child in making that determination.
48.345(3)(b)
(b) The home of a person who is not required to be licensed if placement is for less than 30 days, except that the judge may not designate the home of a person who is not required to be licensed as the child's placement if the person has been convicted under
s. 940.01 of the first-degree intentional homicide, or under
s. 940.05 of the 2nd-degree intentional homicide, of a parent of the child, and the conviction has not been reversed, set aside or vacated, unless the judge determines by clear and convincing evidence that the placement would be in the best interests of the child. The judge shall consider the wishes of the child in making that determination.
48.345(3)(c)
(c) A foster home or treatment foster home licensed under
s. 48.62, a group home licensed under
s. 48.625, or in the home of a guardian under
s. 48.977 (2).
48.345(3)(cm)
(cm) A group home described in
s. 48.625 (1m) if the child is at least 12 years of age, is a custodial parent, as defined in
s. 49.141 (1) (b), or an expectant mother, is receiving inadequate care, and is in need of a safe and structured living arrangement.
48.345(3)(d)
(d) A residential treatment center operated by a child welfare agency licensed under
s. 48.60.
48.345(4)
(4) If it is shown that the rehabilitation or the treatment and care of the child cannot be accomplished by means of voluntary consent of the parent or guardian, transfer legal custody to any of the following:
48.345(4)(b)
(b) The county department in a county having a population of less than 500,000.
48.345(4)(bm)
(bm) The department in a county having a population of 500,000 or more.
48.345(6)(a)(a) If the child is in need of special treatment or care, as identified in an evaluation under
s. 48.295 and the report under
s. 48.33, the judge may order the child's parent to provide the special treatment or care. If the parent fails or is financially unable to provide the special treatment or care, the judge may order an appropriate agency to provide the special treatment or care whether or not legal custody has been taken from the parents. If a judge orders a county department under
s. 51.42 or
51.437 to provide special treatment or care under this paragraph, the provision of that special treatment or care shall be subject to conditions specified in
ch. 51. An order of special treatment or care under this paragraph may not include an order for the administration of psychotropic drugs.
48.345(6)(b)
(b) Payment for the special treatment or care that relates to alcohol and other drug abuse services ordered under
par. (a) shall be in accordance with
s. 48.361.
48.345(6)(c)
(c) Payment for services provided under
ch. 51 that are ordered under
par. (a), other than alcohol and other drug abuse services, shall be in accordance with
s. 48.362.
48.345(6m)
(6m) If the report prepared under
s. 48.33 (1) recommends that the child is in need of an integrated service plan and if an integrated service program under
s. 46.56 has been established in the county, the judge may order that an integrated service plan be developed and implemented.
48.345(10)(a)(a) The judge may order that a child, on attaining 17 years of age, be allowed to live independently, either alone or with friends, under such supervision as the judge deems appropriate.
48.345(10)(b)
(b) If the plan for independent living cannot be accomplished with the consent of the parent or guardian, the judge may transfer custody of the child as provided in
sub. (4) (a) to
(c).
48.345(10)(c)
(c) The judge may order independent living as a dispositional alternative only upon a showing that the child is of sufficient maturity and judgment to live independently and only upon proof of a reasonable plan for supervision by an appropriate person or agency.
48.345(12)(a)(a) Except as provided in
par. (d), the judge may order the child to attend any of the following:
48.345(12)(a)1.
1. A nonresidential educational program, including a program for children at risk under
s. 118.153, provided by the school district in which the child resides.
