48.355(1)(1) Intent. In any order under s. 48.345 or 48.347 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 well-being of the child or unborn child which are the least restrictive of the rights of the parent and child, of the rights of the parent and child expectant mother or of the rights of the adult expectant mother, and which assure the care, treatment or rehabilitation of the child and the family, of the child expectant mother, the unborn child and the family or of the adult expectant mother and the unborn child, consistent with the protection of the public. When appropriate, and, in cases of child abuse or neglect or unborn child abuse, when it is consistent with the best interest of the child or unborn child in terms of physical safety and physical health, the family unit shall be preserved and there shall be a policy of transferring custody of a child from the parent or of placing an expectant mother outside of her home only when there is no less drastic alternative. If there is no less drastic alternative for a child than transferring custody from the parent, the judge shall consider transferring custody to a relative whenever possible.

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 condition and need for special treatment or care of the child or expectant mother if an examination or assessment was conducted under s. 48.295. A finding may not include a finding that a child or an expectant mother is in need of psychotropic medications.

48.355(2)(b)1.1. The specific services to be provided to the child and family, to the child expectant mother and family, or to the adult expectant mother and, if custody of the child 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, the child, if 14 years of age or over, the expectant mother, if 14 years of age or over, or the unborn child’s guardian ad litem may request an agency that is providing care or services for the child or expectant mother or that has legal custody of the child to disclose to, or make available for inspection by, the parent, guardian, legal custodian, child, expectant mother, or unborn child’s guardian ad litem the contents of any record kept or information received by the agency about the child or expectant mother as provided in s. 48.78 (2) (ag) and (aj).

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 will be cared for or treated, except that if the placement is a foster home and if the name and address of the foster parent is not available at the time of the order, the name and address of the foster parent shall be furnished to the court and the parent within 21 days after 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 would result in imminent danger to the child or the foster parent, the judge may order the name and address of the prospective foster parents to be withheld from the parent or guardian.

48.355(2)(b)2m.2m. If the adult expectant mother is placed outside her home, the name of the place or facility, including transitional placements, where the expectant mother shall be treated.

48.355(2)(b)3.3. The date of the expiration of the court’s order.

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 child support agency under s. 59.53 (5) for establishment of child support.

48.355(2)(b)4m.4m. If the child is placed outside the home and if the child’s parent has not already provided a statement of income, assets, debts and living expenses to the county department or, in a county having a population of 750,000 or more, the department under s. 48.30 (6) (b) or (c) or 48.31 (7) (b) or (c), an order for the parent to provide that statement to the county department or, in a county having a population of 750,000 or more, the department by a date specified by the court. The county department or, in a county having a population of 750,000 or more, the department shall provide, without charge, to the parent a form on which to provide that statement, and the parent shall provide that statement on that form. The county department or, in a county having a population of 750,000 or more, the department shall use the information provided in the statement to determine whether the department may claim federal foster care and adoption assistance reimbursement under 42 USC 670 to 679a for the cost of providing care for the child.

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, a finding that continued placement of the child in his or her home would be contrary to the welfare of the child, a finding as to whether the county department, the department, in a county having a population of 750,000 or more, or the agency primarily responsible for providing services under a court order 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 court finds that any of the circumstances specified in sub. (2d) (b) 1. to 5. applies, and, if a permanency plan has previously been prepared for the child, a finding as to whether the county department, department, or agency has made reasonable efforts to achieve the permanency goal of the child’s permanency plan, including, if appropriate, through an out-of-state placement. The court shall make the findings specified in this subdivision 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 court order. A court order that merely references this subdivision without documenting or referencing that specific information in the court order or an amended court order that retroactively corrects an earlier court order that does not comply with this subdivision is not sufficient to comply with this subdivision.

48.355(2)(b)6d.6d. Except as provided in par. (cd), if the child is placed in a residential care center for children and youth, group home, or shelter care facility certified under s. 48.675, a finding as to each of the following, the answers to which do not affect whether the placement may be made, after considering the standardized assessment and the recommendation of the qualified individual who conducted the standardized assessment:

48.355(2)(b)6g.6g. If the child is placed outside the home under the supervision of the county department or, in a county having a population of 750,000 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.

48.355(2)(b)6m.6m. If the child is placed outside the home in a placement recommended by the agency designated under s. 48.33 (1), a statement that the court approves the placement recommended by the agency or, if the child is placed outside the home in a placement other than a placement recommended by that agency, a statement that the court has given bona fide consideration to the recommendations made by the agency and all parties relating to the child’s placement.

48.355(2)(b)6p.6p. If the child is placed outside the home and if the child has one or more siblings, as defined in s. 48.38 (4) (br) 1., who have also been placed outside the home, a finding as to whether the county department, the department in a county having a population of 750,000 or more, or the agency primarily responsible for providing services under a court order has made reasonable efforts to place the child in a placement that enables the sibling group to remain together, unless the court determines that a joint placement would be contrary to the safety or well-being of the child or any of those siblings, in which case the court shall order the county department, department, or agency to make reasonable efforts to provide for frequent visitation or other ongoing interaction between the child and the siblings, unless the court determines that such visitation or interaction would be contrary to the safety or well-being of the child or any of those siblings.

48.355(2)(b)6r.6r. If the court finds that any of the circumstances specified in sub. (2d) (b) 1. to 5. applies with respect to a parent, a determination that the county department, department, in a county having a population of 750,000 or more, or agency primarily responsible for providing services under the court order 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.

48.355(2)(b)6v.6v. If the child is an Indian child who is being removed from the home of his or her parent or Indian custodian and placed outside that home, a finding supported by clear and convincing evidence, including the testimony of one or more qualified expert witnesses, that continued custody of the Indian child by the parent or Indian custodian is likely to result in serious emotional or physical damage to the child under s. 48.028 (4) (d) 1. and a finding that active efforts under s. 48.028 (4) (d) 2. have been made to prevent the breakup of the Indian child’s family and that those efforts have proved unsuccessful. The findings under this subdivision shall be in addition to the findings under subd. 6., except that for the sole purpose of determining whether the cost of providing care for an Indian child is eligible for reimbursement under 42 USC 670 to 679b, the findings under this subdivision and the findings under subd. 6. shall be considered to be the same findings. The findings under this subdivision are not required if they were made in a previous order in the proceeding unless a change in circumstances warrants new findings.