Chapter 48

48.983(6)(b)1. 1. ‘Flexible fund for home visitation programs.’ The applicant demonstrates in the application that the applicant has established, or has plans to establish, if selected, a fund from which payments totaling not less than $250 per calendar year may be made for appropriate expenses of each family that is participating in the home visitation program under sub. (4) (b) 1. or that is receiving home visitation services under s. 49.45 (44). The payments shall be authorized by an individual designated by the applicant. If an applicant makes a payment to or on behalf of a family under this subdivision, one-half of the payment shall be from grant moneys received under this section and one-half of the payment shall be from moneys provided by the applicant from sources other than grant moneys received under this section.

48.983(6)(b)2. 2. ‘Flexible fund for cases.’ The applicant demonstrates in the grant application that the applicant has established, or has plans to establish, if selected, a fund from which payments totaling not less than $250 for each case may be made for appropriate expenses related to the case. The payments shall be authorized by an individual designated by the applicant. If an applicant makes a payment to or on behalf of a person under this subdivision, one-half of the payment shall be from grant moneys received under this section and one-half of the payment shall be from moneys provided by the applicant from sources other than grant moneys received under this section. The applicant shall demonstrate in the grant application that it has established, or has plans to establish, if selected, procedures to encourage, when appropriate, a person to whom or on whose behalf payments are made under this subdivision to make a contribution to the fund described in this subdivision up to the amount of payments made to or on behalf of the person when the person’s financial situation permits such a contribution.

48.983(6)(b)4. 4. ‘Nonentitlement.’ No individual is entitled to any payment from a fund established under subd. 1. or 2. Nothing in this section shall be construed as requiring a county, city, private agency, or Indian tribe to make a determination described in sub. (1) (b) 2. A determination described in sub. (1) (b) 2. may not be construed to be a determination described in s. 48.981 (3) (c) 4.

48.983(6)(c) (c) Case management benefit. The applicant states in the grant application that it has elected, or, if selected, that it will elect, under s. 49.45 (25) (b), to make the case management benefit under s. 49.45 (25) available to the category of beneficiaries under s. 49.45 (25) (am) 9. who are children and who are members of families receiving home visitation program services under sub. (4) (b) 1.

48.983(6)(d) (d) Wraparound process. The applicant demonstrates in the grant application that the payments that will be made from the fund established under par. (b) 2. will promote the provision of services for the case by using a wraparound process so as to provide those services in a flexible, comprehensive and individualized manner in order to reduce the necessity for court-ordered services.

48.983(6)(e) (e) Anticipated allocation. The applicant explains in the grant application how the applicant anticipates allocating moneys awarded under the grant among the purposes described in sub. (4) (a) 1., 2. and 4m. and, in an application other than a renewal application, the purposes described in sub. (4) (a) 1., 2. and 4m. and (am).

48.983(6)(f) (f) Reinvestment of Medical Assistance reimbursement. The applicant agrees to reinvest in the program under this section a portion of the reimbursement received by the applicant under the Medical Assistance program under subch. IV of ch. 49. The department and the applicant shall negotiate the amount of that reinvestment based on the applicant’s administrative costs for billing the Medical Assistance program for reimbursement for services provided under this section and the ratio of Medical Assistance reimbursement received for those services to the amount billed to the Medical Assistance program for those services.

48.983(6)(g) (g) Private agency applicant. If the applicant is a private agency, the applicant submits documentation with the grant application that demonstrates that the application is supported by a county or city and that a county or city will collaborate with the private agency in providing services.

48.983(6g) (6g) Confidentiality.

48.983(6g)(a) (a) Except as permitted or required under s. 48.981 (2), no person may use or disclose any information concerning any individual who is selected for an assessment under sub. (4) (b), including an individual who declines to undergo the assessment, or concerning any individual who is offered services under a home visitation program funded under this section, including an individual who declines to receive those services, unless the use or disclosure is connected with the administration of the home visitation program or the administration of the Medical Assistance program under ss. 49.43 to 49.497 or unless the individual has given his or her written informed consent to the use or disclosure.

48.983(6g)(b) (b) A county, city, private agency, or Indian tribe that is selected to participate in the program under this section shall provide or shall designate an individual or entity to provide an explanation of the confidentiality requirements under par. (a) to each individual who is offered an assessment under sub. (4) (b) or who is offered services under the home visitation program of the county, city, private agency, or Indian tribe.

48.983(6m) (6m) Notification of parent prior to making abuse or neglect report. If a person who is providing services under a home visitation program under sub. (4) (b) 1. determines that he or she is required or permitted to make a report under s. 48.981 (2) about a child in a family to which the person is providing those services, the person shall, prior to making the report under s. 48.981 (2), make a reasonable effort to notify the child’s parent that a report under s. 48.981 (2) will be made and to encourage the parent to contact a county department to request assistance. The notification requirements under this subsection do not affect the reporting requirements under s. 48.981 (2).

48.983(6r) (6r) Home visitation program informational materials. Any informational materials about a home visitation program under sub. (4) (b) 1. that are distributed to a person who is offered or who is receiving home visitation program services under that program shall state the sources of funding for the program.

48.983(7) (7) Home visitation program evaluation.

48.983(7)(a) (a) The department shall conduct or shall select an evaluator to conduct an evaluation of the home visitation program. The evaluation shall measure all of the following criteria in families that have participated in the home visitation program and that are selected for evaluation:

48.983(7)(a)1. 1. The number of poor birth outcomes and substantiated reports of child abuse and neglect.

48.983(7)(a)2. 2. The number of emergency room visits for injuries to children.

48.983(7)(a)3. 3. The number of out-of-home placements of children.

48.983(7)(a)4. 4. Immunization rates of children.

48.983(7)(a)5. 5. The number of services provided under s. 49.46 (2) (a) 2. to children.

48.983(7)(a)6. 6. Any other items that the department determines to be appropriate for evaluation.

48.983(7)(ag) (ag) The department shall evaluate the availability of home visitation programs in the state and determine whether there are gaps in home visitation services in the state. The department shall cooperate with counties, cities, private agencies, and Indian tribes providing home visitation programs to address any gaps in services identified.

48.983(7)(ar) (ar) Each county, city, private agency, and Indian tribe providing a home visitation program shall collect and report data to the department, as required by the department. The department shall require each county, city, private agency, and Indian tribe providing a home visitation program to collect data using forms prescribed by the department.

48.983(7)(b) (b) In the evaluation, the department shall determine the number of families who remained in the home visitation program for the time recommended in the family’s case plan.

48.983(7)(c) (c) Each county, city, private agency, and Indian tribe providing a home visitation program shall develop a plan for evaluating the effectiveness of its program for approval by the department. The plan shall demonstrate how the county, city, private agency, or Indian tribe will use the evaluation of its program to improve the quality and outcomes of the program and to ensure continued compliance with the home visitation program criteria under sub. (6) (a). The plan shall demonstrate how the outcomes will be tracked and measured. Under the plan, the extent to which all of the following outcomes are achieved shall be tracked and measured:

48.983(7)(c)1. 1. Parents receiving home visitation services acquiring knowledge of early learning and child development and interacting with their children in ways that enhance the children’s development and early learning.

48.983(7)(c)2. 2. Children receiving home visitation services being healthy.

48.983(7)(c)3. 3. Children receiving home visitation services living in a safe environment.

48.983(7)(c)4. 4. Families receiving home visitation services accessing formal and informal support networks.

48.983(7)(c)5. 5. Children receiving home visitation services achieving milestones in development and early learning.

48.983(7)(c)6. 6. Children receiving home visitation services who have developmental delays receiving appropriate intervention services.

48.983(8) (8) Technical assistance and training. The department shall provide technical assistance and training to counties, cities, private agencies, and Indian tribes that are selected to participate in the program under this section. The training may not be limited to a particular home visitation model. The training shall include training in best practices regarding basic skills, uniform administration of screening and assessment tools, the issues and challenges that families face, and supervision and personnel skills for program managers. The training may also include training on data collection and reporting.

48.983 History History: 1997 a. 293; 2005 a. 25, 165; 2007 a. 20 ss. 1133, 1134, 1136 to 1141, 1143 to 1167; Stats. 2007 s. 48.983; 2009 a. 28, 82, 94, 185; 2011 a. 32; 2015 a. 172, 196; 2021 a. 239 s. 74.

48.986 48.986 Child abuse and neglect and unborn child abuse services.

48.986(1) (1) From the amounts distributed under s. 48.563 (1) for services for children and families, the department shall distribute funds to eligible counties for services related to child abuse and neglect and to unborn child abuse, including child abuse and neglect and unborn child abuse prevention, investigation, and treatment.

48.986(3) (3) The department shall distribute the funds under sub. (1) to counties that have a serious problem with child abuse and neglect or with unborn child abuse according to eligibility criteria and distribution criteria to be developed by the department.

48.986(4) (4) A county may use the funds distributed under this section to fund additional foster parents and subsidized guardians or interim caretakers to care for abused and neglected children and to fund additional staff positions to provide services related to child abuse and neglect and to unborn child abuse.

48.986(5) (5) A county may not use the funds distributed under this section to reduce its expenditures from other sources for services related to child abuse and neglect or to unborn child abuse below the level in the year before the year for which the funds are distributed.

48.986 History History: 1993 a. 16 ss. 982 to 986; 1993 a. 446; 1995 a. 27; 1997 a. 292; 2005 a. 25; 2007 a. 20 ss. 1127 to 1131; Stats. 2007 s. 48.986; 2009 a. 28.

48.987 48.987 Earnings of self-supporting minors. During any time when a parent of a minor neglects or refuses to provide for the minor’s support, or support and education, the earnings of the minor shall be the minor’s sole property as against such parent or any creditor of such parent.

48.987 History History: 1977 c. 354 s. 94; Stats. 1977 s. 48.987; 1991 a. 316.

48.9875 48.9875 Minor consent for housing.

48.9875(1) (1) In this section, “shelter facility” means a temporary place of lodging for individuals or families.

48.9875(2) (2) A minor shall be presumed to be qualified and competent to contract for admission to a shelter facility or transitional living program if all of the following apply:

48.9875(2)(a) (a) The minor is 17 years of age.

48.9875(2)(b) (b) The minor is not under the supervision of a county department, a child welfare agency, the department, or the department of corrections under this chapter or ch. 938 or under the jurisdiction of the court.

48.9875(2)(c) (c) One of the following confirms that the minor is an unaccompanied youth, as defined under 42 USC 11434a (6):

48.9875(2)(c)1. 1. A local educational agency liaison designated under 42 USC 11432 (g) (1) (J) (ii) who has obtained the minor’s consent to disclose the minor’s status as an unaccompanied youth.

48.9875(2)(c)2. 2. If a local educational agency liaison is not available, an employee of the shelter facility or transitional living program who conducts intake.

48.9875(3) (3) The defense of infancy does not apply to any contract with a minor under sub. (2).

48.9875 History History: 2019 a. 22; 2021 a. 239 s. 74.

48.988 48.988 Interstate compact on the placement of children. The interstate compact on the placement of children is hereby enacted into law and entered into with all other jurisdictions legally joining therein in the form substantially as follows:

48.988(1) (1) Article I — Purpose and Policy. It is the purpose and policy of the party states to cooperate with each other in the interstate placement of children to the end that:

48.988(1)(a) (a) Each child requiring placement shall receive the maximum opportunity to be placed in a suitable environment and with persons or institutions having appropriate qualifications and facilities to provide a necessary and desirable degree and type of care.

48.988(1)(b) (b) The appropriate authorities in a state where a child is to be placed may have full opportunity to ascertain the circumstances of the proposed placement, thereby promoting full compliance with applicable requirements for the protection of the child.

48.988(1)(c) (c) The proper authorities of the state from which the placement is made may obtain the most complete information on the basis of which to evaluate a projected placement before it is made.

48.988(1)(d) (d) Appropriate jurisdictional arrangements for the care of children will be promoted.

48.988(2) (2) Article II — Definitions. As used in this compact:

48.988(2)(a) (a) “Child” means a person who, by reason of minority, is legally subject to parental, guardianship or similar control.

48.988(2)(b) (b) “Placement” means the arrangement for the care of a child in a family free or boarding home, in a child-caring agency, or in a residential care center for children and youth, but does not include any institution caring for the mentally ill, mentally defective, or epileptic, any institution primarily educational in character, or any hospital or other medical facility.

48.988(2)(c) (c) “Receiving state” means the state to which a child is sent, brought, or caused to be sent or brought, whether by public authorities or private persons or agencies, and whether for placement with state or local public authorities or for placement with private agencies or persons.

48.988(2)(d) (d) “Sending agency” means a party state, officer or employee thereof; a subdivision of a party state, or officer or employee thereof; a court of a party state; a person, corporation, association, charitable agency or other entity which sends, brings or causes to be sent or brought any child to another party state.

48.988(3) (3) Article III — Conditions for Placement.

48.988(3)(a) (a) No sending agency shall send, bring or cause to be sent or brought into any other party state any child for placement in foster care or as a preliminary to a possible adoption unless the sending agency shall comply with each and every requirement set forth in this subsection and with the applicable laws of the receiving state governing the placement of children therein.

48.988(3)(b) (b) Prior to sending, bringing or causing any child to be sent or brought into a receiving state for placement in foster care or as a preliminary to a possible adoption the sending agency shall furnish the appropriate public authorities in the receiving state written notice of the intention to send, bring, or place the child in the receiving state. The notice shall contain:

48.988(3)(b)1. 1. The name, date and place of birth of the child.

48.988(3)(b)2. 2. The identity and address or addresses of the parents or legal guardian.

48.988(3)(b)3. 3. The name and address of the person, agency or institution to or with which the sending agency proposes to send, bring or place the child.

48.988(3)(b)4. 4. A full statement of the reasons for such proposed action and evidence of the authority pursuant to which the placement is proposed to be made.

48.988(3)(c) (c) Any public officer or agency in a receiving state which is in receipt of a notice pursuant to par. (b) may request of the sending agency, or any other appropriate officer or agency of or in the sending agency’s state, and shall be entitled to receive therefrom, such supporting or additional information as it may deem necessary under the circumstances to carry out the purpose and policy of this compact.

48.988(3)(d) (d) The child shall not be sent, brought, or caused to be sent or brought into the receiving state until the appropriate public authorities in the receiving state shall notify the sending agency, in writing, to the effect that the proposed placement does not appear to be contrary to the interests of the child.

48.988(4) (4) Article IV — Penalty for Illegal Placement. The sending, bringing, or causing to be sent or brought into any receiving state of a child in violation of the terms of this compact shall constitute a violation of the laws respecting the placement of children of both the state in which the sending agency is located or from which it sends or brings the child and of the receiving state. Such violation may be punished or subjected to penalty in either jurisdiction in accordance with its laws. In addition to liability for any such punishment or penalty, any such violation shall constitute full and sufficient grounds for the suspension or revocation of any license, permit, or other legal authorization held by the sending agency which empowers or allows it to place, or care for children.

48.988(5) (5) Article V — Retention of Jurisdiction.

48.988(5)(a) (a) The sending agency shall retain jurisdiction over the child sufficient to determine all matters in relation to the custody, supervision, care, treatment and disposition of the child which it would have had if the child had remained in the sending agency’s state, until the child is adopted, reaches majority, becomes self-supporting or is discharged with the concurrence of the appropriate authority in the receiving state. Such jurisdiction shall also include the power to effect or cause the return of the child or its transfer to another location and custody pursuant to law. The sending agency shall continue to have financial responsibility for support and maintenance of the child during the period of the placement. Nothing contained herein shall defeat a claim of jurisdiction by a receiving state sufficient to deal with an act of delinquency or crime committed therein.

48.988(5)(b) (b) When the sending agency is a public agency, it may enter into an agreement with an authorized public or private agency in the receiving state providing for the performance of one or more services in respect of such case by the latter as agent for the sending agency.

48.988(5)(c) (c) Nothing in this compact shall be construed to prevent a private charitable agency authorized to place children in the receiving state from performing services or acting as agent in that state for a private charitable agency of the sending state; nor to prevent the agency in the receiving state from discharging financial responsibility for the support and maintenance of a child who has been placed on behalf of the sending agency without relieving the responsibility set forth in par. (a).

48.988(6) (6) Article VI — Institutional Care of Delinquent Children. A child adjudicated delinquent may be placed in an institution in another party jurisdiction pursuant to this compact but no such placement shall be made unless the child is given a court hearing on notice to the parent or guardian with opportunity to be heard, prior to being sent to such other party jurisdiction for institutional care and the court finds that:

48.988(6)(a) (a) Equivalent facilities for the child are not available in the sending agency’s jurisdiction; and

48.988(6)(b) (b) Institutional care in the other jurisdiction is in the best interest of the child and will not produce undue hardship.

48.988(7) (7) Article VII — Compact Administrator. The executive head of each jurisdiction party to this compact shall designate an officer who shall be general coordinator of activities under this compact in his or her jurisdiction and who, acting jointly with like officers of other party jurisdictions, shall have power to promulgate rules and regulations to carry out more effectively the terms and provisions of this compact.

48.988(8) (8) Article VIII — Limitations. This compact shall not apply to:

48.988(8)(a) (a) The sending or bringing of a child into a receiving state by the child’s parent, stepparent, grandparent, adult brother or sister, adult uncle or aunt, or guardian and leaving the child with any such relative or non-agency guardian in the receiving state if the person who sends, brings, or causes a child to be sent or brought into a receiving state is a person whose full legal right to plan for the child has been established by law at a time prior to initiation of the placement arrangement and has not been voluntarily terminated or diminished or severed by the action or order of any court.

48.988(8)(b) (b) Any placement, sending or bringing of a child into a receiving state pursuant to any other interstate compact to which both the state from which the child is sent or brought and the receiving state are party, or to any other agreement between said states which has the force of law.

48.988(9) (9) Article IX — Enactment and Withdrawal. This compact shall be open to joinder by any state, territory or possession of the United States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and, with the consent of Congress, the Government of Canada or any province thereof. It shall become effective with respect to any such jurisdiction when such jurisdiction has enacted the same into law. Withdrawal from this compact shall be by the enactment of a statute repealing the same, but shall not take effect until two years after the effective date of such statute and until written notice of the withdrawal has been given by the withdrawing state to the Governor of each other party jurisdiction. Withdrawal of a party state shall not affect the rights, duties and obligations under, this compact of any sending agency therein with respect to a placement made prior to the effective date of withdrawal.

48.988(10) (10) Article X — Construction and Severability. The provisions of this compact shall be liberally construed to effectuate the purposes thereof. The provisions of this compact shall be severable and if any phrase, clause, sentence or provision of this compact is declared to be contrary to the constitution of any party state or of the United States or the applicability thereof to any government, agency, person or circumstance is held invalid, the validity of the remainder of this compact and the applicability thereof to any government, agency, person or circumstance shall not be affected thereby. If this compact shall be held contrary to the constitution of any state party thereto, the compact shall remain in full force and effect as to the remaining states and in full force and effect as to the state affected as to all severable matters.

48.988(11) (11) Financial responsibility. Financial responsibility for any child placed under the interstate compact on the placement of children shall be determined in accordance with sub. (5) in the first instance. However, in the event of partial or complete default of performance thereunder, the provisions of s. 49.90, ch. 769, or any other applicable state law fixing responsibility for the support of children also may be invoked.

48.988(14) (14) Interstate agreements. The officers and agencies of this state and its subdivisions having authority to place children may enter into agreements with appropriate officers or agencies of or in other party states under sub. (5) (b). Any agreement which contains a financial commitment or imposes a financial obligation on this state or subdivision or agency thereof shall not be binding unless it has the approval in writing of the department in the case of the state.

48.988(15) (15) Requirements for visitation, inspection, and supervision. Any requirements for visitation, inspection or supervision of children, homes, institutions or other agencies in another party state which may apply under the provisions of this chapter shall be deemed to be met if performed pursuant to an agreement entered into by appropriate officers or agencies of this state or a subdivision thereof as contemplated by sub. (5) (b).

48.988(16) (16) Court jurisdiction retained. Any court having jurisdiction to place delinquent children may place such a child in an institution or in another state under sub. (5) and shall retain jurisdiction as provided in sub. (5).