Chapter 938

938.357(2v)(a)5.c. c. Whether the placement is consistent with the short-term and long-term goals for the juvenile, as specified in the permanency plan.

938.357(2v)(a)5.d. d. Whether the court approves or disapproves the placement.

938.357(2v)(a)6. 6. If the results of the standardized assessment and recommendation of the qualified individual who conducted the standardized assessment are not available at the time of the order, the court shall defer making the findings under subd. 5. as provided in this subdivision. No later than 60 days after the date on which the placement was made, the court shall issue an order making the findings under subd. 5.

938.357(2v)(b) (b) Documentation of basis of findings. The court shall make the findings under par. (a) 1. and 3. on a case-by-case basis based on circumstances specific to the juvenile and shall document or reference the specific information on which those findings are based in the change in placement order. A change in placement order that merely references par. (a) 1. or 3. without documenting or referencing that specific information in the change in placement order or an amended change in placement order that retroactively corrects an earlier change in placement order that does not comply with this paragraph is not sufficient to comply with this paragraph.

938.357(2v)(c) (c) Reasonable efforts not required; permanency hearing. If the court finds under par. (a) 3. that any of the circumstances under s. 938.355 (2d) (b) 1. to 4. applies with respect to a parent, the court shall hold a hearing under s. 938.38 (4m) within 30 days after the date of that finding to determine the permanency goal and, if applicable, any concurrent permanency goals for the juvenile.

938.357(2v)(d) (d) Search for relatives.

938.357(2v)(d)1. 1. Subject to subd. 2., the court shall order the county department or the agency primarily responsible for implementing the dispositional order to conduct a diligent search in order to locate and provide notice of the information specified in s. 938.21 (5) (e) 2. a. to e. to all relatives of the juvenile named under sub. (1) (c) 2m. or (2m) (bm) and to all adult relatives, as defined in s. 938.21 (5) (e) 1., of the juvenile within 30 days after the juvenile is removed from the custody of the juvenile’s parent unless the juvenile is returned to his or her home within that period. The court may also order the county department or agency to conduct a diligent search in order to locate and provide notice of that information to all other adult individuals named under sub. (1) (c) 2m. or (2m) (bm) within 30 days after the juvenile is removed from the custody of the juvenile’s parent unless the juvenile is returned to his or her home within that period. The county department or agency may not provide that notice to a person named under sub. (1) (c) 2m. or (2m) (bm) or to an adult relative if the county department or agency has reason to believe that it would be dangerous to the juvenile or to the parent if the juvenile were placed with that person or adult relative.

938.357(2v)(d)2. 2. Subdivision 1. does not apply if the search required under subd. 1. was previously conducted and the notice required under subd. 1. was previously provided under s. 938.21 (5) (e) 2. or 938.355 (2) (cm) 1.

938.357(3) (3) Placement in juvenile correctional facility.

938.357(3)(a) (a) Subject to subs. (4) (b), (c), and (d) and (5) (e), if the proposed change in placement would involve placing a juvenile in a juvenile correctional facility or a secured residential care center for children and youth, notice shall be given as provided in sub. (1) (am) 1. A hearing shall be held, unless waived by the juvenile, parent, guardian, and legal custodian, before the court makes a decision on the request. The juvenile is entitled to counsel at the hearing, and any party opposing or favoring the proposed new placement may present relevant evidence and cross-examine witnesses. The department of corrections shall have the opportunity to object to a change of placement of a juvenile from a secured residential care center for children and youth to a Type 1 juvenile correctional facility under par. (b). The proposed new placement may be approved only if the court finds, on the record, that the conditions set forth in s. 938.34 (4m) (a) and (b) have been met.

938.357(3)(b) (b) Notwithstanding s. 938.34 (4m) and subject to par. (c), the court may order placement in a Type 1 juvenile correctional facility operated by the department of corrections for a juvenile who was adjudicated delinquent under s. 938.34 (4m) if the court finds, after a hearing under this section, that any of the following apply:

938.357(3)(b)1. 1. The juvenile is placed at a secured residential care center for children and youth and all of the following apply:

938.357(3)(b)1.a. a. The secured residential care center for children and youth where the juvenile is placed is not able to meet the juvenile’s treatment needs.

938.357(3)(b)1.b. b. The programming available at the proposed Type 1 juvenile correctional facility as of the date of the hearing is able to meet the treatment needs of the juvenile.

938.357(3)(b)1.c. c. No other secured residential care center for children and youth is willing and able to meet the juvenile’s treatment needs.

938.357(3)(b)2. 2. The county department does not have space for the juvenile in its secured residential care center for children and youth and no other secured residential care center for children and youth is willing and able to meet the juvenile’s treatment needs.

938.357(3)(c) (c) Notwithstanding s. 938.34 (4m), upon the recommendation of the department of health services, the court may order the placement of a juvenile who was adjudicated delinquent under s. 938.34 (4m) at the Mendota juvenile treatment center if par. (b) 1. a. to c. are met. A court may not order a placement under this paragraph at the Mendota juvenile treatment center that the department of health services has not approved. A juvenile under the supervision of a county in a secured residential care center for children and youth who is transferred to Mendota juvenile treatment center under this paragraph remains under the supervision of that county. The department of health services shall determine the date for the actual transfer of the juvenile to the Mendota juvenile treatment center, and no change of placement to the Mendota juvenile treatment center may be ordered without the prior agreement of the department of health services to admit the juvenile. No further hearing or court order is necessary for the department of health services to transfer the juvenile back to the custody of the county department.

938.357(3)(d) (d) A juvenile who is placed in a Type 1 juvenile correctional facility under par. (b) or (c) is the financial responsibility of the county department of the county where the juvenile was adjudicated delinquent. The county department shall reimburse the department of corrections at the rate specified under s. 301.26 (4) (d) 2. or 3., whichever is applicable, for the cost of a juvenile’s care while placed in a Type 1 juvenile correctional facility other than the Mendota juvenile treatment center. The county department shall reimburse the department of health services at a rate specified by that department for the cost of a juvenile’s care while placed at the Mendota juvenile treatment center and these payments shall be deposited in the appropriation account under s. 20.435 (2) (gk).

938.357(3)(e) (e) A juvenile who is placed in a Type 1 juvenile correctional facility under par. (b) is under the supervision of the department of corrections. The change of placement order shall designate the department of corrections to provide community supervision or the county department to provide aftercare supervision for the juvenile following the juvenile’s release from the Type 1 juvenile correctional facility.

938.357(4) (4) Change in placement without a hearing.

938.357(4)(ab) (ab) In this subsection, “operating entity” means the county department, the Indian tribe, or the child welfare agency, whichever entity operates a secured residential care center for children and youth.

938.357(4)(am) (am) When the juvenile is placed with the department of corrections, that department may, after an examination under s. 938.50, place the juvenile in a juvenile correctional facility or, with the consent of the operating entity, a secured residential care center for children and youth or on community supervision or aftercare supervision, either immediately or after a period of placement in a juvenile correctional facility or a secured residential care center for children and youth. The department of corrections shall send written notice of the change in placement to the parent, guardian, legal custodian, county department designated under s. 938.34 (4n), if any, and committing court. If the department of corrections places a juvenile in a Type 2 juvenile correctional facility operated by a child welfare agency, that department shall reimburse the child welfare agency at the rate established under s. 49.343 that is applicable to the type of placement that the child welfare agency is providing for the juvenile. If the department of corrections places a juvenile in a secured residential care center for children and youth under this paragraph, the department of corrections shall contract with the operating entity for the care and services provided under s. 301.08. A juvenile who is placed in a Type 2 juvenile correctional facility or a secured residential care center for children and youth under this paragraph remains under the supervision of the department of corrections, remains subject to the rules and discipline of that department, and is considered to be in custody, as defined in s. 946.42 (1) (a).

938.357(4)(as) (as) When a juvenile is placed under the supervision of a county department, that department may place the juvenile in a secured residential care center for children and youth or on aftercare supervision, either immediately or after a period of placement in a secured residential care center for children and youth. The county department shall send written notice of any change in placement to the parent, guardian, legal custodian, if any, and the court. The county department shall be responsible for decisions regarding the release of a juvenile who is under its supervision.

938.357(4)(b) (b)

938.357(4)(b)1. 1. If a juvenile whom the department of corrections has placed in a Type 2 juvenile correctional facility operated by a child welfare agency violates a condition of his or her placement in the Type 2 juvenile correctional facility, the child welfare agency operating the Type 2 juvenile correctional facility shall notify the department of corrections and that department, after consulting with the child welfare agency, may place the juvenile in a Type 1 juvenile correctional facility or, with the consent of the operating entity, a secured residential care center for children and youth, a under the supervision of the department, without a hearing under sub. (1) (am) 2.

938.357(4)(b)2. 2. If a juvenile whom the court has placed in a Type 2 residential care center for children and youth under s. 938.34 (4d) violates a condition of his or her placement in the Type 2 residential care center for children and youth, the child welfare agency operating the Type 2 residential care center for children and youth shall notify the county department that has supervision over the juvenile. The county department, after consulting with the child welfare agency, may place the juvenile in a secured residential care center for children and youth, without a hearing under sub. (1) (am) 2., for not more than 10 days.

938.357(4)(b)3. 3. The child welfare agency operating the Type 2 juvenile correctional facility or Type 2 residential care center for children and youth shall send written notice of a change in placement under subd. 1. or 2. to the parent, guardian, legal custodian, county department, and committing court.

938.357(4)(b)4. 4. A juvenile may seek review of a decision of the department of corrections or the county department under subd. 1. or 2. only by the common law writ of certiorari.

938.357(4)(c) (c)

938.357(4)(c)1. 1. If a juvenile is placed in a Type 2 juvenile correctional facility operated by a child welfare agency under par. (am) and it appears that a less restrictive placement would be appropriate for the juvenile, the department of corrections, after consulting with the child welfare agency that is operating the Type 2 juvenile correctional facility, may place the juvenile in a less restrictive placement, and may return the juvenile to the Type 2 juvenile correctional facility without a hearing under sub. (1) (am) 2. The rate for each type of placement shall be established by the department of children and families, in consultation with the department of corrections, in the manner provided in s. 49.343.

938.357(4)(c)2. 2. If a juvenile is placed in a Type 2 residential care center for children and youth under s. 938.34 (4d) and it appears that a less restrictive placement would be appropriate for the juvenile, the child welfare agency operating the Type 2 residential care center for children and youth shall notify the county department that has supervision over the juvenile and, if the county department agrees to a change in placement under this subdivision, the child welfare agency may place the juvenile in a less restrictive placement. A child welfare agency may also, with the agreement of the county department that has supervision over a juvenile who is placed in a less restrictive placement under this subdivision, return the juvenile to the Type 2 residential care center for children and youth without a hearing under sub. (1) (am) 2. The rate for each type of placement shall be established by the department of children and families, in consultation with the department of corrections, in the manner provided in s. 49.343.

938.357(4)(c)3. 3. The child welfare agency operating the Type 2 juvenile correctional facility or Type 2 residential care center for children and youth shall send written notice of a change in placement under subd. 1. or 2. to the parent, guardian, legal custodian, county department, and committing court.

938.357(4)(c)4. 4. A juvenile may seek review of a decision of the department of corrections or county department under subd. 1. or 2. only by the common law writ of certiorari.

938.357(4)(d) (d)

938.357(4)(d)1. 1. If a juvenile under the supervision of the department of corrections is placed in a secured residential care center for children and youth and that secured residential care center for children and youth is unable to meet the treatment needs of the juvenile, the operating entity shall notify the department of corrections and the department of corrections, after consulting with the operating entity, may place the juvenile in a secured residential care center for children and youth that is able to meet the treatment needs of the juvenile without a hearing under sub. (1) (am) 2. if the receiving operating entity agrees. The department of corrections shall send written notice of the change in placement to the parent, guardian, legal custodian, county department designated under s. 938.34 (4n), if any, and committing court. If the department of corrections places a juvenile in a secured residential care center for children and youth under this subdivision, the department of corrections shall contract with the operating entity for the care and services provided under s. 301.08. A juvenile who is placed in a secured residential care center for children and youth under this subdivision remains under the supervision of the department of corrections, remains subject to the rules and discipline of that department, and is considered to be in custody, as defined in s. 946.42 (1) (a).

938.357(4)(d)2. 2. If a juvenile under the supervision of a county department is placed in a secured residential care center for children and youth and that secured residential care center for children and youth is unable to meet the treatment needs of the juvenile, the supervising county department, after consulting with the operating entity, may transfer the juvenile to a different secured residential care center for children and youth that is able to meet the treatment needs of the juvenile and offers more appropriate care and services without a hearing under sub. (1) (am) 2. if the receiving operating entity agrees. The supervising county department shall send written notice of the change in placement to the parent, guardian, legal custodian, county department designated under s. 938.34 (4n), if any, and committing court. If a county department places a juvenile in a secured residential care center for children and youth under this subdivision, the county department shall contract with the operating entity for the care and services provided. If a county department places a juvenile in a secured residential care center for children and youth under this subdivision, the juvenile remains under the supervision of the placing county department, remains subject to the rules and discipline of that county department, and is considered to be in custody, as defined in s. 946.42 (1) (a).

938.357(4)(d)3. 3. A juvenile may seek review of a decision by the department of corrections or county department under subd. 1. or 2. only by the common law writ of certiorari.

938.357(4d) (4d) Prohibited placements based on homicide of parent.

938.357(4d)(a) (a) Prohibition. Except as provided in par. (b), the court may not change a juvenile’s placement to a placement in the home of a person who has been convicted of the homicide of a parent of the juvenile under s. 940.01 or 940.05, if the conviction has not been reversed, set aside, or vacated.

938.357(4d)(am) (am) Change in placement required. Except as provided in par. (b), if a parent in whose home a juvenile is placed is convicted of the homicide of the juvenile’s other parent under s. 940.01 or 940.05, and the conviction has not been reversed, set aside, or vacated, the court shall change the juvenile’s placement to a placement outside the home of the parent on petition of the juvenile, the juvenile’s counsel or guardian ad litem, the guardian or legal custodian of the juvenile, the person or agency primarily responsible for implementing the dispositional order, or the district attorney or corporation counsel of the county in which the dispositional order was entered, or on the court’s own motion with notice to the parent.

938.357(4d)(b) (b) Exception. Paragraphs (a) and (am) do not apply if the court determines by clear and convincing evidence that the placement would be in the best interests of the juvenile. The court shall consider the wishes of the juvenile in making that determination.

938.357(4g) (4g) Community supervision or aftercare plan.

938.357(4g)(a) (a) Not later than 120 days after the date on which the juvenile is placed in a juvenile correctional facility or a secured residential care center for children and youth, or within 30 days after the date on which the department of corrections requests the community supervision or aftercare plan, whichever is earlier, the community supervision provider or the aftercare provider designated under s. 938.34 (4n) shall prepare a community supervision or aftercare plan for the juvenile. If the juvenile is to be placed on aftercare supervision, the county department designated as the aftercare provider shall submit the aftercare plan to the department of corrections within the applicable period specified in this paragraph, unless the department of corrections waives the period under par. (b).

938.357(4g)(b) (b) The department of corrections may waive the period within which a community supervision plan or aftercare plan must be prepared and submitted under par. (a) if that department anticipates that the juvenile will remain in the juvenile correctional facility or secured residential care center for children and youth for a period exceeding 8 months or if the juvenile is subject to s. 938.183. If the department of corrections waives that period, the designated community supervision or aftercare provider shall prepare the community supervision or aftercare plan within 30 days after the date on which the department of corrections requests the community supervision or aftercare plan.

938.357(4g)(c) (c) A community supervision or aftercare plan shall include all of the following:

938.357(4g)(c)1. 1. The minimum number of supervisory contacts per week.

938.357(4g)(c)2. 2. The conditions, if any, under which the juvenile’s community supervision or aftercare status may be revoked.

938.357(4g)(c)3. 3. Services or programming to be provided to the juvenile while on community supervision or aftercare supervision.

938.357(4g)(c)4. 4. The estimated length of time that community supervision and services or aftercare supervision and services shall be provided to the juvenile.

938.357(4g)(d) (d) A juvenile may be released from a juvenile correctional facility or a secured residential care center for children and youth whether or not a community supervision or aftercare plan has been prepared under this subsection.

938.357(4m) (4m) Release to community supervision or aftercare supervision. The department of corrections shall try to release a juvenile to community supervision and the county department with supervision of a juvenile shall try to release the juvenile to aftercare supervision under sub. (4) within 30 days after the date on which the department of corrections or county department determines the juvenile is eligible for the release.

938.357(5) (5) Revocation of community supervision or aftercare supervision.

938.357(5)(a) (a) If a juvenile has been placed on community supervision, the department of corrections may revoke the community supervision status of that juvenile as provided in this subsection. If a juvenile has been placed on aftercare supervision, the county department that has been designated as a juvenile’s aftercare provider may revoke the aftercare status of that juvenile as provided in this subsection. Prior notice of a change in placement under sub. (1) (am) 1. is not required.

938.357(5)(b) (b) A juvenile on community supervision status may be taken into custody only as provided in ss. 938.19 to 938.21 or 938.533 (3) (a). A juvenile on aftercare status may be taken into custody only as provided in ss. 938.19 to 938.21 or 938.355 (6d) (b).

938.357(5)(c) (c) The juvenile is entitled to representation by counsel at all stages of the revocation proceeding.

938.357(5)(d) (d) A hearing on the revocation shall be conducted by the division of hearings and appeals in the department of administration within 30 days after the juvenile is taken into custody for an alleged violation of a condition of the juvenile’s community supervision or aftercare supervision. This period may be waived only upon the agreement of the community supervision or aftercare provider, the juvenile, and the juvenile’s counsel.

938.357(5)(e) (e) If the hearing examiner finds that the juvenile has violated a condition of community supervision or aftercare supervision, the hearing examiner shall determine whether confinement in a juvenile correctional facility or a secured residential care center for children and youth is necessary to protect the public, to provide for the juvenile’s rehabilitation, or to not depreciate the seriousness of the violation.

938.357(5)(f) (f) Review of a revocation decision shall be by certiorari to the court that placed the juvenile in the juvenile correctional facility or secured residential care center for children and youth.

938.357(5)(g) (g) The department of corrections shall promulgate rules setting standards to be used by a hearing examiner to determine whether to revoke a juvenile’s community supervision or aftercare status. The standards shall specify that the burden is on the department of corrections or county department seeking revocation to show by a preponderance of the evidence that the juvenile violated a condition of community supervision or aftercare supervision.

938.357(5m) (5m) Child support.

938.357(5m)(a) (a) If a proposed change in placement would change a juvenile’s placement from a placement in the juvenile’s home to a placement outside the juvenile’s home, the court shall order the juvenile’s parent to provide a statement of the income, assets, debts, and living expenses of the juvenile and the juvenile’s parent 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 that statement a document setting forth the percentage standard established by the department of children and families under s. 49.22 (9) and the manner of its application established by the department of corrections under s. 301.12 (14) (g) and listing the factors under s. 301.12 (14) (c). If the juvenile is placed outside the juvenile’s home, the court shall determine the liability of the parent in the manner provided in s. 301.12 (14).

938.357(5m)(b) (b) If the court orders the juvenile’s parent to provide a statement of the income, assets, debts, and living expenses of the juvenile and juvenile’s parent to the court or if the court orders the juvenile’s parent to provide that statement to the person or agency primarily responsible for implementing the dispositional order and that person or agency is not the county department, the court shall also order the juvenile’s parent to provide that statement to the county department by a date specified by the court. The county 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 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 juvenile.

938.357(6) (6) Duration of order.

938.357(6)(a) (a) No change in placement may extend the expiration date of the original dispositional order, except that if the change in placement is from a placement in the juvenile’s home to a placement in a foster home, group home, or residential care center for children and youth, in the home of a relative who is not a parent, in the home of like-kin, or in a supervised independent living arrangement, the court may extend the expiration date of the original dispositional order to the latest of the following dates, unless the court specifies a shorter period:

Effective date note NOTE: Par. (a) (intro.) is shown as amended by 2023 Wis. Act 119 eff. 7-1-25 or on the date specified in the Department of Children and Families notice published in the Wisconsin Administrative Register under 2023 Wis. Act 119, section 122 (1), whichever is earlier. Prior to that date par. (a) (intro.) reads:

Effective date text (a) No change in placement may extend the expiration date of the original dispositional order, except that if the change in placement is from a placement in the juvenile’s home to a placement in a foster home, group home, or residential care center for children and youth, in the home of a relative who is not a parent, or in a supervised independent living arrangement, the court may extend the expiration date of the original dispositional order to the latest of the following dates, unless the court specifies a shorter period:

938.357(6)(a)1. 1. The date on which the juvenile attains 18 years of age.

938.357(6)(a)2. 2. The date that is one year after the date on which the change-in-placement order is granted.

938.357(6)(a)3. 3. The date on which the juvenile is granted a high school or high school equivalency diploma or the date on which the juvenile attains 19 years of age, whichever occurs first, if the juvenile is a full-time student at a secondary school or its vocational or technical equivalent and is reasonably expected to complete the program before attaining 19 years of age.

938.357(6)(a)4. 4. The date on which the juvenile is granted a high school or high school equivalency diploma or the date on which the juvenile attains 21 years of age, whichever occurs first, if the juvenile is a full-time student at a secondary school or its vocational or technical equivalent and if an individualized education program under s. 115.787 is in effect for the juvenile. The court may not grant an order that terminates as provided in this subdivision unless the juvenile is 17 years of age or older when the order is granted and the juvenile, or the juvenile’s guardian on behalf of the juvenile, agrees to the order. At any time after the juvenile attains 18 years of age, the juvenile, or the juvenile’s guardian on behalf of the juvenile, may request the court in writing to terminate the order and, on receipt of such a request, the court, without a hearing, shall terminate the order.

938.357(6)(b) (b) If the change in placement is from a placement in a foster home, group home, or residential care center for children and youth or in the home of a relative or like-kin to a placement in the juvenile’s home and if the expiration date of the original dispositional order is more than one year after the date on which the change-in-placement order is granted, the court shall shorten the expiration date of the original dispositional order to the date that is one year after the date on which the change-in-placement order is granted or to an earlier date as specified by the court.

Effective date note NOTE: Par. (b) is shown as amended by 2023 Wis. Act 119 eff. 7-1-25 or on the date specified in the Department of Children and Families notice published in the Wisconsin Administrative Register under 2023 Wis. Act 119, section 122 (1), whichever is earlier. Prior to that date par. (b) reads:

Effective date text (b) If the change in placement is from a placement in a foster home, group home, or residential care center for children and youth or in the home of a relative to a placement in the juvenile’s home and if the expiration date of the original dispositional order is more than one year after the date on which the change-in-placement order is granted, the court shall shorten the expiration date of the original dispositional order to the date that is one year after the date on which the change-in-placement order is granted or to an earlier date as specified by the court.

938.357 History History: 1995 a. 27 s. 9126 (19); 1995 a. 77, 275, 352; 1997 a. 27, 35, 80, 205, 237; 1999 a. 9, 103; 2001 a. 16, 103, 109; 2005 a. 344; 2007 a. 20, 199; 2009 a. 28, 79, 94; 2011 a. 181, 258; 2013 a. 334; 2015 a. 55, 197, 373; 2017 a. 185; 2019 a. 8 ss. 40 to 43, 59; 2019 a. 9; 2021 a. 42; 2021 a. 238 s. 45; 2021 a. 240 s. 30; 2023 a. 119.

938.357 Cross-reference Cross-reference: See also ch. DOC 393, Wis. adm. code.

938.357 Annotation Section 938.355 provides a variety of sanctions for juveniles who have violated their dispositional orders. Section 938.357 enumerates the ways in which a juvenile’s placement may be changed. Nothing in either statute indicates that it is to be the exclusive mechanism for violation of a disposition order. Section 938.34 (16) specifically allows an alternative procedure for dealing with violations of a disposition order when part of the disposition is imposed and stayed. State v. Richard J.D., 2006 WI App 242, 297 Wis. 2d 20, 724 N.W.2d 665, 06-0555.

938.358 938.358 Trial reunification.

938.358(1) (1) Definition. In this section:

938.358(1)(a) (a) “Trial reunification” means a period of 7 consecutive days or longer, but not exceeding 150 days, during which a juvenile who is placed in an out-of-home placement under s. 938.355 or 938.357 resides in the home of a relative of the juvenile from which the juvenile was removed or in the home of either of the juvenile’s parents for the purpose of determining the appropriateness of changing the placement of the juvenile to that home.

938.358(1)(b) (b) “Trial reunification home” means the home in which a juvenile resides during a trial reunification.

938.358(2) (2) Trial reunification; procedure.

938.358(2)(a) (a) Request or proposal. No trial reunification may occur without a court order. Only the person or agency primarily responsible for implementing the dispositional order may request the court to order a trial reunification. The request shall contain the name and address of the requested trial reunification home, a statement describing why the trial reunification is in the best interests of the juvenile, and a statement describing how the trial reunification satisfies the objectives of the juvenile’s permanency plan. A request for a trial reunification may not be made on the sole grounds that an emergency condition necessitates an immediate removal of the juvenile from his or her out-of-home placement. If an emergency condition necessitates such an immediate removal, the person or agency primarily responsible for implementing the dispositional order shall proceed as provided in s. 938.357 (2) (a).

938.358(2)(b) (b) Notice; information required. The person or agency requesting the trial reunification shall submit the request to the court and shall cause written notice of the requested trial reunification to be sent to the juvenile, the parent, guardian, and legal custodian of the juvenile, any foster parent or other physical custodian described in s. 48.62 (2) of the juvenile, all parties who are bound by the dispositional order, and, if the juvenile is an Indian juvenile who has been removed from the home of his or her parent or Indian custodian under s. 938.13 (4), (6), (6m), or (7), the Indian juvenile’s Indian custodian and tribe. The notice shall contain the information that is required to be included in the request under par. (a).

938.358(2)(c) (c) Hearing; when required. Any person receiving notice of a requested trial reunification under par. (b) may obtain a hearing on the matter by filing an objection with the court within 10 days after the request was filed with the court. If an objection is filed, a hearing shall be held within 30 days after the request was filed with the court. Not less than 3 days before the hearing the person or agency requesting the trial reunification or the court shall provide notice of the hearing to all persons who are entitled to receive notice under par. (b). A copy of the request for the trial reunification shall be attached to the notice. If all of the parties consent, the court may proceed immediately with the hearing.

938.358(2)(d) (d) Order. If the court finds that the trial reunification is in the best interests of the juvenile and that the trial reunification satisfies the objectives of the juvenile’s permanency plan, the court shall order the trial reunification. A trial reunification shall terminate 90 days after the date of the order, unless the court specifies a shorter period in the order, extends the trial reunification under sub. (3), or revokes the trial reunification under sub. (4) (c) or (6) (b). No trial reunification order may extend the expiration date of the original dispositional order under s. 938.355 or any extension order under s. 938.365. A trial reunification under this section is not a change in placement under s. 938.357. Unless revoked under sub. (4) (c) or (6) (b), at the end of a trial reunification, the person or agency primarily responsible for implementing the dispositional order shall do one of the following:

938.358(2)(d)1. 1. Return the juvenile to his or her previous out-of-home placement. The person or agency may do so without further order of the court, but within 5 days after the return the person or agency shall provide notice of the date of the return and the address of that placement to all persons who are entitled to receive notice under par. (b).

938.358(2)(d)2. 2. Request a change in placement under s. 938.357 to place the juvenile in a new out-of-home placement.

938.358(2)(d)3. 3. Request a change in placement under s. 938.357 to place the juvenile in the trial reunification home.

938.358(3) (3) Extension of trial reunification.