Chapter DCF 51

DCF 51.01 DCF 51.01 Authority and purpose. This chapter is promulgated under the authority of ss. 48.84 and 227.11 (2), Stats., to establish the topics and procedures for the preadoption training required for prospective adoptive parents who have not previously adopted a child.

DCF 51.01 History History: CR 18-001: cr. Register August 2018 No. 752, eff. 9-1-18.

DCF 51.02 DCF 51.02 Definitions. In this chapter:

DCF 51.02(1) (1) “Adoption” means a process provided by law to establish the legal relationship of parent and child between persons who do not have that relationship by birth, with the same mutual rights and obligations that exist between the child and the child’s birth parents.

DCF 51.02(2) (2) “Adoption agency” means the department of children and families; a county department under s. 46.22 or 46.23, Stats.; a tribal child welfare department in this state; or a licensed child welfare agency with powers and duties under ss. 48.60 and 48.61 (5) and (7), Stats.

DCF 51.02(3) (3) “Foster parent” means a person licensed under s. 48.62 (1), Stats., and ch. DCF 56.

DCF 51.02(4) (4) “Preadoption training” means the preadoption preparation required under s. 48.84 (1), (2), and (2g), Stats.

DCF 51.02(5) (5) “Proposed adoptive parent” means an individual that an adoption agency has identified as the prospective adoptive parent for a specific child.

DCF 51.02(6) (6) “Prospective adoptive parent” means an individual who is going through the process to become an adoptive parent for a child.

DCF 51.02 History History: CR 18-001: cr. Register August 2018 No. 752, eff. 9-1-18; correction in numbering under s. 13.92 (4) (b) 1., Stats., Register August 2018 No. 752.

DCF 51.03 DCF 51.03 When preadoption training is required. A prospective adoptive parent who has not previously adopted a child shall complete preadoption training before any of the following:

DCF 51.03(1) (1) A child may be placed under s. 48.833, Stats., for adoption by the proposed adoptive parent.

DCF 51.03(2) (2) The proposed adoptive parent may petition for placement of a child for adoption under s. 48.837, Stats.

DCF 51.03(3) (3) The proposed adoptive parent may bring a child into this state for adoption under s. 48.839, Stats.

DCF 51.03 History History: CR 18-001: cr. Register August 2018 No. 752, eff. 9-1-18.

DCF 51.04 DCF 51.04 Who may provide training. Only an entity authorized under s. 48.84 (1), Stats., may provide preadoption training.

DCF 51.04 History History: CR 18-001: cr. Register August 2018 No. 752, eff. 9-1-18.

DCF 51.05 DCF 51.05 Content and number of hours.

DCF 51.05(1) (1) A prospective adoptive parent shall complete at least 25 hours of preadoption training that includes all of the following topics:

DCF 51.05(1)(a) (a) Adoption and its impact on parenting and family dynamics.

DCF 51.05(1)(b) (b) The issues for a child in an adoptive placement.

DCF 51.05(1)(c) (c) Loss and grief for the adopted child and the adoptive family.

DCF 51.05(1)(d) (d) Attachment issues in adoptive placements.

DCF 51.05(1)(e) (e) Support and resources for adopted children and adoptive families.

DCF 51.05(1)(f) (f) Cultural sensitivity in adoption.

DCF 51.05(1)(g) (g) Effects of abuse and neglect in adoption, including sexual abuse.

DCF 51.05(1)(h) (h) Legal issues relating to adoption.

DCF 51.05(1)(i) (i) Issues of children being adopted from an institutionalized care setting.

DCF 51.05(1)(j) (j) Educational issues in adoption.

DCF 51.05(1)(k) (k) Childhood developmental stages.

DCF 51.05(1)(L) (L) Trauma issues related to adoption.

DCF 51.05(2) (2) The content of the preadoption training shall be current and relevant to the type of adoption that the prospective adoptive parent is seeking.

DCF 51.05 History History: CR 18-001: cr. Register August 2018 No. 752, eff. 9-1-18.

DCF 51.06 DCF 51.06 Format of training.

DCF 51.06(1) (1) Preadoption training shall include all of the following:

DCF 51.06(1)(a) (a) At least 6 hours of training that is provided in person, either individually or in a group.

DCF 51.06(1)(b) (b) At least 6 hours of training that is appropriate to the specific needs of the child to be adopted.

DCF 51.06(2) (2) The credit given for training using books or periodicals may not exceed 5 hours of the required hours of preadoption training.

DCF 51.06(3) (3) A prospective adoptive parent shall have the opportunity to ask questions and discuss all of the topics required under s. DCF 51.05.

DCF 51.06 History History: CR 18-001: cr. Register August 2018 No. 752, eff. 9-1-18.

DCF 51.07 DCF 51.07 Credit for foster parent training.

DCF 51.07(1) (1) Completion of the standardized curriculum. Notwithstanding s. DCF 51.05, a prospective adoptive parent that has completed the foster parent training under s. DCF 56.14 (6d), (6h), or (7) may receive credit as appropriate toward the 25 hours of preadoption training under ss. DCF 51.05 and 51.06. The adoption agency shall ensure that the prospective adoptive parent completes in-person training sufficient to cover the required topics in s. DCF 51.05 (1) as they relate to adoption.

DCF 51.07(2) (2) Partial completion of the standardized curriculum. If a prospective adoptive parent has partially completed the foster parent training under s. DCF 56.14 (6d), (6h), or (7), the adoption agency shall determine the amount of credit to allow for the foster parent training that was completed and what additional training is needed for the adoptive parent to comply with ss. DCF 51.05 and 51.06.

DCF 51.07 History History: CR 18-001: cr. Register August 2018 No. 752, eff. 9-1-18; correction in numbering in (1) made under s. 13.92 (4) (b) 1., Stats., Register August 2018 No. 752.

DCF 51.08 DCF 51.08 Competency in the required training topics. The adoption agency shall determine whether prospective adoptive parents are competent in the required topics under s. DCF 51.05 and may require a prospective adoptive parent to complete additional training if the prospective adoptive parent has not attained basic competency in the required topics.

DCF 51.08 History History: CR 18-001: cr. Register August 2018 No. 752, eff. 9-1-18.

DCF 51.09 DCF 51.09 Training documentation. The adoption agency shall maintain documentation that each prospective adoptive parent completed the required preadoption training in the agency’s record on the parent.

DCF 51.09 History History: CR 18-001: cr. Register August 2018 No. 752, eff. 9-1-18.

DCF 51.10 DCF 51.10 Postadoption training. The entity that provides the required preadoption training shall refer adoptive parents with postadoption needs to resources appropriate to the specific needs of the family or offer to provide at least 6 hours of training if the entity has sufficient expertise with the family’s specific needs.

DCF 51.10 History History: CR 18-001: cr. Register August 2018 No. 752, eff. 9-1-18.