DCF 50.05(2)(2)Eligible to apply. Prospective adoptive parents may apply for a home study if any of the following conditions are met:
DCF 50.05(2)(a)(a) Approved. The prospective adoptive parents completed the screening process in s. DCF 50.04, and the department determined that the prospective adoptive parents meet the screening criteria.
DCF 50.05(2)(b)(b) Exempt. The prospective adoptive parents are not required to complete the screening process in s. DCF 50.04 because the prospective adoptive parents are any of the following:
DCF 50.05(2)(b)1.1. Adult relatives of a child who is legally free for public adoption or a child who is at legal risk if the department determines that the child needs an adoptive placement.
DCF 50.05(2)(b)2.2. Prospective adoptive parents that are seeking to adopt a child who is already placed in the prospective adoptive parents’ home.
DCF 50.05(2)(b)3.3. Upon the request of a tribal child welfare department and at the discretion of the department, prospective adoptive parents that are seeking to adopt an Indian child.
DCF 50.05(2)(c)(c) Expedited. The bureau director or a designee waived the screening process in s. DCF 50.04 and authorized the prospective adoptive parents to apply for a home study based on documentation that the prospective adoptive parents are expected to be the most suitable placement resource for a child who is legally free for public adoption or a child who is at legal risk.
DCF 50.05(3)(3)Application deadline. The public adoption agency may deny an application for a home study that is submitted more than 60 days after the prospective adoptive parents received the application.
DCF 50.05(4)(4)Incomplete application. The public adoption agency shall return an incomplete application to the applicant with a request for further information to complete the application. The public adoption agency may deny the application if the application is not complete within 60 days after the date on the notice from the public adoption agency requesting more information.
DCF 50.05(5)(5)Potential conflict of interest. A public adoption agency may not conduct a home study on an employee or a relative of an employee of the public adoption agency if the employee works in the area of the public adoption agency that issues foster home licenses or approves home studies.
DCF 50.05(6)(6)Elements of a home study. A home study of an applicant for a public adoption shall include all of the following:
DCF 50.05(6)(a)(a) The use of all components of a standardized assessment tool prescribed by the department to assist in determining approval of a placement for adoption and issuance of a license to operate a foster home. Completion shall include dates and signatures where specified by the tool. If the applicant is licensed as a foster parent using the standardized assessment tool, use of the tool as necessary to update and supplement the assessment for the purpose of adoption and for the particular child if the approval is child specific.
DCF 50.05 NoteNote: The standardized assessment tool prescribed by the department is the Structured Analysis Family Evaluation (SAFE) tool. Contact the department’s Division of Safety and Permanence for further information at P.O. Box 8916, Madison, WI 53708-8916.
DCF 50.05(6)(b)(b) An assessment of current and potential parenting skills.
DCF 50.05(6)(c)(c) An assessment of ability to provide adequate financial support for a child.
DCF 50.05(6)(d)(d) An assessment of level of knowledge and awareness of adoption issues, including, if appropriate, matters relating to interracial, cross-cultural, and special needs adoptions.
DCF 50.05(6)(e)(e) The evaluation of 3 written or verbal references.
DCF 50.05(6)(f)(f) Verification of birth records for all individuals in the applicant’s household and verification of marriage, divorce, and naturalization records for the applicant, if applicable.
DCF 50.05(6)(g)(g) Verification of compliance with background check requirements in s. 48.685, Stats., and s. DCF 56.055.
DCF 50.05(6)(h)(h) The evaluation of a written statement from a physician, physician assistant, or nurse practitioner that indicates any physical or mental conditions of the applicant or any household member that may affect the ability of the applicant to provide care for a child or threaten the health or safety of a child. The statement shall be based upon a medical examination performed within the 6 months prior to the submission of the application. The public adoption agency may require any of the following:
DCF 50.05(6)(h)1.1. An additional physical, mental health, or alcohol or drug abuse evaluation of the applicant or any other household member.
DCF 50.05(6)(h)2.2. Authorization for the release of records relating to any physical, mental health, or alcohol or drug abuse evaluation or treatment regarding the applicant or any other household member.
DCF 50.05(7)(7)Qualifications for a home study approval. In determining whether an applicant’s home is suitable for placement of a child for the purpose of a public adoption, the public adoption agency shall consider s. 48.88, Stats., and all of the following:
DCF 50.05(7)(a)(a) The applicant shall be motivated and able to meet the child’s needs, emotionally mature with healthy interpersonal relationships, in good physical and mental health, and able to adequately support and parent the child in a healthy and emotionally secure environment.
DCF 50.05(7)(b)(b) The applicant shall have the capacity to accept and incorporate into the applicant’s family a child born to other parents and to assist the child in understanding the child’s genetic background and adoption.
DCF 50.05(7)(c)(c) The applicant shall meet the requirements for a license to operate a foster home with a certification of Level 2 or above under ch. DCF 56.
DCF 50.05(7)(d)(d) The number of individuals receiving care in the applicant’s home may not exceed 8 persons.
DCF 50.05(7)(e)(e) The applicant shall demonstrate commitment and efforts to support any biological or adopted children, including any children who are in out-of-home care or in a state treatment facility under s. 51.01 (15), Stats.
DCF 50.05(7)(f)(f) The applicant may not have had parental rights to a child terminated under the laws of a state or tribe.