DCF 53.05(2)(a)3.3. The department or agency shall complete the search and inform the requester of the results within 6 months after initiating the search, unless: DCF 53.05(2)(a)3.a.a. A request involves searching for information from sources outside the department or agency and not readily accessible to department or agency staff; DCF 53.05(2)(a)3.b.b. A search is delayed by one or both birth parents who want additional time before signing or submitting an affidavit to the department or agency; or DCF 53.05(2)(a)3.c.c. A search has been completed by the department or agency without a birth parent being located, and the requester asks that additional efforts be made by the department or agency. DCF 53.05(2)(b)(b) To the extent allowed by law, adoption search activities shall include, but are not limited to, checking: DCF 53.05(2)(b)2.2. Known close birth relatives who may know the location of the birth parent; DCF 53.05(2)(b)7.7. Occupational licensing boards if applicable to the birth parent’s occupation; DCF 53.05(2)(c)(c) Employees of the department or agency conducting an adoption search for birth parents may not inform anyone other than the birth parents about the purpose of the search. DCF 53.05(2)(d)(d) When it appears that a sought-after birth parent has been identified and located, the searcher shall first attempt to make contact with the birth parent by telephone. If the presumed birth parent has no telephone or cannot be contacted by telephone, the searcher shall attempt contact through either a home visit or a letter. DCF 53.05(2)(d)1.1. Whether the searcher attempts contact by letter or home visit, the contact shall be handled in a sensitive manner. DCF 53.05(2)(d)2.2. If a letter is used, the specifics of the search shall not be revealed in the event that another member of the household opens the mail. DCF 53.05 NoteNote: Copies of sample, non-specific letters are available from: Adoption Records Search Program, Division of Safety and Permanence, P.O. Box 8916, Madison, Wisconsin 53708-8916.
DCF 53.05(2)(e)(e) Adoption search program information shall be provided to all birth parents contacted under this subsection in accordance with s. 48.433 (7) (b), Stats. DCF 53.05(2)(f)(f) Upon completion of an adoption search, the agency shall provide the requester and the department with the same written correspondence which includes: DCF 53.05(2)(f)1.1. The search activities utilized and the types of information resulting from the search activities; or DCF 53.05(2)(f)2.2. The circumstances relating to the agency’s inability to locate the birth parent or the birth parent’s refusal to provide information. DCF 53.05(3)(a)(a) The department or the agency designated by the department to conduct the adoption search shall charge the requester a fee to cover the costs incurred in conducting the search. The fee shall reflect the amount of effort put into the search for the birth parents or birth parent information and not the results or amount of information the department or agency is able to gather. The fee may include the actual cost of locating, certifying, removing identifying information, copying and mailing existing information maintained in the internal files of the department or agency. The initial fee submitted under sub. (2) (a) 2. c. with an application for a search shall be deducted from the fee charged under this subsection. The fee charged a requester for existing record information may not exceed a total of $150. DCF 53.05 NoteNote: The department or agency cannot guarantee that birth parents will be found or that, if found, the birth parents will file the required affidavit granting authorization for disclosure of birth parent identity and location.