48.55 State adoption information exchange and state adoption center.

(1) The department shall establish a state adoption information exchange for the purpose of finding adoptive homes for children with special needs who do not have permanent homes and a state adoption center for the purposes of increasing public knowledge of adoption and promoting to adolescents and pregnant women the availability of adoption services. From the appropriation under s. 20.437 (1) (dg), the department may provide not more than $171,300 in each fiscal year as grants to individuals and private agencies to provide adoption information exchange services and to operate the state adoption center.

(2) The department shall promulgate rules governing the adoption information exchange and rules specifying the functions of the state adoption center. The rules specifying the functions of the state adoption center shall include all of the following:

(a) Training persons who provide counseling to adolescents including school counselors, county or department employees providing child welfare services under s. 48.56 or 48.561 and employees of a clinic providing family planning services, as defined in s. 253.07 (1) (b).

(b) Seeking persons to undergo training.

(c) Operating a toll-free telephone number to provide information and referral services.

(d) Distributing pamphlets which provide information on the availability of adoption services.

(e) Promoting adoption through the communications media.

History: 1983 a. 27; 1995 a. 266; 1997 a. 35; 1999 a. 9 ss. 1135 to 1139; 2001 a. 16; 2007 a. 20.