48.84 Preadoption preparation for proposed adoptive parents.

(1) Before a child may be placed under s. 48.833 for adoption by a proposed adoptive parent who has not previously adopted a child, before a proposed adoptive parent who has not previously adopted a child may petition for placement of a child for adoption under s. 48.837, and before a proposed adoptive parent who has not previously adopted a child may bring a child into this state for adoption under s. 48.839, the proposed adoptive parent shall complete the preadoption preparation required under this section. The preparation shall be provided by a licensed child welfare agency, a licensed private adoption agency, the state adoption information exchange under s. 48.55, the state adoption center under s. 48.55, a state-funded foster care and adoption resource center, a state-funded postadoption resource center, a technical college district school, or an institution or college campus within the University of Wisconsin System. If the proposed adoptive parent does not reside in this state, he or she may meet this requirement by obtaining equivalent preparation in his or her state of residence. If the proposed adoptive parent resides in this state, but the agency that negotiated or arranged placement of the child is governed by the laws of another state, the proposed adoptive parent may meet this requirement by obtaining equivalent preparation that is provided by that agency and is approved by the department.

(2) The department shall promulgate rules establishing the topics covered under the preadoption preparation required under sub. (1). The preparation shall include training on issues that may confront adoptive parents, in general, and that may confront adoptive parents of special needs children or foreign children. In all cases, the training shall cover the topics of attachment, trauma, neglect, and abuse, including sexual abuse.

(2g) A proposed adoptive parent shall obtain at least 25 hours of the preadoption preparation required under sub. (1), including all of the following:

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

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

(2r) A person who is providing the preadoption preparation required under sub. (1) shall offer to the adoptive parent at least 6 additional hours of training appropriate to the postadoption needs of the family to be provided after a court issues an order granting the adoption.

(3) A proposed adoptive parent who petitions to adopt a child under s. 48.837 or 48.839 or with whom a child is placed under s. 48.833 (2) shall pay the costs of the preadoption preparation required under sub. (1) and the postadoption training offered under sub. (2r). The department shall pay the costs of the preadoption preparation required under sub. (1) and the postadoption training offered under sub. (2r) for a proposed adoptive parent with whom a child is placed under s. 48.833 (1).

History: 2005 a. 293; 2007 a. 20, 186; 2015 a. 379.