ICPC State Pages

Wisconsin Home Studies (Adoption/Foster Care/Kinship/Parent/Relative)

Types of Home Studies

Wisconsin conducts the following types of home studies:

• Relative Care
• Foster Care
• Relative-Foster Care
• Parent Care
• Foster- Adopt
• Adoption

Wisconsin designates staff in each county/region to conduct home studies and/or process interstate placements:

• Yes

Wisconsin considers a home study as current/valid for:

• Public: 1 year
• Private: 1 year

Private Contract Services - Home Study

As the Sending State, Wisconsin will pay a contractor or private/independent agency in the Receiving State to conduct a home study:

• Other: Sending agency (not State) may contract with a private vendor

As the Receiving State, Wisconsin will permit a Sending state to pay a contractor or private/independent agency in the Receiving State to conduct a home study:

• Other: The private contract must also include the provision of ongoing supervision.

As the Receiving State, Wisconsin will accept/update a home study that was not originally conducted by the receiving state or a private contractor acting on behalf of the Receiving State:

• Will not Update or Accept

Adoptive Home Study

Home study for adoption conducted prior to Termination of Parental Rights (TPR):

• Yes

Prospective adoptive parents permitted to pay for a pre-adoptive home study:

• Private Adoptions: Yes
• Independent Adoptions: Yes

DCPS contracts for Purchase of Services with private agencies in other states:

• No

Foster Care Home Study

Home study for foster care conducted prior to Termination of Parental Rights (TPR):

• Yes

Parent Home Study

If child has been removed from the parent, Wisconsin requires a home study evaluation before reunification:

• Parent must also meet the return conditions of the order.

Non-Custodial Parents: Placements with non-custodial parents are not covered under the ICPC if:

Proof of Paternity is required:

• Yes: For placements with all paternal relatives.

Relative/Kinship Home Study

Home study for relatives conducted prior to Termination of Parental Rights (TPR):

• Yes

Define Relative:

• Wis Stats 48.02(15) “Relative” means a parent, stepparent, brother, sister, stepbrother, stepsister, half brother, half sister, brother−in−law, sister−in−law, first cousin, 2nd cousin, nephew, niece, uncle, aunt, stepuncle, stepaunt, or any person of a preceding generation as denoted by the prefix of grand, great, or great−great, whether by blood, marriage, or legal adoption, or the spouse of any person named in this subsection, even if the marriage is terminated by death or divorce. For purposes of the application of s. 48.028 and the federal Indian Child Welfare Act, 25 USC 1901 to 1963, “relative” includes an extended family member, as defined in s. 48.028 (2) (am), whether by blood, marriage, or adoption, including adoption under tribal law or custom. 

  *2015 WI Act 101: The definition of "relative" has been expanded to include: A parent of a sibling of the child who has legal custody of that sibling.  

   

  **All placement resources (including relatives) are requried to be foster licensed to be approved for ADOPTIVE placement.**  

Relatives must be licensed:

• No

Proof of Paternity is required:

• Yes : For placements with all paternal relatives.

Wisconsin considers the following types and degrees of relation as relative placements. Individuals related in the 1st degree, 2nd degree, 3rd degree and 4th degree (You may need to refer to your state's consanguinity chart or state statute to determine relations or relative status.):

• 1st Degree (mother, father, sister, brother, son, daughter)
• 2nd Degree (grandmother, grandfather, aunt, uncle, niece, nephew, first cousin)
• 3rd Degree (great grandmother, great grandfather, great aunt, great uncle, grand-niece, grand nephew, second cousin)
• 4th Degree (great, great-grandmother, great, great-grandfather, great, great aunt, great, great aunt, great, great uncle, great grand-niece, great grand nephew, third cousin)

Regulation 7 Priority Placement

Wisconsin performs priority placements:

• Yes

A court ordered Priority 7 conducted if the child is in a DCF shelter or foster home for substantial period of time.

Wait Time (ICPC Interstate Home Study) - Public

Average length of time to process and complete a home study with criminal background checks for an interstate placement (Not including completion of educational training):

• 60 days

Wait time to complete Home Study, only (without criminal records check):

• 60 days

Wait Time (ICPC Interstate Home Study) - Private

Average length of time to process and complete a home study with criminal background checks for an interstate placement (Not including completion of education training):

• 60 days

Wait time to complete Home Study, only (without criminal records check):

• 60 days

Wisconsin determines the "Date of Receipt" for an interstate home study as:

• Date verified between Receiving/Sending States

Method of requesting, sending, and/or reporting an interstate home study

Criminal Record Checks

Wisconsin requires criminal background checks for the following home studies:

• Foster Care
• Relative-Foster Care
• Foster-Adopt
• Adoption

*Relative Care:  name-based criminal background checks are required for non-licensed relatives.

Type of Checks (Crim. & Abuse Neglect Registry)

Wisconsin requires the following types of criminal background and perpetrator checks (Federal (F), State (S), Local (L), Abuse and Neglect Registry (ANR), Not Required (NR))

Wait Time for Criminal Records Results

Wait time for fingerprint results are:

Live Scan or other technology

• State: Not Offered
• Local/County: 48-72 hours

Manually - Fingerprint Card

• State: 15-30 days
• Local/County: 15-30 days