STATE OF WISCONSIN
Department of Health and Family Services
Division of Children and Family Services

In the federal Child and Family Services Review (CFSR), the issue of achieving permanence for children was identified as an area requiring improvement. As part of its response in the Program Enhancement Plan (PEP), DHFS agreed to issue clarification on definitions, procedures, and content of initial and subsequent permanency plans (including transition plans for independent living), permanency plan reviews, and permanency plan hearings. The Department also agreed to issue clarification on the issues of an agency's authority to complete termination of parental rights (TPR) prior to identification of an adoptive family, application of exceptions to the reasonable efforts requirements, and definitions of "difficult to place" and "at-risk" children. This Information Memo clarifies only current requirements under federal and Wisconsin law. No new statutes, rules, or policies are created. A separate memo will be issued on the definitions of difficult to place and at-risk children.

Current statutory requirements related to permanency planning are contained in: 42 U.S.C. 671., 42 U.S.C. 675, and ss. 48.355, 48.38,, 938.355, and 938.38, Stats. These statutory requirements are incorporated in: JD-1791 Permanency Plan Hearing Order; JD-1766 Request to Change Placement, Revise/Extend Dispositional Order, Review Permanency Plan; the Permanency Plan template, and the Permanency Plan Review template in e-WiSACWIS.

For more information on the PEP and CFSR please see: http://dhfs.wisconsin.gov/cwreview/cfsr.htm 

Attachment:
Federal and State Requirements for Permanency plan Content and Procedures  (PDF, 33 kb)