What to Expect from the Child Welfare Professional

The child welfare professional will provide you with an overview of all applicable permanency options for the child using a form called Permanency Options in Brief.  On this form, you’ll see what sets subsidized guardianship apart from other options. The child welfare professional will ask for you to sign the form, to acknowledge it has been reviewed with you.

Permanency Options in Brief (English)

Permanency Options in Brief (Spanish)

Note, Tribes are not required to use this form to facilitate this conversation with families and have the option to modify this form to best reflect their tribal traditions, customs or resolutions, codes, and laws.

After consultation with you and the child (as applicable), the child welfare agency will determine if you and the child are eligible for this option or not. If there are two caregivers who both want to be appointed as the child’s guardian, both caregivers are required to meet all the eligibility criteria.

Right to Appeal Eligibility Decision

If determining your eligibility is not done in a timely manner or you are determined to not be eligible for subsidized guardianship, you are able to appeal that decision. Your appeal must be submitted to the Division of Hearing and Appeals within 45 days of the child welfare agency’s eligibility determination or failure to act. You can send the appeal via mail or hand deliver it.

Mailing Address:
Division of Hearings and Appeals
P.O. Box 7875
Madison, Wisconsin 53707

Physical Address:
4822 Madison Yards Way
5th Floor North
Madison, WI 53705