Section 48.834. Placement of children with relatives or siblings for adoption by the department, county departments, and child welfare agencies.

 

(1)   Placement with relatives. Before placing a child for adoption under s. 48.833 , the department, county department under s. 48.57 (1) (e) or (hm) , or child welfare agency making the placement shall consider the availability of a placement for adoption with a relative of the child who is identified in the child's permanency plan under s. 48.38 or 938.38 or who is otherwise known by the department, county department, or child welfare agency.

(2)   Placement with siblings. If a child who is being placed for adoption under s. 48.833 has one or more siblings, as defined in s. 48.38 (4) (br) 1. , who have been adopted or who have been placed for adoption, the department, county department under s. 48.57 (1) (e) or (hm) , or child welfare agency making the placement shall make reasonable efforts to place the child for adoption with an adoptive parent or proposed adoptive parent of such a sibling who is identified in the child's permanency plan under s. 48.38 or 938.38 or who is otherwise known by the department, county department, or child welfare agency, unless the department, county department, or child welfare agency determines that a joint placement would be contrary to the safety or well-being of the child or any of those siblings, in which case the department, county department, or child welfare agency shall make reasonable efforts to provide for frequent visitation or other ongoing interaction between the child and the siblings, unless the department, county department, or child welfare agency determines that such visitation or interaction would be contrary to the safety or well-being of the child or any of those siblings.

2005 a. 448 ; 2009 a. 79 .