48.236 Court-appointed special advocate.
(1) Designation. In any proceeding under s. 48.13 in which the court finds that providing the services of a court-appointed special advocate would be in the best interests of the child, the court may request a court-appointed special advocate program to designate a person who meets the qualifications specified in sub. (2) as a court-appointed special advocate to undertake the activities specified in sub. (3). A court-appointed special advocate does not become a party to the proceeding and, as a nonparty, may not make motions or call or cross-examine witnesses. A designation under this subsection terminates when the jurisdiction of the court over the child under s. 48.13 terminates, unless the court discharges the court-appointed special advocate sooner.
(2) Qualifications. A court-appointed special advocate shall be a volunteer or employee of a court-appointed special advocate program who has been selected and trained as provided in the memorandum of understanding entered into under s. 48.07 (5) (a). No person who is a party in a proceeding, who appears as counsel or guardian ad litem in a proceeding on behalf of any party or who is a relative or representative of a party in a proceeding may be designated as a court-appointed special advocate in that proceeding.
(3) Activities. A court-appointed special advocate may be designated under sub. (1) to perform any of the following activities:
(a) Gather information and make observations about the child for whom the designation is made, the child's family and any other person residing in the same home as the child and provide that information and those observations to the court in the form of written reports or, if requested by the court, oral testimony.
(b) Maintain regular contact with the child for whom the designation is made; monitor the appropriateness and safety of the environment of the child, the extent to which the child and the child's family are complying with any consent decree or dispositional order of the court and with any permanency plan under s. 48.38, and the extent to which any agency that is required to provide services for the child and the child's family under a consent decree, dispositional order or permanency plan is providing those services; and, based on that regular contact and monitoring, provide information to the court in the form of written reports or, if requested by the court, oral testimony.
(c) Promote the best interests of the child.
(d) Undertake any other activities that are consistent with the memorandum of understanding entered into under s. 48.07 (5) (a).
(4) Authority. A court that requests a court-appointed special advocate program to designate a court-appointed special advocate to undertake the activities specified in sub. (3) may include in the order requesting that designation an order authorizing the court-appointed special advocate to do any of the following:
(a) Inspect any reports and records relating to the child who is the subject of the proceeding, the child's family, and any other person residing in the same home as the child that are relevant to the subject matter of the proceeding, including records discoverable under s. 48.293, examination reports under s. 48.295 (2), law enforcement reports and records under ss. 48.396 (1) and 938.396 (1) (a), court records under ss. 48.396 (2) (a) and 938.396 (2), social welfare agency records under ss. 48.78 (2) (a) and 938.78 (2) (a), abuse and neglect reports and records under s. 48.981 (7) (a) 11r., and pupil records under s. 118.125 (2) (L). The order shall also require the custodian of any report or record specified in this paragraph to permit the court-appointed special advocate to inspect the report or record on presentation by the court-appointed special advocate of a copy of the order. A court-appointed special advocate that obtains access to a report or record described in this paragraph shall keep the information contained in the report or record confidential and may disclose that information only to the court. If a court-appointed special advocate discloses any information to the court under this paragraph, the court-appointed special advocate shall also disclose that information to all parties to the proceeding. If a court-appointed special advocate discloses information in violation of the confidentiality requirement specified in this paragraph, the court-appointed special advocate is liable to any person damaged as a result of that disclosure for such damages as may be proved and, notwithstanding s. 814.04 (1), for such costs and reasonable actual attorney fees as may be incurred by the person damaged.
(b) Observe the child who is the subject of the proceeding and the child's living environment and, if the child is old enough to communicate, interview the child; interview the parent, guardian, legal custodian or other caregiver of the child who is the subject of the proceeding and observe that person's living environment; and interview any other person who might possess any information relating to the child and the child's family that is relevant to the subject of the proceeding. A court-appointed special advocate may observe or interview the child at any location without the permission of the child's parent, guardian, legal custodian or other caregiver if necessary to obtain any information that is relevant to the subject of the proceeding, except that a court-appointed special advocate may enter a child's home only with the permission of the child's parent, guardian, legal custodian or other caregiver or after obtaining a court order permitting the court-appointed special advocate to do so. A court-appointed special advocate who obtains any information under this paragraph shall keep the information confidential and may disclose that information only to the court. If a court-appointed special advocate discloses any information to the court under this paragraph, the court-appointed special advocate shall also disclose that information to all parties to the proceeding. If a court-appointed special advocate discloses information in violation of the confidentiality requirement specified in this paragraph, the court-appointed special advocate is liable to any person damaged as a result of that disclosure for such damages as may be proved and, notwithstanding s. 814.04 (1), for such costs and reasonable actual attorney fees as may be incurred by the person damaged.
(c) Exercise any other authority that is consistent with the memorandum of understanding entered into under s. 48.07 (5) (a).
(5) Immunity from liability. A volunteer court-appointed special advocate designated under sub. (1) or an employee of a court-appointed special advocate program recognized under s. 48.07 (5) is immune from civil liability for any act or omission of the volunteer or employee occurring while acting within the scope of his or her activities and authority as a volunteer court-appointed special advocate or employee of a court-appointed special advocate program.
History: 1999 a. 149; 2005 a. 344.
Structure Wisconsin Statutes & Annotations
Wisconsin Statutes & Annotations
48.01 - Title and legislative purpose.
48.025 - Declaration of paternal interest in matters affecting children.
48.027 - Child custody jurisdiction.
48.028 - Indian child welfare.
48.029 - Pregnancy testing prohibited.
48.03 - Time and place of court; absence or disability of judge; court of record.
48.035 - Court; Menominee and Shawano counties.
48.067 - Powers and duties of intake workers.
48.069 - Powers and duties of disposition staff.
48.07 - Additional sources of court services.
48.08 - Duties of person furnishing services to court.
48.09 - Representation of the interests of the public.
48.10 - Power of the judge to act as intake worker.
48.13 - Jurisdiction over children alleged to be in need of protection or services.
48.14 - Jurisdiction over other matters relating to children.
48.15 - Jurisdiction of other courts to determine legal custody.
48.16 - Jurisdiction over petitions for waiver of parental consent to a minor's abortion.
48.19 - Taking a child into custody.
48.193 - Taking an adult expectant mother into custody.
48.195 - Taking a newborn child into custody.
48.20 - Release or delivery of child from custody.
48.203 - Release or delivery of adult expectant mother from custody.
48.205 - Criteria for holding a child or expectant mother in physical custody.
48.207 - Places where a child or expectant mother may be held in nonsecure custody.
48.208 - Criteria for holding a child in a juvenile detention facility.
48.209 - Criteria for holding a child in a county jail.
48.21 - Hearing for child in custody.
48.213 - Hearing for adult expectant mother in custody.
48.215 - Mother-young child care program.
48.217 - Change in placement; child or expectant mother held in custody.
48.233 - Five-county pilot program.
48.236 - Court-appointed special advocate.
48.24 - Receipt of jurisdictional information; intake inquiry.
48.243 - Basic rights: duty of intake worker.
48.245 - Informal disposition.
48.25 - Petition: authorization to file.
48.255 - Petition; form and content.
48.257 - Petition to initiate a procedure to waive parental consent prior to a minor's abortion.
48.263 - Amendment of petition.
48.273 - Service of summons or notice; expense.
48.275 - Parents' contribution to cost of court and legal services.
48.28 - Failure to obey summons; capias.
48.29 - Substitution of judge.
48.295 - Physical, psychological, mental or developmental examination.
48.297 - Motions before trial.
48.299 - Procedures at hearings.
48.305 - Hearing upon the involuntary removal of a child or expectant mother.
48.315 - Delays, continuances and extensions.
48.335 - Dispositional hearings.
48.35 - Effect of judgment and disposition.
48.355 - Dispositional orders.
48.356 - Duty of court to warn.
48.357 - Change in placement; child or expectant mother subject to dispositional order.
48.361 - Payment for alcohol and other drug abuse services.
48.362 - Payment for certain special treatment or care services.
48.363 - Revision of dispositional orders.
48.366 - Extended out-of-home care.
48.368 - Continuation of dispositional orders.
48.371 - Access to certain information by substitute care provider.
48.373 - Medical authorization.
48.375 - Parental consent required prior to abortion; judicial waiver procedure.
48.383 - Reasonable and prudent parent standard.
48.385 - Plan for transition to independent living.
48.41 - Voluntary consent to termination of parental rights.
48.415 - Grounds for involuntary termination of parental rights.
48.417 - Petition for termination of parental rights; when required.
48.422 - Hearing on the petition.
48.423 - Rights of persons alleging paternity.
48.424 - Fact-finding hearing.
48.425 - Court report by an agency.
48.426 - Standard and factors.
48.43 - Court orders; contents and effect; review.
48.432 - Access to medical information.
48.433 - Access to identifying information about parents.
48.434 - Release of identifying information by an agency when authorization is granted.
48.437 - Change in placement; posttermination of parental rights.
48.44 - Jurisdiction over persons 17 or older.
48.45 - Orders applicable to adults.
48.46 - New evidence; relief from judgment terminating parental rights.
48.465 - Motion for postdisposition relief and appeal.
48.468 - Purpose of department.
48.48 - Authority of department.
48.481 - Grants for children's community programs.
48.485 - Transfer of Indian children to department for adoption.
48.487 - Tribal family services.
48.52 - Facilities for care of children and adult expectant mothers in care of department.
48.526 - Community youth and family aids.
48.527 - Community youth and family aids; bonus for county facilities.
48.528 - Community intervention program.
48.545 - Brighter futures initiative.
48.546 - Family treatment court grant program.
48.547 - Alcohol and other drug abuse program.
48.548 - Multidisciplinary screen and assessment criteria.
48.55 - State adoption information exchange and state adoption center.
48.56 - Child welfare services in counties having populations of less than 750,000.
48.561 - Child welfare services in a county having a population of 750,000 or more.
48.562 - Milwaukee child welfare partnership council.
48.563 - Children and family aids funding.
48.565 - Carry-over of children and family aids funds.
48.568 - Allocation of federal funds for children and family aids and child welfare.
48.569 - Distribution of children and family aids funds to counties.
48.57 - Powers and duties of department and county departments providing child welfare services.
48.576 - Shelter care facilities; general supervision and inspection by department.
48.578 - Shelter care facilities; establishment, approval, inspection.
48.58 - County children's home in populous counties.
48.59 - Examination and records.
48.60 - Child welfare agencies licensed.
48.61 - Powers and duties of child welfare agencies.
48.615 - Child welfare agency licensing fees.
48.62 - Licensing of foster homes; rates.
48.623 - Subsidized guardianships.
48.625 - Licensing of group homes; fees.
48.627 - Foster parent insurance and liability.
48.63 - Restrictions on placements.
48.64 - Placement of children in out-of-home care.
48.65 - Child care centers licensed; fees.
48.651 - Certification of child care providers.
48.653 - Information for child care providers.
48.656 - Parent's right to know.
48.657 - Child care center reports.
48.658 - Child safety alarms in child care vehicles.
48.659 - Child care quality rating system.
48.66 - Licensing duties of the department.
48.675 - Qualified residential treatment programs.
48.68 - Investigation of applicant; issuing of license.
48.685 - Criminal history and child abuse record search.
48.686 - Criminal history and child abuse record search; child care.
48.69 - Probationary licenses.
48.70 - Provisions of licenses.
48.715 - Sanctions and penalties.
48.73 - Inspection of licensees and school district child care programs.
48.735 - Immunization requirements; child care centers.
48.737 - Lead screening, inspection and reduction requirements; child care centers.
48.74 - Authority of department to investigate alleged violations.
48.743 - Community living arrangements for children.
48.745 - Formal complaints regarding child welfare agencies and group homes.
48.75 - Foster homes licensed by public licensing agencies and by child welfare agencies.
48.77 - Injunction against violations.
48.78 - Confidentiality of records.
48.79 - Powers of the department.
48.80 - Municipalities may sponsor activities.
48.825 - Advertising related to adoption.
48.83 - Jurisdiction and venue.
48.831 - Appointment of guardian for child without a living parent for adoptability finding.
48.832 - Transfer of guardianship upon revocation of guardian's license or contract.
48.835 - Placement of children with relatives for adoption.
48.837 - Placement of children with nonrelatives for adoption.
48.838 - Foreign adoption fees.
48.839 - Adoption of foreign children.
48.84 - Preadoption preparation for proposed adoptive parents.
48.841 - Persons required to file recommendation as to adoption.
48.85 - Recommendation of guardian.
48.871 - Filing of recommendation by guardian.
48.88 - Notice of hearing; investigation.
48.89 - Recommendation of the department.
48.90 - Filing of adoption petition; preadoption residence.
48.915 - Adoption appeals given preference.
48.925 - Visitation rights of certain persons.
48.95 - Withdrawal or denial of petition.
48.97 - Adoption and guardianship orders of other jurisdictions.
48.977 - Appointment of guardians for certain children in need of protection or services.
48.978 - Appointment or designation of standby guardian of a child.
48.979 - Delegation of power by parent.
48.9795 - Appointment of guardian of the person for a child.
48.98 - Interstate placement of children.
48.981 - Abused or neglected children and abused unborn children.
48.982 - Child abuse and neglect prevention board.
48.983 - Child abuse and neglect prevention program.
48.986 - Child abuse and neglect and unborn child abuse services.
48.987 - Earnings of self-supporting minors.
48.9875 - Minor consent for housing.
48.988 - Interstate compact on the placement of children.
48.989 - Interstate compact on the placement of children: additional procedure.
48.9895 - Withdrawal from Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children.
48.99 - Interstate Compact for the Placement of Children.