- A guardianship is considered when permanency is necessary for the child, it is not in a child’s best interest for a parent’s rights to be terminated, and the child cannot safely be with parents at that point in time.
- A guardianship will end CPS involvement with the Ongoing Services unit, and a new worker will be assigned to make annual contact
- Role and Responsibility: A guardian agrees to the responsibility of providing a child with all basic needs such as food, shelter, medical and dental care, and education. A guardian holds decision-making responsibility for the child in their care. A guardian is expected to provide reasonable, safe visitation to parents should a parent request visitation with reasonable notice.
- Payment: Guardians who meet the definition of a relative may be eligible to receive Kinship payments. Please see the Kinship section for more information on qualifications and process. Non-relatives will only receive payment if a subsidized guardianship is approved.
- Role and Responsibility: A guardianship allows parents to maintain their parental rights. While the guardian is responsible for decision making and providing for the child’s basic needs, parents do maintain some responsibility throughout the guardianship. Parents are responsible for working to address safety concerns and establish/ maintain stability. Parents have the right to reasonable visitation with the child and are responsible for arranging safe visitation with the guardian.
- A guardianship may be overturned or terminate if the following occurs:
- A guardian wishes to resign from their role and brings the matter before a judge
- A court determines a guardian is no longer carrying out the duties of the role
- A child’s biological parent(s) request the guardianship is terminated and the parent shows substantial proves on prior court ordered conditions, and the parent is willing and able to care for the child. Parent progress is assessed by a worker with CPS who will complete a home study and make a recommendation on the matter before a judge.
- Brown County offers Guardianship Co-Parenting Education quarterly. Guardianship Co-Parenting Education is focused on providing guardians and parents with the knowledge, skills, and tools necessary to develop a co-parenting relationship focused on what is best for the child. Participants will gain a deeper understanding of roles and responsibilities, how grief is involved in guardianship, the emotional and developmental impact of guardianship on children, strategies to support children through guardianship, building partnership, and mediating conflicts.
https://www.kidsmatterinc.org/legal-help/guardianship/guardianship-of-a-minor-in-wisconsin-by-county/#elementor-tab-title-1987