Child Protective Service information is confidential and may not be released except under specific circumstances stated in Wisconsin Statute 48.981(7).

If your family receives services that are either provided by, or paid for by the Department of Social Services, you may be charged a fee for these services. Charges will be based on your financial ability to pay up to the cost of services. To be considered for a payment less than the total cost, you will be required to complete a Family Financial Questionnaire and provide verification of your income.

Criminal matters are handled through the District Attorney’s Office, which makes decisions as to whether or not to charge a person with a criminal offense. This includes a whole range of criminal activities including substantiated findings of abuse/neglect.

Family court makes legal determinations related to paternity, child support and child custody/placement matters.

While there is no set age by law, the agency guidelines and community standard point to age 12 years or older when children can usually handle some time home alone and provide care for other children. Many variables beyond age should be considered in making a decision that children are ready to handle self care situations. These variables include: time of day, amount of time home alone, child’s social and emotional maturity, child's problem solving abilities, neighborhood safety, home safety, child's special needs, child's chore responsibilities, etc.

Physical discipline is legal in the state of Wisconsin unless there is physical injury that meets the definition of physical abuse; meaning serious injury inflicted on a child by other than accidental means.

Parents are required to comply with a family court order. Changes to a court order are done in family court. At times, during a child protective service investigation, the existing visitation order will be altered by parent's agreement or by a Temporary Physical Custody order due to immediate protection issues.