Email down Friday through Sunday

Kids Matter is updating our server, which means that our email will be down Friday, August 12, through Sunday, August 14. We do not want to miss any of your important messages so please keep this in mind if you need to get in touch with anyone at Kids Matter this weekend.

Creating Social Change Through Culture: A Hmong Lunch and Learn Series

Hmong American Women's Association will host 4 (four) Lunch and Learn workshops for advocates, nurses, doctors, attorneys, police officers, teachers, social workers, CPS workers, and anybody who work with, come in contact with, or just want to understand more about the Hmong community. All four workshops will focus on the oppression of Hmong women and how each topic contributes to domestic violence and sexual assault. Click here to view the flier.

Visitation Rights of Grandparents Reaffirmed by the Wisconsin Court of Appeals

By Susan Fisher

If you are grandparent and are not allowed to see your grandchild, be aware that you have specific rights under Wisconsin law. You may even be able to petition the court for a visitation order.

The Wisconsin Court of Appeals affirmed grandparents' rights to visitation in its recent decision, In re the Paternity of E.M.B (2009 WI App 488 (Aug. 4, 2011).

In 2001, Shari Broughton, gave birth to her son, E.B. in 2001, while she was in prison. E.B. went to live with her parents, Diane and Leo White. They raised their grandson until his father, Steve Wohlers, was found in 2004.

Once paternity was established, the Whites and Mr. Wohlers worked on a plan to transition E.B. from living with the Whites to living with Mr. Wohlers. E.B. eventually came to live with Mr. Wohlers most of the time. The Whites still were able to see E.B. during regularly scheduled visits.

As the child entered school, Mr. Wohlers wanted to alter the parties' plan for E.B. He asked the court to modify the previous visitation plan and he submitted a proposed visitation schedule reducing the Whites' time with E.B.

The court rejected Mr. Wohler's visitation schedule and gave the Whites more time than in Mr. Wohlers' proposed visitation schedule. Mr. Wohlers appealed this decision.

On appeal, the Wisconsin Court of Appeals agreed with the circuit court. The Whites were only required to prove those statutory elements found in Wis. Stat. § 767.43(3) and not the additional elements argued by Mr. Wohlers. The circuit court's visitation order was upheld.

Wisconsin has specific laws on grandparent visitation. Wis. Stat. § 767.43(3) provides the requirements grandparents must prove before visitation can be granted. These include showing the child must was not later adopted by a third party and the grandparents have maintained a relationship with their grandchild.

Grandparents, like the Whites, have specific rights under Wisconsin law. Grandparents have the right to seek visitation if the custodial parent will not allow them to see their grandchild and the statutory provisions apply.

If you would like more information on grandparent visitation, please see the Kids Matter website under our "Get Help" section. Additional information on this subject will be coming soon.

Teen Transition Workshops Kick Off October 11, 2011

The Teen Transition Program (TTP) is a program for high school juniors and seniors who are aging out of the foster care system or living in alternative living arrangements such as with grandparents, relatives or friends. The TTP workshops cover topics in career assessment and preparation, financial literacy, financial aid, healthy eating and personal safety. There are three workshops in the fall and three in the spring; the first workshop is on October 11. If your CASA youth or someone you know is interested in coming to the workshops please contact Megan for more information at 414-344-1220.