A Wisconsin Order for Hearing and Investigation (Adoptive Placement/Adoption) is an administrative order issued by the Wisconsin Department of Children and Families (DCF). The order is issued when DCF has reason to believe that a child is in need of protection from abuse or neglect, or is in danger of being abused or neglected, and that adoption may be in the child’s best interest. The order requires that a hearing be held to determine whether an adoption should be granted. At the hearing, the court will hear evidence and testimony from the parties involved, including the child’s birth parents, the adoptive parents, and any other individuals or agencies involved in the adoption process. The Wisconsin Order for Hearing and Investigation (Adoptive Placement/Adoption) also requires DCF to investigate the prospective adoptive family and prepare a written report describing the home study findings. This report is presented to the court during the hearing and is used to assist the court in determining whether the adoption should be granted. There are two types of Wisconsin Order for Hearing and Investigation (Adoptive Placement/Adoption): 1) an order to investigate an adoptive placement; and 2) an order to investigate an adoption. The order to investigate an adoptive placement is issued when the child is already placed in the prospective adoptive family’s home, while the order to investigate an adoption is issued when the child is not yet placed in the home.