Review of outpatient mental health treatment of minors aged 14 or older
Wis. Stat. § 51.14
in effect(1) Definitions. In this section, “outpatient mental health treatment” means treatment and social services for mental illness, except 24-hour care, treatment, and custody that is provided by a treatment facility.
(2) Mental health review officer. Each court assigned to exercise jurisdiction under chs. 48 and 938 shall designate a mental health review officer to review petitions filed under sub. (3).
(3) Review by mental health review officer.
(a) A minor 14 years of age or older or a person acting on behalf of the minor may petition the mental health review officer in the county in which the minor’s parent or guardian has residence for a review of a refusal or inability of the minor’s parent or guardian to provide the informed consent for outpatient mental health treatment required under s. 51.61 (6). For a minor on whose behalf consent for outpatient treatment was provided by the minor’s parent or guardian despite the minor’s refusal, the treatment director of the outpatient facility shall file a petition for review of the informed consent on behalf of the minor. If consent of a parent or guardian of the minor is not obtained during the 30-day treatment period as described in s. 51.138 (3), the treatment director of the outpatient mental health treatment provider shall file a petition to initiate review of outpatient mental health treatment of a minor receiving treatment under s. 51.138.
(b) A petition filed under this subsection shall contain all of the following:
1. The name, address and birth date of the minor.
2. The name and address of the parent or guardian of the minor.
3. The facts substantiating the petitioner’s belief that the minor needs, or does not need, outpatient mental health treatment.
4. Any available information which substantiates the appropriateness of the particular treatment sought for the minor and that the particular treatment sought is the least restrictive treatment consistent with the needs of the minor.
(c) Any professional evaluations relevant under par. (b) 3. or 4. shall be attached to the petition filed under this subsection.
(d) The court which appointed the mental health review officer shall ensure that necessary assistance is provided to the petitioner in the preparation of the petition under this subsection.
(e) The mental health review officer shall notify the county department under s. 51.42 or 51.437 of the contents of any petition received by the mental health review officer under this subsection. The county department under s. 51.42 or 51.437 may, following review of the petition contents, make recommendations to the mental health review officer as to the need for and appropriateness and availability of treatment.
(f) If prior to a hearing under par. (g) the minor requests and the mental health review officer determines that the best interests of the minor would be served, a petition may be filed for court review under sub. (4) without further review under this subsection.
(g) Within 21 days after the filing of a petition under this subsection, the mental health review officer shall hold a hearing on the refusal or inability of the minor’s parent or guardian to provide informed consent for outpatient treatment or on the provision of informed consent by the parent or guardian despite the minor’s refusal. The mental health review officer shall provide notice of the date, time and place of the hearing to the minor and, if available, the minor’s parent or guardian at least 96 hours prior to the hearing.
(h) If following the hearing under par. (g) and after taking into consideration the recommendations, if any, of the county department under s. 51.42 or 51.437 made under par. (e), the mental health review officer finds all of the following, he or she shall issue a written order that, notwithstanding the written, informed consent requirement of s. 51.61 (6), the written, informed consent of the minor’s parent or guardian, if the parent or guardian is refusing or unable to provide consent, is not required for outpatient mental health treatment for the minor or, if the parent or guardian provided informed consent despite the minor’s refusal, the outpatient mental health treatment for the minor is appropriate:
1. The informed consent of the parent or guardian is unreasonably withheld or the refusal of the minor to provide informed consent is unreasonable.
2. The minor is in need of treatment.
3. The particular treatment sought is appropriate for the minor and is the least restrictive treatment available.
4. The proposed treatment is in the best interests of the minor.
(i) The findings under par. (h) and the reasons supporting each finding shall be in writing.
(j) The mental health review officer shall notify the minor and the minor’s parent or guardian, if available, of the right to judicial review under sub. (4).
(k) No person may be a mental health review officer in a proceeding under this section if he or she has provided treatment or services to the minor who is the subject of the proceeding.
(4) Judicial review.
(a) Within 21 days after the issuance of the order by the mental health review officer under sub. (3) or if sub. (3) (f) applies, the minor or a person acting on behalf of the minor may petition a court assigned to exercise jurisdiction under chs. 48 and 938 in the county of residence of the minor’s parent or guardian for a review of the refusal or inability of the minor’s parent or guardian to provide the informed consent for outpatient mental health treatment required under s. 51.61 (6) or for a review of the provision of informed consent by the parent or guardian despite the minor’s refusal.
(b) The petition in par. (a) shall conform to the requirements set forth in sub. (3) (b). If the minor has refused to provide informed consent, a notation of this fact shall be made on the face of the petition.
(c) If a notation of a minor’s refusal to provide informed consent to outpatient mental health treatment appears on the petition, the court shall, at least 7 days prior to the time scheduled for the hearing, appoint counsel to represent the minor if the minor is unrepresented. If the minor’s parent or guardian has refused to provide informed consent and the minor is unrepresented, the court shall appoint counsel to represent the minor, if requested by the minor or determined by the court to be in the best interests of the minor.
(d) The court shall hold a hearing on the petition within 21 days after filing of the petition.
(e) Notice of the hearing under this subsection shall be provided by the court by certified mail, at least 96 hours prior to the hearing, to the minor, the minor’s parent or guardian, the minor’s counsel and guardian ad litem, if any, and any other interested party known to the court.
(f) The rules of evidence in civil actions shall apply to any hearing under this section. A record, including written findings of fact and conclusions of law, shall be maintained of the entire proceedings. Findings shall be based on evidence that is clear, satisfactory and convincing.
(g) After the hearing under this subsection, the court shall issue a written order stating that, notwithstanding the written, informed consent requirement of s. 51.61 (6), the written, informed consent of the parent or guardian, if the parent or guardian refuses or is unable to provide consent, is not required for outpatient mental health treatment for the minor or that, if the parent or guardian provided informed consent despite the minor’s refusal, the outpatient mental health treatment for the minor is appropriate, if the court finds all of the following:
1. The informed consent is unreasonably withheld.
2. The minor is in need of treatment.
3. The particular treatment sought is appropriate for the minor and is the least restrictive treatment available.
4. The treatment is in the best interests of the minor.
(5) Appeal. Any person who is aggrieved by a determination or order under sub. (4) and who is directly affected by the determination or order may appeal to the court of appeals under s. 809.30.
(6) Finding or order not a finding of mental illness. A finding or order under this section does not constitute a finding of mental illness.
(7) Listing of mental health review officers. The department shall compile a list that specifies the mental health review officers in each county, post the list on the department’s website, and update the list as necessary.
Source: WI Statutes (Official Site)URL: https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/document/statutes/51.14Fetched: 10/7/2026