Foster Care
Every day foster families in Wisconsin make an incredible difference by providing safe and caring homes for children living in foster care. Family foster care and treatment foster care are designed to be temporary placements for children when their parents cannot care for them. Over 5,100 foster homes across the state care for almost 8,000 foster children each year. T here is an ongoing need for foster parents, especially those who can care for sibling groups, teenagers and children with disabilities.
Counties, tribes and private agencies license foster parents in Wisconsin. To inquire about becoming a licensed foster parent contact the foster care coordinator in the county you reside in. Counties have a variety of resources available to support families caring for foster children. Foster care coordinators in each county are available to answer any questions you may have about becoming a foster parent. A foster care coordinator or other case worker in your county will work with you throughout the process of becoming a licensed foster parent and having a child placed in your home. In addition, every county has a 24-hour on-call worker in case of emergencies.
The Foster Care and Adoption Resource Center (FCARC) offer a variety of resources such as recruitment tools, brochures, library materials, posters, calendar of statewide events/trainings, and supportive services to the foster care program in Wisconsin. Foster care coordinators, families and children living in out-of-home care may all find resources to assist them at the FCARCs. Staff at the FCARC can be reached by telephone at 1-800-947-8074 or via their website.
We hope you consider becoming involved in the foster care program – by becoming a foster parent, respite caregiver, adoptive parent or supporting the work of foster and adoptive families in your area. Live Deeper. Love Wider. Leave Bigger. If you have a desire to nurture a child who needs a safe place to live, if you feel called to care for children who have lived through difficult experiences, if you think it is the right time to open your home to children, consider becoming a foster parent for just a few years and make a lifetime of difference.
