Foster Care

Licensed foster parents are asked to care for abused or abandoned children until a permanent placement can be made or the foster child can be reunited with her birth family. In Kenosha, Racine, Milwaukee, and other Wisconsin communities, there are many children who have benefited foster care programs and adoption. And, their foster parents and adoptive parents have provided them with loving, safe environments.

In Wisconsin, the Children’s Code and Health and Family Services regulations govern foster care, delineating licensing requirements for foster homes, financial aid to families who foster children, and restrictions on placement of children.

What are the requirements for foster care?

Wisconsin residents who want to open their home to a child in need, must obtain a foster care license and meet the following criteria:

  • You must be 21 or older to offer foster care

  • You may be single, married, widowed, or in a significant long-term partnership.

  • You must be in good health and willing to provide documentation thereof.

  • You will need a home study before you can be licensed for foster care.

  • You must undergo a background check and a criminal check. Not every crime will prevent you from participating in a foster care program—it depends on the nature of the crime and on how much time has elapsed.

  • You must present proof of homeowner’s or renter’s insurance and car insurance before entering a foster care program.

  • Your home must comply with safety checklists completed by licensing workers, mostly based on building codes.

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What happens in a home study?

In a home study, prospective foster care parents complete an application and participate in a series of personal interviews in their home. Their foster care licensing agency assigns would-be foster care parents a licensing worker who conducts the interviews and gathers information about the prospective foster care parents’ parenting skills and abilities. The licensing worker also ensures that the home lives up to Wisconsin foster care standards.

Foster care is intended as a short stop on the journey to a permanent home for the child. If the parents of your foster child voluntarily give up their parental rights, or if the state takes away their parental rights, you may adopt your foster child.

If you have questions about this process, contact Stephen Hayes, Elizabeth Neary or Molly Jasmer directly or complete the information below: