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Foster Parenting
What is Foster Care?
Foster care is a temporary alternative to a child’s biological home when that home becomes socially, emotionally, or physically inadequate for the child’s needs. Foster children range in age from infant to 21; however, the greatest needs are for sibling groups of 3 or more, youth with special needs, and teenagers. It is an expectation that foster parents work with birth parents. All foster children have unique backgrounds, experiences, personalities, strengths and weaknesses. Some may require extensive care for physical or emotional handicaps or disabilities. Foster children sometimes do not have a strong sense of belonging or a strong sense or self-worth. Many of them have been victims of physical or sexual abuse, some have suffered neglect, and some children and infants require extensive medical care.
Is Being a Foster Parent for You?
It might be! You probably have more to offer a foster child than you ever realized. Every day foster parents help to save the lives of children who might not otherwise have a chance to learn and grow in a loving home environment. These kids need people to change the course of their lives!
Foster care is a temporary alternative to a child’s biological home when that home becomes socially, emotionally, or physically inadequate for the child’s needs. Click here to hear from a CPS Supervisor about the common myths and questions around foster care
By the Numbers …
- Approximately 270 children are in foster care in Brown County, and more enter each week.
- 7-10 children are currently placed in residential treatment centers because of the shortage of foster homes.
- Placement in a treatment center is often not in the best interest of the child, and costs taxpayers ten times as much as care in a foster home—sometimes in excess of $20,000 per month.
Foster care is 24-hour care provided by licensed foster parents for children who cannot live with their parents because they are unsafe, have special care or treatment needs, or other circumstances exist where parents or family are unable to care for them. County human service agencies license and oversee these placements. Generally, placement in foster care is temporary and intended to give the child's family time to make necessary changes so that the child can live safely in his or her home and community. Most children in foster care return home to their families. When children cannot return home, they find permanence through placement with relatives, adoption, or other means.
Getting started:
- Learn more at a Brown County Foster Parent Information Session - click here for dates
- Pre-placement Training - enroll in training that must be completed before a child can be placed in your home.
- Brown County Foster Care Manual
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Foster Care Rate Information - the state dictated reimbursement rates for foster homes
- Foster Care Insurance Program - apply for coverage that will reimburse you for damage or loss of property, not covered by your private insurance policy, caused by children placed in your care
- State of Wisconsin Foster Parent Handbook
- Wisconsin Chapter DCF 56 - the state laws governing Foster Home Care for Children
- Foundation Training - resources to meet ongoing training requirements
- Foster Care & Adoption Resource Center - a valuable guide to any new or current foster family, families considering adopting a child whom they are currently fostering, relative and kinship families, and foster care licensing staff
- fostercare.net - a website answering questions about what being a foster parent is like, if foster parents get paid, transracial foster parenting, and everything else about foster care
| Contact: | Brown County Foster Care Phone: (920) 448-4144 Click here to email |
| Address: | 111 N Jefferson St
Green Bay, WI 54301 Map |
