Wisconsin Foster Parent Information When a child cannot safely remain in their home, every effort will be made to place a child with a relative or like-kin caregiver. When that is not possible, the next preference is to place children in a nonrelative foster home. A child’s foster parent may be their relative, like-kin, or nonrelative. A foster parent’s primary role is to temporarily care for a child until the child achieves permanency through reunification, guardianship or adoption. Foster parents are also responsible to engage in shared parenting with the child’s parents, guardian, or Indian custodian. This means including them in when making decisions about the child, including them in meetings and appointments regarding the child, and supporting the child’s relationship and connection with them while separated. Wis. Admin. Code. s. DCF 56 establishes the licensing requirements for foster homes and foster parents. Indian tribes are sovereign nations, which means they can create their own laws and regulations for foster home licensing. While some tribes use state licensing requirements, others have their own standards and policies. Foster parents licensed by and agencies working with a tribe should contact the tribal agency to learn about the tribe’s policies. How do I become a foster parent? Counties, tribes and child placing agencies license foster parents in Wisconsin. For more information about how to become a foster parent, contact the county where your home is located or the tribe you are a member of. Go to the Wisconsin Foster Care Coordinator Contact Information Map for more information. For more information about how to become a licensed foster parent through a private Child Placing Agency, go to the Child Placing Agency directory for more information. The agency will provide you with more information about how to apply, what the requirements and expectations of foster parents are, and answer any questions you have about caring for children in foster care. The Wisconsin Family Connections Center The Department of Children and Families has contracted with the Wisconsin Family Connections Center (WiFCC) to offer a variety of free resources to individuals, families and caregivers with past or present involvement with reunification, kinship, foster care, guardianship, and adoption, including: Information and referrals to tailored resources and services based on your family circumstances Education through webinars, conferences, and facilitated discussion groups Support via phone, email, virtual or in person meetings in finding resources to meet your family’s needs Connection through family fun events, support groups, and other opportunities to connect Staff at the WiFCC can also be reached by telephone at 1-800-762-8063. If you have additional questions about foster care, review the Foster Parent Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) or the Foster Parent Handbook.
