Foster and Adoptive Parent Resources

Milwaukee County Child Protective Services (MCPS)

The following is a collection of information for foster parents and adoptive parents to aid in understanding support groups, available assistance, and licensing.

(All external hyperlinks are provided for your information and for the benefit of the general public. The Department of Children and Families and the Milwaukee Child Protective Services does not testify to, sponsor, or endorse the accuracy of the information provided on externally linked pages.)

Resources for Milwaukee Families

Support Groups

• United Foster Parent Association of Greater Milwaukee is a support group for foster and adoptive parents. Meetings are held every third Thursday of the month from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Milwaukee Child Welfare Partnership for Professional Development, 4425 N. Port Washington Road, Suite 400 in Glendale. (South from the Hampton exit off I-43.)  Membership is $5 annually. For more information, phone (414) 477-3598 or (414) 871-8230.
• Voices United, Inc., is a support group for foster, adoptive, and kinship families.  Membership is $10 per family per year. For more information, e-mail voicesunitedmilw@aol.com.

• Coalition for Children, Youth, and Families (formerly Adoption Resources of Wisconsin) offers webinars, workshops, support groups, and other assistance to pre-and post-adoptive families. Located a 6682 West Greenfield Suite 310, Milwaukee, WI 53214-4960.

  For more information:

  • Phone: (414) 475-1246 or (800) 762-8063 (Wisconsin only)
  • E-mail: info@coalitionforcyf.org
• Children's Wisconsin's foster parent blog is an exciting new place for people in the community to find out what fostering is really about from the mouths of foster parents. For information on foster care or becoming a foster parent please call 414-543-4376 to have your questions answered.
• Wellpoint Growhope: This website offers information on resources for both current and prospective foster parents, such as training opportunities, FAQs, and stories from and about foster parents. In addition, for information on foster care or becoming a foster parent please call the toll-free number 855-GROW-HOPE and speak directly to one of the staff about the foster care process.

Assistance

Businesses offering Discounts to Foster Families

Child Care for Foster Children: Foster parents can apply for child care assistance through Access Wisconsin. Eligibility can be established online, but must be followed by a face-to-face appointment. Foster families licensed by Children's Hospital of Wisconsin Community Services can call (414) 453-1400 and ask to speak to the assigned family case manager. For SaintA, call the Foster Parent Information line at (414) 380-3780.

WI Shares Information for Foster Parents

Complaint Process: How to resolve disputes with MCPS.

Clothing and Other Items for kids in care: Children's Hospital of Wisconsin Community Services Foster Care and Adoption Licensing and Support program now has a resource room where foster parents can pick up items needed for children in care. The room is at 620 S. 76th Street, Suite 120. Donations of new and clean, gently-used items are welcome. Also needed are hygiene products and school supplies. You must be licensed by Children's. Phone (414) 475-2220 for hours.

Educational Services for Children Placed in Foster Care: (Dept. of Public Instruction publication)

Foster Parent Training: Milwaukee Child Welfare Partnership provides initial and ongoing training for foster parent licensing. Classes may also be  available to unlicensed relative caregivers and adoptive parents.

Frequently Asked Questions about Foster Care and Adoption

Hair: Caring for the Hair of Your African American Child: Hair care tips and a list of further resources for managing hair.

Kids Matter, Inc.: Advocacy and support for foster and kinship care families. Also operates the Milwaukee Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) program in which volunteers are trained to support children in foster care and advocate for on their behalf. 1850 N. Martin Luther King, Jr. Drive, Suite 202, Milwaukee, WI 53212. For more information, phone (414) 344-1220.

Kinship Care: Provides assistance to those caring for relatives, both court-ordered and voluntary.

Licensing

Two agencies license foster parents for DMCPS.

Children's Wisconsin
620 S 76th Street, Suite 120
West Allis, WI 53214
Phone: (414-543-4376)
Foster Care Coordinator: Laura Goba MSW APSW
Information about becoming a foster parent

Mobile Urgent Treatment Team for Foster Families: Assistance for Milwaukee County foster families in coping with behavioral or mental health issues in times of crisis. Phone (414) 257-7621.

Subsidized Guardianship Program: This program provides relatives who are licensed foster parents the option of becoming legal guardians with continued financial assistance. Families are chosen through a random selection process.

Contact the Milwaukee Child Protective Services