Foster families needed in central Wisconsin

WOOD COUNTY--Foster families are desperately needed around the state of Wisconsin to provide treatment-level foster care. Treatment foster care is home-based care for children and adolescents with moderate to high emotional, behavioral, physical or medical needs.
At any given time, as many as 7,000 kids need temporary foster care in Wisconsin. As the largest nonprofit child welfare agency in the state, Children’s Wisconsin plays a big role in providing temporary homes so kids can eventually reunify with a biological family member.
In central Wisconsin, families licensed in treatment foster care have declined nearly 50 percent in the last three years. There are approximately 700 youth in Wisconsin requiring treatment level foster care every year.
The treatment-level foster care program through Children’s Wisconsin offers specialized treatment services and additional support, beyond the scope of general foster care. Treatment foster care offers supportive services around trauma-informed care and child well-being.
“We are facing a dire need for treatment-level foster families,” said Maria McDermott, director of Out of Home Care for Children’s Wisconsin. “We have seen our applications decline, which in turn means less people are being licensed. Foster care can be such a rewarding experience for families willing to answer the call and helps to ensure that each child placed in care can grow and develop to their fullest potential.”

One Stevens Point family answered the call. Stevens Point couple Erin Degner and Cole Ringer, known as Big Cole, are both social workers who recognized the need for licensed treatment foster care families within their work. In 2021, Erin and Cole bought a house and became licensed treatment foster care parents. Their first placement of two siblings followed shortly after. Since then, they like to help the kids in their care live typical kid lives by taking them on vacations, to trampoline parks, going to movies and visiting festivals and community events. Erin and Cole are also very invested in keeping kids connected to their biological families and to their culture. They will host siblings in their home, visit with relatives and work to maintain communication with biological family as well as learning about their culture and making sure the children are exposed to their roots. Erin and Cole have experienced many challenges with treatment foster care but also many rewards. Erin said of treatment foster care, “There are so many good moments. You do it because you love the kids and they deserve to have someone on their side.”
The foster care team at Children’s Wisconsin provides all foster families with support services available around the clock, seven days a week. Families who are licensed for treatment-level foster care are provided with additional support and training as well as more frequent check-in visits to make sure the needs of the children and families are being met.
The goal of foster care is to provide a temporary home so that eventually kids can reunify with a biological family member. Fostering provides the family some time to make changes needed for their child to safely return home. Approximately 60 percent of children in foster care are able to return with family members, but if a child cannot, a foster parent may be asked if they can adopt a child who has been in their care.
Some requirements to become a treatment foster parent include:
Must be at least 21 years old.
May be single, married, partnered, dating or any relationship status.
May be a renter or homeowner with a minimum of two bedrooms.
Must be able to financially support oneself with monthly income exceeding monthly expenses and documented forms of income.
Generally good health with any physical or mental health conditions controlled with treatment.
For more information on becoming a foster parent or applying to become one, please visit the Children’s Wisconsin website. Children’s Wisconsin offers Zoom or phone information sessions and members of the foster care team are available for phone inquiries. No family is committed to becoming a foster care family by inquiring.