Foster care collective effort to give kids hope for future

There are more than 6,800 Wisconsin children in out-ofhome care, with 87 percent in a home setting, thanks to the dedication and support of foster parents, relatives and family friends. To raise awareness and acknowledge the collective efforts of those involved with foster care, May was proclaimed as Foster Care Month.

“While our goal is to keep children within their home, we know that sometimes, other supportive services are needed,” said Department of Children and Families (DCF) secretary Emilie Amundson. “When this occurs, keeping children and youth connected to their family, their community and their cultural roots is critical to them thriving. Thankfully, Wisconsin is full of passionate and dedicated county, and tribal child welfare agencies, as well as foster parents, relatives and family friends, who work tirelessly, to ensure this happens.”

Since 2018, Wisconsin has worked to transform its child welfare system into one that uplifts and empowers families. To do this, state, county, tribal and community partners put more emphasis, on building preventive programs and services, that keep children and families connected, and in home-like settings, whenever possible.

After making this shift, the state has seen a 9.5 percent decrease in the number of children in out-of-home care and a 17.6 percent decrease in children placed in congregate care settings, such as group homes and shelters.

“Forty percent of children in out-of-home care are currently living with relatives or family friends,” said Wendy Henderson, theDCF’s Division of Safety of Safety and Permanence administrator. “This means more children are placed with family, who already know their favorite food, how to help them fall asleep or how to make them smile. We are excited to see this increased trend and look forward to a day where more children are placed with relatives, and people who know and love them.”

During May, Wisconsin’s foster parents, relative caregivers and family friends, will be celebrated, by recognizing outstanding caregivers and former foster youth, during the 2022 Governor’s Foster Care awards ceremony Tuesday, May 24, at the state Capitol.

Additionally, a mural made by current and former foster youth will be on display in the Capitol rotunda, throughout May, to raise awareness on the importance of sibling connections. The mural, which includes 16 unique pieces, was made in 2021, by sibling groups at Camp to Belong Wisconsin, an organization dedicated to reuniting brothers and sisters who have become separated in foster care, through a week of camp in the summer, and other events throughout the year.

To learn more about becoming a foster parent or Wisconsin’s Kinship Care and Subsidized Guardianship programs, visit dcf.wisconsin.gov.