Join the ranks of superheroes; become a foster parent
Foster parents are superheroes.
The word “hero” gets used a lot in describing individuals and groups who through their actions or daily lives make a positive impact in the world around them.
When asked to name a hero, a person on the street may name a firefighter saving lives from a burning building, a responder on an ambulance crew providing immediate lifesaving treatment, a solider protecting his comrades in battle, a member of law enforcement de-escalating an explosive situation, a teacher making a lifelong impact on a student, or some great sports figure being a positive role model. All of these are solid responses and worthy of the title “hero.”
Among them, though, are those who go a step further and who open their homes and their lives to the children of strangers who are escaping dangerous and unhealthy situations. These super heroes work 24 hours a day, seven days a week to provide stable and safe environment for children to be children and to learn and grow.
Nationally, there are more than 391,000 children and youth in foster care, many with unmet mental and behavioral health needs. In Wisconsin alone, there about 8,000 children living with foster families. These are the lucky ones for whom placement is found. Statewide, more than 5,100 families are licensed foster care providers. This, however, is not enough, Wisconsin is facing a critical shortage in the number of people willing to be foster parents.
There are different levels of foster placement that social workers look for. Level one placement involves family, relatives or close friends. Level two placement involves people who have applied to participate in the foster care system. Depending on the circumstances and needs, the state also has level three placements who are with parents with experience or knowledge about the more therapeutic side of the spectrum to provide care for children with traumatic backgrounds.
Regardless of placement level, all those who open their homes and hearts to provide a safe and secure place for children are superheroes. While they may not wear spangly outfits with capes, they help fight the problems of homelessness, substance abuse, mental health and domestic abuse. They are the shield that helps break generational cycles of addiction, neglect and abuse and they give hope not only to the next generation, but also serve as models for the parents of children in the foster care system to emulate.
While being there for the children, foster parents give their foster child’s birth parents the opportunity to receive the treatment and services necessary to overcome their own demons with the goal of restoring that family bond.
Becoming a foster parent begins with contacting your county’s human or social services department. As with any commitment there are those who think about it, those who put it on a to-do list for “someday” and those who will take action to make communities stronger and healthier, one child at a time.
Contact your local Social Services and ask about how you can join the ranks of community superheroes by becoming a foster parent.
In Clark County, contact Lisa Ochodnicky at 715-743-5256 or email lisa.ochodnicky@ co.clark.wi.us. In Marathon County, call 715-261-7500.
The Tribune-Record-Gleaner editorial board consists of publisher Kris O’Leary and Star News editor Brian Wilson.
