Foster Care
The Kenosha County Division of Children and Family Services believes that caring for children is society’s most important responsibility. Sometimes children in Kenosha County require temporary out-of-home care because of parental neglect, abuse, illness or death, family stress, abandonment, chemical dependency, exploitation or other issues endangering their health and/or safety. The children are of all ages and varying needs. Often they are filled with feelings of anger, fear, confusion and hopelessness; having been removed from the only home they’ve ever known. Some have siblings and some have developmental, physical, emotional or behavioral problems. They might stay in foster care for days, weeks or months; some for years. All of them need a safe, nurturing, supportive, stable home.
Foster families play an essential role in caring for these children by giving them a place to live temporarily while they can’t live at home, sharing themselves and their lives with children in need. Being a foster parent can be challenging and demanding. It requires love, patience and strong parenting skills. However, helping children grow, learn and live with security and love can be immensely rewarding and fulfilling.
Foster care is temporary. Children usually continue to visit with their own families until they can be reunited. The goal of the placing agency is to provide a safe, permanent home for the child as soon as possible. Sometimes that means reunification with the birth family and sometimes that may be custody or guardianship with relatives or adoption. Meanwhile foster parents provide stability, affection and consistency; helping the children grow and feel good about themselves.
For answers to some of the more common questions that new Foster Parents have, see the Frequently Asked Questions.