Adopt from Foster Care

Adopt from Foster Care: Give a Child a Forever Home

At Wellpoint Care Network, we believe every child should have a loving and supportive family. Our priority is reunifying children in foster care with their biological parents, but when that is not possible, we seek other solutions, like adoption, to give children a permanent home.

To become an adoptive parent, you must first be a licensed foster parent. Foster parents must be at least 21 years old. They can be single, married or partnered, can work outside the home and can have children of their own in the home. Please see our Foster Parent Requirements page for complete information and requirements.

Additional licensing and training may be required to be approved as an adoptive home.

In Wisconsin, only one partner in any unmarried couple may legally adopt, but the other can become a legal guardian.

Reunification is the Primary Goal of Foster Care

It is important to realize close to 70% of children in foster care are reunited with their biological parents and will not be available for adoption. Foster care is meant to be temporary, and foster parents should understand this before moving forward. If you are looking to adopt an infant, you should look to private or other kinds of adoption first and not adoption from foster care. Wellpoint Care believes that adoption is a last resort and children belong with their biological families when it safe.

If a child’s biological parents’ rights are terminated, the foster parents are then allowed to adopt the child from foster care. A willingness to adopt siblings is encouraged, as well as a commitment to keeping a child connected to their family, culture and community.

Compare the different types of adoption to better understand how each of them works.

Compare the different types of adoption to better understand how each of them works.

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The Licensing Process

How long does the whole process take? Select your preferred foster care outcome below:

General Foster Care – Level 2

Attend a New Foster/Adoptive Family Orientation.

Complete application, background check forms, and SAFE questionnaires for all household members and return to Wellpoint Care.

Applications are received and screened by Caregiver Coordinator staff; background checks are run, references sent out, and file is passed onto a licensing supervisor for assignment to an Initial licensing specialist, who will contact the applicant to set up their first home visit. This timeframe varies due to the amount of time it takes to receive background checks, and the availability of Initial licensing specialists. On average this process takes a few weeks.

The foster to adopt home study process will be completed in approximately 120 days from date of assignment to an Initial licensing specialist.

Your Initial licensing specialist will help you register for 9 hours of required pre-placement training during your licensing process. In addition, 33 hours of training is required in the first 2 years of licensure.

Foster To Adopt Or Dual Licensure – Level 2

Attend a New Foster/Adoptive Family Orientation.

Complete application, background check forms, and SAFE questionnaires for all household members and return to Wellpoint Care Network.

Applications are received and screened by Caregiver Coordinator staff; background checks are run, references sent out, and file is passed onto a licensing supervisor for assignment to an Initial licensing specialist, who will contact the applicant to set up their first home visit. This timeframe varies due to the amount of time it takes to receive background checks, and the availability of Initial licensing specialists. On average this process takes a few weeks.

The foster to adopt home study process will be completed in approximately 120 days from date of assignment to an Initial licensing specialist.

Your Initial licensing specialist will help you register for 9 hours of required pre-placement training during your licensing process. In addition, 33 hours of training is required in the first 2 years of licensure.

Treatment Foster Care – Level 3

Connect with the TFC Licensing Specialist.

Complete application, background check forms, and SAFE questionnaires for all household members and return to Wellpoint Care Network.

Applications are received and screened; background checks are run, references sent out, and the TFC Licensing Specialist sets up a time to do a home visit. On average this process takes a few weeks.

The treatment foster care home study process will be completed approximately 60 days from the time the full application is received and processed.

Your TFC Licensing Specialist will help you register for 42 hours of required pre-placement training during your licensing process. In addition, 18 hours of training is required in the first 2 years of licensure.

For more information on our services, please contact us at 855-GROW-HOPE or [email protected]