Foster Parents Needed in Your Neighborhood
Wellpoint Care Network has been licensing and supporting safe, nurturing foster homes in Wisconsin since 1984. With more than 7,000 children needing care each year statewide, your help has never been more needed.
Whether you’re just beginning to think about fostering or ready to start an application, you probably have questions about the licensing process. That’s what we’re here for. Reach out using the contact methods below, and a representative will get back to you — usually within 24 hours.
CONTACT US TO BEGIN YOUR APPLICATION
Speak directly with a representative
Call us today at:
855-GROW-HOPE
Start the application process today
Begin your application
using our secure system
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Check out our
online FAQ Page
General Foster License (Greater Milwaukee Area)
To qualify as a foster parent in Milwaukee County or its five surrounding counties (Kenosha, Ozaukee, Racine, Waukesha, and Washingon), an applicant must:
- Be a minimum age of 21 years old.
- Possess a sufficient, verifiable source of income.
- Have bedroom space for the foster child that meets licensing standards.
- Have vehicle liability insurance and valid driver’s license (if transporting foster child).
- Pass a criminal background and caregiver check.
- Be willing and able to work with a child’s biological family.
- Have no prior involvement with a child welfare agency due to an upheld accusation of child abuse or neglect.
- Meet all safe home requirements (including working smoke detectors, safe staircases and adequate homeowner’s or renter’s liability insurance).
- Have patience, a sense of humor and plenty of love to give.
Treatment Foster License (Across Wisconsin)
To care for children in need of additional support, caretakers must meet ALL of the General criteria, as well as AT LEAST THREE of the following:
- One year experience as a foster parent or kinship caregiver.
- A minimum of five years experience working with or parenting children.
- A substantial existing relationship with the child (with case manager approval).
- A high school diploma or equivalent.
- A college, vocational, technical or advanced degree in the area of the child’s treatment needs, such as nursing, medicine, social work, or psychology.
- 500 hours experience providing respite care for children under human services agency supervision.
- Work or professional experience that demonstrates the knowledge, skill, ability and motivation to meet the specific needs of the child in question.
Upcoming Information Sessions
What is foster parenting really like?
As a Foster Parent, you’re not just providing a safe space and much-needed stability. You’re helping mitigate the physical, behavioral, and emotional affects of a child’s trauma so that they’re better equipped to heal and thrive in the future.
Reunification with the biological family is always the goal of foster care. While foster parents are providing the children with a safe and nurturing environment, Wellpoint Care staff are helping their families strengthen parenting skills and eliminate any safety concerns. While it’s never easy to say goodbye to someone you have cared for, time after time we hear our foster parents say the experience is worth it.
Just like the children in our care, foster parents come from a wide range of backgrounds, cultures, neighborhoods, and family structures. You can see more videos of foster families online on our YouTube Channel.
Learn the Basics of Fostering
in Our Free Online Course
