How to Become a Foster Parent in Wisconsin

Description

Foster care in Wisconsin provides temporary, family-based care for children who cannot safely remain in their homes. Foster parents provide stability, supervision, nurturing, transportation, educational advocacy, healthcare coordination, cultural support, normal childhood experiences, and connections to parents, siblings, relatives, tribes, schools, and communities while the child's family works toward reunification or another approved permanency outcome.

Agency

The Wisconsin Department of Children and Families oversees the state's foster-care system and establishes foster-home licensing standards through Wisconsin Administrative Code Chapter DCF 56. County human services agencies, tribal child welfare agencies, and licensed private child-placing agencies recruit, assess, train, license, and support foster parents.

Who Can Apply

Responsible adults from many backgrounds may apply to foster in Wisconsin. Applicants may be single or married, may rent or own their home, may work inside or outside the home, and may have children or be parenting for the first time. They must demonstrate maturity, sound judgment, stable finances, sufficient health, suitable household relationships, and the ability to safely nurture children.

Average Time To License

Licensing generally requires several months and includes initial inquiry, agency orientation, application paperwork, references, criminal and caregiver background checks, health information, preservice education, interviews, assessment of family relationships and parenting capacity, and inspection of the home.

Website

Visit the official agency website

Minimum Age

A person must generally be at least 21 years old to receive a Wisconsin foster-home license. An applicant who is 18, 19, or 20 may be licensed to provide foster care specifically for a relative.

Residency

Applicants generally apply through the county in which their home is located, a Wisconsin tribal child welfare agency, or a licensed private child-placing agency. The residence must be available for assessment under Wisconsin foster-home licensing standards. Tribal agencies may operate under their own licensing laws and policies.

Marital Status

Applicants may be single, married, divorced, widowed, or part of a committed household. When spouses or partners share parenting responsibilities, the licensing agency evaluates their relationship, household roles, stability, communication, and shared commitment to fostering. All applicable adults participate in interviews and background screening.

Income Requirements

Wisconsin does not establish a minimum income amount for foster parents. Applicants must nevertheless demonstrate stable income sufficient to meet their household's existing financial obligations without relying upon foster-care maintenance payments.

Home Ownership

Applicants may rent or own their residence. Apartments, houses, mobile homes, and other lawful residences may qualify when they meet applicable standards for safety, sanitation, utilities, sleeping space, emergency access, and the number and needs of children approved for placement.

Bedroom Requirements

Each foster child must have an approved sleeping arrangement with a safe bed or crib, clean bedding, adequate space, ventilation, lighting, privacy, and storage. Room-sharing decisions must account for each child's age, sex, development, relationships, behavior, trauma history, and individual safety needs. The licensing agency determines permitted bedroom capacity under Chapter DCF 56.

Transportation

Foster parents must provide or arrange safe and reliable transportation for school, family contact, medical and dental appointments, therapy, court proceedings, case meetings, activities, emergencies, and other placement-related needs. Drivers must be properly licensed, vehicles must be insured and safely maintained, and children must use legally required safety restraints.

Health Requirements

Applicants and household members must be free from physical or mental conditions that would interfere with their ability to care for children or threaten a child's health or safety. Licensing agencies may require medical statements, examinations, mental-health evaluations, or alcohol and drug assessments when necessary to determine suitability.

Pet Policy

Pets and other animals may live in a Wisconsin foster home when they are safely maintained and do not present a danger to children. Licensing staff may assess vaccination status, veterinary care, sanitation, containment, temperament, aggression or bite history, and the family's plan for supervising interactions between children and animals.

Firearm Policy

Firearms, ammunition, bows, hunting equipment, and other weapons must be stored securely and made inaccessible to foster children. The licensing agency evaluates storage arrangements and may require locked containers, separate ammunition storage, trigger or cable locks, or additional precautions based upon the children placed in the home.

Contact Agency

Prospective foster parents begin by contacting their county human services department, tribal child welfare agency, or a licensed private child-placing agency. An intake specialist explains Wisconsin's licensing process, available training, placement needs, reimbursement, Levels of Care, foster-to-adopt opportunities, kinship care, and the expectation that foster parents actively support reunification whenever it is safe and appropriate.

Attend Orientation

Applicants participate in an informational orientation before beginning the licensing process. Orientation introduces Wisconsin's child welfare system, foster-parent responsibilities, trauma-informed caregiving, attachment, grief and loss, cultural humility, discipline requirements, confidentiality, educational advocacy, medical decision-making, permanency planning, family visitation, and collaboration with birth families, schools, healthcare providers, courts, and licensing workers.

Choose Agency

Families may become licensed through their local county, a Wisconsin tribal child welfare agency, or a licensed private child-placing agency. Applicants interested in treatment foster care, medically fragile children, teenagers, sibling groups, emergency placements, or foster-to-adopt opportunities should discuss specialized licensing options before selecting an agency.

Documents Needed

• Completed foster home license application
• Government-issued identification
• Social Security numbers or identifying information for background screening
• Household member information
• Current and previous residential history
• Marriage certificate when applicable
• Divorce decree when applicable
• Medical examination forms
• Health statements when required
• Personal references
• Employment verification
• Proof of household income
• Financial information
• Background check authorization forms
• Caregiver background check forms
• Fingerprint authorization when required
• Driver's licenses
• Vehicle registration
• Proof of automobile insurance
• Homeowners or renters insurance
• Emergency contact information
• Emergency evacuation plan
• Bedroom information
• Pet vaccination records when applicable
• Firearm and ammunition storage information when applicable
• Water safety information when applicable
• Nurturing Connections training documentation
• Additional county, tribal, or licensing agency forms

Required

Yes

Description

Wisconsin requires prospective foster parents to complete orientation before licensure. Orientation explains the child welfare system, foster-parent expectations, trauma and attachment, child development, behavioral support, confidentiality, mandatory reporting, visitation, reunification, educational advocacy, medical care responsibilities, cultural responsiveness, permanency planning, and teamwork with birth families and professionals.

How To Register

Applicants register through their county human services department, tribal child welfare agency, or licensed private child-placing agency. Licensing staff provide orientation schedules, application materials, training information, and an overview of local placement needs.

Duration

Orientation is typically completed during one or more introductory sessions before applicants begin the formal licensing process. Scheduling varies by county, tribe, and licensing agency.

Application Process

Following orientation, applicants submit a foster home license application and begin the licensing assessment. The process includes completion of required education, caregiver background checks, references, health documentation, interviews, financial review, home inspections, and evaluation of the family's ability to safely care for children while supporting reunification, permanency planning, and family connections.

Required Documents

• Completed foster home license application
• Government-issued identification
• Household member information
• Residential history
• Background check authorization forms
• Caregiver background check forms
• Fingerprint authorization when applicable
• Personal references
• Employment verification
• Income verification
• Financial documentation
• Medical examination forms
• Health statements when required
• Marriage certificate when applicable
• Divorce documentation when applicable
• Driver's licenses
• Vehicle registration
• Proof of automobile insurance
• Homeowners or renters insurance
• Emergency plans
• Bedroom information
• Pet vaccination records when applicable
• Firearm storage disclosures when applicable
• Nurturing Connections training documentation
• Additional county, tribal, or licensing agency forms

References Required

Applicants provide references from individuals who can evaluate their character, maturity, relationships, parenting abilities, emotional stability, financial responsibility, reliability, and ability to provide a safe and nurturing home. Licensing specialists may also contact employers or other professional references when appropriate.

Interview Process

Licensing workers conduct multiple interviews with applicants and household members covering motivation for fostering, family history, parenting philosophy, discipline practices, relationships, communication, finances, employment, trauma-informed care, child development, health, cultural awareness, support systems, placement preferences, confidentiality, reunification, substance-use history, criminal history, and the family's ability to collaborate with birth families, schools, medical providers, and the child welfare team.

Required

Yes

Curriculum

Wisconsin requires prospective foster parents to complete approved preplacement and initial licensing education before a foster-home license is issued. The state's primary curriculum is Nurturing Connections, which prepares caregivers to understand trauma, attachment, child development, behavior management, positive discipline, abuse and neglect, grief and loss, cultural responsiveness, educational advocacy, medical care, permanency planning, reunification, mandatory reporting, and effective collaboration with birth families and child welfare professionals.

Required Hours

Required training hours are established under Wisconsin Administrative Code and vary according to the home's assigned Level of Care, the caregiver's relationship to the child, and whether the home provides general or treatment foster care. Foster parents must complete all required preplacement and initial licensing education before licensure and continue annual education thereafter.

Online Available

Many Wisconsin licensing agencies offer portions of the required education through virtual or hybrid instruction. Certain licensing activities, including home visits, interviews, and inspections, must still be completed in person.

Certification

Applicants receive documentation after successfully completing all required preplacement and initial licensing education. Licensed foster parents must complete ongoing continuing education each licensing period to maintain their foster-home license.

Required

Yes

Interviews

Wisconsin requires a comprehensive licensing assessment that includes multiple interviews with applicants and household members. Licensing specialists evaluate parenting philosophy, motivation to foster, family relationships, communication, health, finances, child development knowledge, trauma-informed parenting skills, support systems, discipline practices, placement preferences, and the family's ability to safely meet children's needs while supporting reunification.

Home Visits

Licensing workers conduct one or more home visits to verify compliance with Wisconsin Administrative Code Chapter DCF 56. The home is evaluated for cleanliness, structural safety, sanitation, utilities, sleeping arrangements, emergency preparedness, smoke detectors, medication storage, firearm storage, hazardous materials, pets, water hazards, and the home's overall suitability for children.

Topics Covered

• Motivation for fostering
• Family history
• Childhood experiences
• Marriage and family relationships
• Communication skills
• Conflict resolution
• Parenting philosophy
• Positive discipline
• Trauma-informed parenting
• Attachment
• Grief and loss
• Child development
• Behavior management
• Educational advocacy
• Medical care coordination
• Mental health awareness
• Supporting birth families
• Cultural responsiveness
• Financial stability
• Employment responsibilities
• Transportation planning
• Emergency preparedness
• Support systems
• Physical health
• Mental health
• Substance-use history
• Criminal history review
• Caregiver background check history
• Confidentiality
• Mandatory reporting
• Placement preferences
• Household strengths and challenges
• Working with the child welfare team

Timeline

The licensing assessment is completed throughout the application process. Completion depends upon training schedules, references, background checks, home inspections, documentation, interviews, and correction of any identified licensing deficiencies. Most applicants complete the process within several months.

Bedroom Rules

Each foster child must have a safe, age-appropriate bed or crib with clean bedding. Bedrooms must provide adequate floor space, lighting, ventilation, privacy, and storage. Sleeping arrangements are approved based upon children's ages, genders, developmental needs, sibling relationships, behaviors, trauma histories, and Wisconsin licensing requirements.

Smoke Detectors

Working smoke detectors must be properly installed and maintained throughout the residence. Licensing workers verify their operation during home inspections.

Carbon Monoxide Detectors

Homes must maintain functioning carbon monoxide detectors whenever required by Wisconsin law, particularly in residences containing fuel-burning appliances, fireplaces, or attached garages.

Fire Extinguisher

Homes should maintain readily accessible fire extinguishers and written emergency evacuation plans. Household members should understand emergency procedures and evacuation routes.

Medications

Prescription medications, over-the-counter medications, vitamins, controlled substances, medical supplies, and sharps must be securely stored and inaccessible to children. Certain medications may require locked storage depending upon licensing recommendations.

Cleaning Supplies

Cleaning products, chemicals, pesticides, poisonous substances, alcohol, fuels, sharp tools, firearms accessories, and other hazardous materials must be safely stored where children cannot access them.

Firearms

Firearms, ammunition, bows, crossbows, hunting equipment, and other weapons must be securely stored and inaccessible to foster children. Ammunition should be stored separately. Licensing workers verify safe storage during inspections.

Pools

Swimming pools, hot tubs, ponds, rivers, lakes, and other water hazards must have appropriate safety protections such as fencing, locked gates, covers, rescue equipment, supervision plans, alarms, or other safeguards acceptable to the licensing agency.

Pets

Pets are permitted when healthy, properly vaccinated, safely supervised, and not dangerous to children. Licensing workers may review veterinary records, sanitation, containment, temperament, and supervision practices.

Vehicle Requirements

Vehicles transporting foster children must be legally registered, properly insured, safely maintained, and driven by licensed operators. Foster children must always ride in age-appropriate child safety seats, booster seats, seat belts, or other legally required restraints.

Fingerprinting

Wisconsin conducts caregiver background checks for foster-parent applicants and other required household members. Fingerprinting may be required when necessary to complete state or federal criminal-history reviews under applicable licensing requirements.

Child Abuse Registry

Applicants undergo caregiver background screening that includes review of child abuse and neglect records, applicable Wisconsin databases, and other information required under Wisconsin caregiver background-check laws. Additional out-of-state reviews may be required for applicants who previously lived elsewhere.

Criminal History

Licensing agencies review criminal-history records, caregiver background-check results, references, interviews, prior licensing history, and other available information when determining an applicant's eligibility. Applicants must disclose arrests, convictions, deferred judgments, probation, parole, and other relevant legal history.

Disqualifying Offenses

Certain criminal convictions, serious caregiver misconduct findings, substantiated child abuse or neglect, violent crimes, sexual offenses, homicide, human trafficking, certain drug offenses, crimes against children, and other offenses identified by Wisconsin law permanently or temporarily prohibit foster-home licensure. Other offenses may receive individualized review when permitted by statute and administrative rule.

Additional Checks

Additional screening may include driving-record reviews, sex offender registry searches, employment verification, prior foster-home licensing history, reference verification, household composition reviews, and other evaluations necessary to protect child safety.

Steps

• Contact a county, tribal, or licensed private child-placing agency.
• Attend orientation.
• Submit the foster-home license application.
• Complete required preplacement education.
• Complete Nurturing Connections training.
• Provide references.
• Submit required health documentation.
• Complete caregiver background checks.
• Complete fingerprinting when required.
• Participate in licensing interviews.
• Complete home inspections.
• Correct any identified licensing deficiencies.
• Receive foster-home licensure.
• Accept child placements.
• Complete ongoing continuing education.
• Maintain compliance with Wisconsin licensing requirements.

Average Timeline

Licensing generally requires several months depending upon education schedules, background-check processing, documentation, interviews, home inspections, corrections, and agency workload.

Renewal Requirements

Licensed foster homes must complete periodic relicensing by maintaining compliance with Chapter DCF 56, completing required continuing education, updating background checks and documentation, participating in licensing visits, and correcting any identified safety concerns.

Ongoing Training

Wisconsin requires foster parents to complete continuing education throughout each licensing period. Additional specialized education may be required according to the home's Level of Care or the needs of children placed in the home.

How Placements Work

After licensure, Wisconsin foster families may receive placement requests based upon the child's individual needs, the foster home's approved Level of Care, the family's training and experience, location, household composition, available sleeping space, and ability to meet the child's physical, emotional, developmental, educational, behavioral, medical, cultural, and permanency needs. Agencies seek family-based placements that preserve sibling, family, tribal, school, and community connections whenever safely possible.

Can Decline Placements

Yes. Foster parents may decline any placement that is not appropriate for their household, experience, schedule, approved Level of Care, or placement preferences. Families should ask about the child's age, health, medications, behaviors, trauma history, supervision needs, school arrangements, family contact schedule, sibling relationships, permanency goal, transportation needs, and known safety concerns before accepting placement.

Emergency Placements

Wisconsin uses licensed foster homes for emergency, short-notice, respite, and temporary placements. Emergency placement requests may occur during evenings, weekends, holidays, or other urgent circumstances. Complete information about the child may not be available immediately and should be provided as the placing agency gathers additional records.

Sibling Groups

Wisconsin prioritizes keeping siblings together whenever placement together is safe and in their best interests. When siblings cannot reside in the same foster home, the child welfare team works to preserve their relationships through visits, calls, virtual communication, shared activities, photographs, letters, and other appropriate contact.

Age Preferences

During the licensing assessment, foster families identify the ages, number of children, sibling groups, placement durations, developmental disabilities, behavioral needs, medical conditions, and specialized circumstances they are prepared to accept. Placement staff use these preferences along with the home's license and Level of Care when considering potential matches.

Monthly Board Rate

Wisconsin provides licensed foster parents with a monthly Uniform Foster Care Rate. The payment includes a basic maintenance rate determined partly by the child's age and may include supplemental or exceptional payments based upon an assessment of the child's emotional, behavioral, developmental, physical, or supervision needs.

Clothing Allowance

The Uniform Foster Care Rate helps cover ordinary clothing expenses. Additional assistance may be authorized when a child enters care without adequate clothing or requires seasonal clothing, school uniforms, special footwear, replacement items, or clothing related to extraordinary circumstances.

Daycare Assistance

Childcare assistance may be available when necessary to support foster-parent employment, education, training, court participation, medical appointments, family-contact responsibilities, or other approved activities. Eligibility, authorization, provider requirements, and payment arrangements vary by county, tribe, agency, and the child's case plan.

Medical Coverage

Children placed in Wisconsin out-of-home care are generally eligible for Foster Care Medicaid regardless of the type of placement or financial assistance received by the caregiver. Coverage may include medical, hospital, prescription, dental, vision, behavioral-health, developmental, and other medically necessary services.

Mileage Reimbursement

Transportation assistance or mileage reimbursement may be available for authorized travel related to family contact, healthcare, therapy, court proceedings, school, case meetings, placement transitions, training, and other case-plan responsibilities. Foster parents must follow their placing agency's approval and documentation procedures.

Additional Benefits

Additional assistance may include respite care, supplemental and exceptional foster-care payments, behavioral consultation, childcare, crisis support, training, educational assistance, independent-living services for older youth, medical equipment, placement-stabilization services, and referrals to local community resources.

Respite Care

Wisconsin foster families may use approved respite-care providers for temporary relief, emergencies, appointments, training, family needs, and placement stabilization. Respite arrangements must comply with agency approval and licensing requirements, and availability varies by community and provider capacity.

Support Groups

County agencies, tribal agencies, private child-placing agencies, the Wisconsin Family Connections Center, foster-parent associations, and community organizations offer support groups, workshops, conferences, peer networks, and educational resources for foster, adoptive, and kinship caregivers.

Mentoring

New foster parents may receive mentoring from experienced caregivers, licensing workers, trainers, or peer-support specialists. Mentors can help families understand placement calls, court involvement, documentation, reimbursement, family contact, school issues, caregiver stress, and available services.

Counseling

Children in foster care may receive trauma-focused therapy, behavioral-health services, psychiatric care, developmental treatment, family therapy, substance-use treatment, crisis intervention, and other clinically appropriate services. Foster families may also receive caregiver coaching and behavioral consultation.

Crisis Support

Foster parents should call emergency services whenever immediate danger exists and notify the child's caseworker or agency promptly. Serious injuries, hospitalizations, abuse allegations, missing children, suicide threats, arrests, medication errors, placement disruptions, and other significant incidents must be reported according to agency policy.

Available

Yes

Process

Wisconsin allows qualified families to pursue foster care and adoption through public, tribal, or private agencies. Children generally enter foster care with reunification as the primary goal. When reunification is no longer possible and parental rights have been terminated, foster parents or relatives may be considered as adoptive resources when adoption serves the child's best interests.

Legal Risk

Foster placements do not guarantee adoption. A child may reunify with parents, move to relatives or like-kin, enter guardianship, transfer to another placement, or become legally available for adoption depending upon court decisions, family progress, tribal considerations, and the child's permanency plan.

Adoption Subsidy

Eligible children adopted from Wisconsin foster care may qualify for adoption assistance. Benefits may include Foster Care Medicaid, reimbursement of qualifying nonrecurring adoption expenses, and a monthly subsidy based upon the child's age and assessed special-care needs. An adoption-assistance agreement must be completed before adoption finalization.

Available

Yes

Licensing Differences

Wisconsin prioritizes placement with relatives and like-kin whenever it is safe and in the child's best interests. Kinship caregivers may receive support through the Kinship Care Program or may become licensed foster parents. Court-ordered caregivers may be required to complete foster-home licensing and Level of Care requirements to receive certain foster-care payments.

Financial Support

Eligible kinship caregivers may receive Wisconsin Kinship Care payments, which are set by state law. The 2026 Kinship Care payment is $384 per month per eligible child. Licensed relative foster parents may instead qualify for the Uniform Foster Care Rate, and eligible families may also receive Medicaid, childcare assistance, guardianship assistance, adoption assistance, navigator services, and other public benefits.

How old must I be to become a foster parent in Wisconsin?

Applicants must generally be at least 21 years old. Adults ages 18 through 20 may be licensed specifically to foster a relative.

Can a single adult become a foster parent?

Yes. Qualified single adults may become licensed foster parents in Wisconsin.

Do I have to own my home?

No. Applicants may rent or own a residence that meets Wisconsin foster-home licensing standards.

Can I work full-time while fostering?

Yes. Many foster parents work full-time and use approved childcare and transportation arrangements when necessary.

Do I need previous parenting experience?

No. Previous parenting experience is not required, but applicants must complete required education and demonstrate the ability to safely care for children.

What is a Level of Care?

Wisconsin assigns foster homes and children Levels of Care based upon caregiver qualifications and the child's assessed supervision and support needs.

Can I have pets?

Yes. Pets are permitted when they are healthy, safely supervised, and do not present a danger to children.

Can foster parents own firearms?

Yes. Firearms, ammunition, and other weapons must be securely stored and inaccessible to foster children.

May I decline a placement?

Yes. Foster parents may decline placements that are not appropriate for their household, experience, or approved Level of Care.

How long does licensing take?

Licensing commonly takes several months depending upon training, background checks, interviews, documentation, inspections, and agency scheduling.

Can relatives become foster parents?

Yes. Wisconsin prioritizes safe placement with relatives and like-kin and offers both licensed foster-care and Kinship Care options.

Does foster care guarantee that I can adopt?

No. Reunification is usually the initial permanency goal, and a foster placement does not guarantee adoption.

Do children in foster care receive health insurance?

Yes. Children in Wisconsin out-of-home care are generally eligible for Foster Care Medicaid.

Do foster parents receive financial support?

Yes. Licensed foster parents receive the Uniform Foster Care Rate, which may include basic, supplemental, and exceptional payments.

Is respite care available?

Yes. Approved respite care may be available based upon family needs, agency authorization, and provider availability.

Must foster parents support reunification?

Yes. Foster parents are expected to support safe reunification and children's relationships with their parents, relatives, siblings, and tribes whenever appropriate.

State Agency

Wisconsin Department of Children and Families

Phone

608-422-7000

Address

201 East Washington Avenue, Second Floor, Madison, WI 53703

Website

Visit the official agency website

Recruitment Agency

Wisconsin Family Connections Center

Recruitment Phone

1-800-762-8063

Recruitment Website

https://wifamilyconnectionscenter.org/