Dane County

Become a foster parent in Dane County, Wisconsin

We are so happy you are exploring how to become a foster parent in Dane County with CCR. There is a huge need for foster homes in Madison, Sun Prairie, Fitchburg, Verona, Mt. Horeb, and other areas within Dane County. In fact, our home office is right here in Middleton to serve our Dane County foster parents well. We always need homes to accept sibling groups and older children, while most of our kids are ages 5-17. Having a flexible schedule is important too. Our office is located off Gammon Road, all are welcome to visit us in person or call us any time.

Similar to a county agency, all new CCR foster parents are licensed as a level 2 (basic) foster home. Not only have foster kids at level 2 experienced neglect and/or abuse, but they will also have trauma and behaviors because of it. With experience, foster parents may choose to provide treatment foster care for kids with heightened trauma histories. Moving up to level 3 or level 4 foster care requires experience and additional qualifications.

The difference between CCR and county foster agencies like Dane?

The differences are mainly found in the amount of support and attention foster parents receive as well as the unmatched experience of CCR staff.

• We provide weekly in-home support for you and your kids. School visits too.
• Our 24/7 helpline means foster parents can speak with a CCR case manager within minutes at any time of day.
• CCR case managers are required to have a master's degree in Social Work.
• Our staff has a 15-year average length of employment! This is unheard of in social services where burnout and frustration run rampant.
• Trauma-informed care training before and during your foster care journey will help you care for your kids.
• A maximum of only 15 kids is allowed on each case manager's caseload ensuring quality, individual attention for you, and the kids.

CCR places kids of all ages and many are sibling pairs and groups. A typical placement will last 12-24 months and CCR does not offer emergency or short-term placements. Additionally, many CCR foster parents are able to adopt foster children.

A Madison family has been fostering with CCR for 18 years.

Longtime CCR foster parent Rebecca is shown here with Brian our placement coordinator. Brian has been dedicated to CCR for 21 years and knows Rebecca and her family well. In addition, Rebecca's case manager Wanda (below) has been providing Rebecca's family support services, including weekly in-home visits, for 18 years! Yes, it's true. Wanda is the only case manager Rebecca and her family have ever had. In fact, the relationships between foster parents and case managers are a huge part of our success in helping children heal from trauma.

If you have patience and love to give, you can do this work!   

There is a large need for new foster parents throughout Dane County, Wisconsin. We need homes to welcome elementary ages, middle, and high school ages as well as sibling groups.

Qualifying to be a foster parent may be easier than you think. In addition, the process to get a foster care license is fairly simple and takes 3-4 months. Please continue to explore our website and find many answers to important foster care questions.