How Are Foster Parents Matched with Foster Children

Matching foster children and youth with Wisconsin foster parents is a thoughtful and deliberate process designed to help children heal and foster parents succeed. At CCR, every placement is carefully made and doesn't happen overnight. Planned placements take time to ensure children can heal and families can thrive.

Placing Wisconsin foster children in the best available home possible is the responsibility of Brian Sullivan. Brian has been dedicated to CCR and our foster families for over 26 years. Each child and sibling group referred to CCR is unique, reflecting the diverse needs and trauma levels of the children in foster care. Learn more from Brian:

What is the process for matching a foster child with a family?

I am the primary contact for our contract counties and agencies that want to refer a child or sibling group for CCR foster care services. When a county agency needs to place a child outside its county due to resource limitations, it contacts me.

My primary responsibility is collecting comprehensive information about the child, including their requirements, history, and trauma histories, to find the most suitable CCR foster home. I carefully assess the pool of available foster parents to make the best possible match based on my understanding of the child's needs and the strengths of our foster parents.

Some things to consider are:

Location
Day to day flexibility
Family dynamic
Parenting Experience
Work schedules
Life Experience
Age and gender preference
Bedroom Space

How many kids in Wisconsin foster care are referred to CCR each month?

CCR receives 50-60 referrals monthly from counties and tribes throughout Wisconsin. However, we can only place a small percentage of those children, primarily due to the need for more licensed foster families. Despite my best efforts, which often include other team members, there are many cases in which a suitable match is not found, and the referral is passed back to the referring agency.

The ongoing shortage of Wisconsin foster parents means we only sometimes have a family available to meet the child's needs.

What is the difference between county foster care and treatment level?

The difference between basic county-level foster care and treatment-level foster care lies in the level of service provided to the child and the foster family. For instance, a child in a county foster home may not receive necessary support services. A county worker may visit the house once a month, whereas at CCR, visits are made each week to ensure our foster parents receive much needed support and access to resources. In addition, we have a 24/7 on-call help line for our foster parents.

What types of kids do CCR Wisconsin foster parents care for?

In recent years, we have noticed an increase in sibling groups displaced from their family homes. Also, finding homes for teenage girls and boys is our biggest challenge. Many new foster parents are hesitant to foster older kids, but our experienced foster parents find older youth less challenging than younger children.

Regardless of the ages and behaviors of the children placed, our foster parents must adhere to strict flexibility requirements. Being available for multiple appointments and interruptions during the week should be expected.

Can foster parents choose the children they foster?

When foster parents are open to different types and ages of kids, they can have unique experiences. While CCR needs homes for kids of all ages, the greatest need is to find foster homes for young sibling groups and teenagers. It's challenging to find one family that can accommodate a sibling group of 3 or 4 kids, both logistically and practically. At the same time, finding homes with flexible schedules to provide necessary supervision to teens is also challenging.

We respect the family's choice and never push them either way. Knowing that the decision is theirs is essential, and I will never make it for them.

Can foster parents meet the children before a placement?

I work closely with the potential family to arrange a pre-placement visit, which typically includes overnight or weekend stays. These visits allow foster parents to meet the child and gather as much information as possible to decide whether to pursue the placement. The visits also aid in the transition process so that the child has some knowledge about the family before joining them.

The foster family always has the option of accepting or declining a child. I strive to provide all available information to help them make the best choice for their family. A placement can last anywhere from 12 to 24 months and often longer. I work closely with the referring agency and county worker during this time to ensure we communicate effectively.

The support and guidance provided by our team during the decision-making process help instill confidence and security in foster parents. This is a serious process that we do not take lightly. It is important that our families feel they have received all the support they need. Once a placement is made, our commitment to providing 24/7 support starts right away.

What happens if the match with a foster child does not work out?

We understand that fostering a vulnerable child or sibling group can be complex and challenging. Many foster children come from difficult backgrounds and have heightened behaviors and emotions. These emotional and behavioral challenges require ongoing management and can be challenging for both the child and the foster parents.

Because our Clinical Case Managers are in the home weekly and offer 24/7 phone support, breakdowns and disruptions are often avoided.

Older children are encouraged to speak with their Clinical Case Manager. The CCM, in turn, will typically talk with the youth and the foster parent to understand where the placement is breaking down and implement steps to rebuild these areas. Well-planned meetings seek solutions and strategies for remedying the situation and resolving problems with the placement while considering the child's best interests. A 30-day notice to move the child may be unavoidable if this doesn't work.

Can I adopt my foster children? Children are often adopted by their CCR foster parents. However, the goal is most often reunification. Adoption happens less than 20% of the time.

CCR is committed to improving the outcomes of all the children and youth placed in our care. We have dedicated, compassionate team members with decades of field experience working diligently with our foster parents and county agencies to provide each child with the most suitable, safe home.

If you want to learn more about CCR and becoming a foster parent, please contact us anytime. We are glad to answer your questions and provide more details.

Wisconsin Boy Needs a Pre-Adopt Foster Home

LaBron is a resilient 10-year-old Wisconsin boy in need of a foster home where he can feel safe, supported, and seen by his foster parents. His story isn’t easy—he’s experienced neglect, physical abuse, and has witnessed family violence—but despite it all, LaBron continues to show his vibrant personality and caring heart.

A boy in foster care with a big heart and a curious spirit

LaBron is the kind of child who lights up when trying new things. He especially loves tasting new foods; his favorite candy is orange Skittles. He enjoys playing basketball outdoors and watching his favorite TV shows. One of the ways LaBron shows his thoughtful nature is in how he plays and interacts with family pets. He is gentle, nurturing, and a helpful caretaker. A foster family with pets may be a perfect match for LaBron.

He had never had his own bedroom before and always shared a space with his mom, so he takes great pride in his tidy bedroom and bed. LaBron enjoys keeping his personal space neat and organized and takes excellent care of his belongings. These small routines help him feel grounded and in control—something that hasn't always been the case in his early years.

LaBron needs a foster family with time, patience, and a flexible schedule.

Because of his early experiences and diagnoses—Phonological Disorder, ADHD, and trauma-related stress disorder—LaBron needs a foster home that can offer structure, patience, and a lot of one-on-one time. He attends school with a 504 plan and is below grade level in most areas, particularly reading. When feeling overwhelmed, he visits the counselor’s office and wraps up in a weighted blanket to help self-regulate.

LaBron is sensitive to loud noises and can become overstimulated, so he must have space to calm down when needed. His ideal home would be quiet, predictable, and nurturing, with caregivers who understand trauma and can set firm but gentle boundaries.

He has weekly Zoom visits with his biological mom, who is incarcerated, and will need continued support for that relationship. He also needs ongoing therapy and medication management.

A pre-adopt foster family is desired

The referring county is searching for a pre-adoptive foster home, however, the goal remains reunification at this time, but that goal can change at any time.

LaBron would thrive in a home where:

He receives individual attention and patience
A foster parent can be present before and after school and during school breaks
There is structure, consistency, and clear expectations
He can continue therapy and medication support
There’s room for quiet, calm spaces when he needs to decompress
Pets are welcome—he gets along well with animals!

Fostering a child like LaBron means showing up with empathy, flexibility, and a willingness to parent using the trauma-informed skills learned in foster parent training. It means seeing beyond behaviors to the boy inside who wants to feel safe, valued, and part of a family.

You can learn more about how to become a foster parent with CCR and contact us when you're ready to take the first step.

All identifying information have been changed to protect the identity of children.

Large Sibling Groups Struggle to Find Foster Parents

The number of sibling groups being referred to CCR continues to rise. Young siblings are entering Wisconsin foster care at alarming rates, primarily due to severe neglect. Sibling pairs and large groups are regularly placed in CCR foster homes in counties across Wisconsin. Most CCR foster families care for siblings or more than one child at a time. When their homes are full, we have no choice but to turn away referrals like a recent sibling group of three. Meet Martia, Jaylan, and Miya, siblings recently referred to CCR in hopes of finding a foster home to meet their elevated needs.

Sibling groups in foster care require more than bedroom space.

Wisconsinites familiar with CCR know that our qualifications to become foster parents focus heavily on flexible schedules. In other words, we need foster parents who can attend multiple weekly appointments and be available to kids when needed most, including after-school and summer breaks. Siblings like Martia, Jaylan, and Miya have trauma histories, require school support, and typically need additional outside services. Without day-to-day flexibility, caring for them and managing schedules would be difficult.

Martia recently celebrated her birthday. She is four years old and doing well in many areas, considering the neglectful circumstances she came from. Although she is not speaking as fluid as most children her age, she can express herself appropriately and tries her best to communicate effectively. She is a curious little girl who loves to please. She follows and mimics her older sister, Miya, who has been her mother figure for many years. Her attachment to Miya is not unusual with sibling groups when parents or caregivers have not been present or active in the home.

Martia sleeps well and has a healthy appetite. Although potty trained, she has accidents and wears a pull-up at night for occasional bed-wetting. It is reported that she will have tantrums lasting up to 30 minutes. Martia would benefit from socialization with other young children.

Keeping siblings together in foster care can be challenging.

11-year-old Jaylan is a typical boy in many ways. He loves video games and wants to buy a skateboard. He can be wise for his years and is very protective of his sisters. He has good insight and understands the needs of his sisters more than he should. Jaylan needs reminders to be a child, not a caretaker for his sisters. It causes much stress for him. He does not make friends easily and is working on being more social with his peers.

Jaylan spends much time alone, suffers from low self-esteem, and has been diagnosed with depression. He is reported to have problems with anger and tends to keep to himself. He has witnessed significant violence in his family and has been present during drug use and threatening situations. Although he is good at keeping himself occupied independently, he would do well in a family environment, offering healthy family group activities.

Jaylan is in therapy and a mentoring program at this time. He is in the 6th grade and performs satisfactory work at school. He struggles to complete homework and does not participate in class. He reads and writes below grade level, and math is increasingly difficult. Jaylan does not have any educational needs.

Foster children who have been neglected can have an array of regressive issues.

Miya is nine years old and described as creative and empathetic. Her brother describes her as the peacekeeper of the family. She is quiet and slow to open up, but her kindness is evident when she does. She tends to Martia's wants and needs and often puts her own needs aside.

Animals, music, and art are Miya's favorite things. She loves cats and hopes to have one someday. Miya does not like loud noises or being punished. She has witnessed family violence and gets frightened by yelling and loud voices. It is reported that Miya suffers from regressive issues, including bed-wetting (she wears Pull-Ups), using a teddy bear to comfort herself, and hiding her face when nervous or afraid. She worries about her younger sister and does not trust that caregivers will meet her needs.

Miya does not have any educational needs. She is currently enrolled in individual therapy.

We did not have a foster home for this sibling group.

Sadly, we did not have a foster home in the right location to accommodate all three kids so the referral was passed back to the county. We are truly desperate for more homes in every county location we serve. On average, we receive 45 monthly referrals from counties across the state. We have homes for less than 15% of the children.

Please get in touch with us to learn how to become a foster parent in Wisconsin and help kids like Miya, Jaylan, and Martia.

All identifying information are altered to protect the privacy of children.

Siblings in Foster Care Hope to Stay Together

One of our greatest needs is to license more Wisconsin foster parents to care for sibling groups. We continue to receive referrals from counties across Wisconsin, and more often than not, we do not have foster homes available in the right location to meet the needs of the children. Fostering siblings requires great flexibility and the ability to meet younger kids where they are while getting on a path toward healing. Meet Benjamin, Adam, and Thomas, three little brothers desperate for a foster home to keep them together and handle their elevated needs.

Siblings in foster care need structure, stability, and flexibility.

This sibling group of three brothers is currently placed with their maternal aunt. She cannot maintain the children in her care due to their aggressive behaviors, level of trauma, and lack of structure and routine. The aunt has no parental experience and limited resources. She is only 24 years old. Her primary support person is her 19-year-old live-in boyfriend. The sibling group had resided with the aunt for three months, before that, they lived with their maternal grandmother, their legal guardian.

The maternal grandmother’s recent homelessness and mental and physical health ailments left the boys needing placement and CPS intervention. Thus, the aunt was located and agreed to care for the boys.

Boy 1

Benjamin is the oldest child. He is a wise 9-year-old. However, he has expressed that he does not always feel safe at his aunt’s home. As a result, he has asked to live with respite providers instead of his maternal aunt. Likewise, 6-year-old Thomas also expresses his desire to live elsewhere.

The Department has received two CPS reports alleging physical abuse of the children since their placement in the aunt’s home. The most recent report came in over a weekend after the weekend respite provider found large bruises on Thomas' back.

All three boys were interviewed by CPS and expressed their safety concerns regarding their aunt. The boys are not returning at this time as an investigation is in pursuit, and the aunt has verbalized an inability to maintain the three boys. It is unknown what the investigation will uncover.

Foster parents caring for siblings must be resilient.

Benjamin is believed to be the most delayed or behind socially and academically. When compared to his younger brothers. The middle brother, Adam, is eight years old and has been an open book about his feelings and things going on in the home. Adam struggles with the most aggressive behaviors historically (he was kicked out of daycare at a young age), but his involvement with CCS (Comprehensive Community Services) over the past year has shown that he has been able to calm himself, take direction, and have less aggressive behaviors.

When initially placed with the aunt, it is reported that Thomas displayed aggression towards his youngest sibling, Danny, who has been placed with his maternal aunt since birth. Danny is 18 months old (not included in the sibling group of 3 needing placement). Thomas does not show this aggressive behavior while in the care of the regular respite provider. It is believed that Thomas may have been aggressive towards Danny because while in his aunt’s home, Danny is the “baby,” In contrast, Thomas is used to being “the baby” of the family while previously raised by his maternal grandmother.

Thomas has flourished while in respite care with the structure and attention he is provided.

Kids in foster care need to feel safe.

The Department is not looking for placement of Danny as the maternal aunt can adequately provide care for him independently of his three older siblings. The aunt describes that the boys are angry. She feels they are angry because living with their maternal grandmother was not healthy or safe emotionally. However, each boy does great one-on-one and when receiving positive attention and parenting. She reports that the boys would do best if they could remain together. The aunt would like to remain involved as an auntie to the boys but cannot remain a full-time caregiver for all four siblings.

Griese boy

All three boys are participating in individual therapy. Benjamin and Thomas also have an IEP. All support services would continue in a new foster home.

The boys just transitioned to a new school in January as the aunt could not transport the boys over 30 miles to the school near the grandmother's previous home. Moving to another new school will be difficult, but the transition may go well if structure and stability are present in a new home.

None of the boys are on medication at this time. There are no known health concerns. The aunt would like to set up regular visits with the boys so they can see their baby brother.

Kids are referred to CCR every day. We need your help.

CCR receives 45-50 referrals each month for kids like Benjamin, Adam, and Thomas. Unfortunately, we do not have enough foster homes. We must have the right home in the right location. If there are biological visits with the family, the foster home must be relatively close to the family to ensure smooth transportation to visits. We want to match children with the best foster family where healing can happen.
We did not have a match for the brothers, so the referring county continued its search. We want to license more families with the ability and desire to foster sibling groups. If you want to learn more or get answers to your fostering questions, please visit more pages on our website or contact us. We are happy to speak with you.

*This blog series highlights actual referrals received. Names are changed to protect privacy.