Wisconsin Foster Parents Needed for Autistic Kids

Kaylie is a happy, busy 10-year-old girl in Wisconsin foster care. She has Jacobsen's Syndrome and autism. She was referred to CCR from a Wisconsin county foster agency in hopes of finding a foster family with a flexible schedule to meet her higher needs. Here are some highlights about Kaylie:

Wisconsin foster parents needed for kids with ASD

Kaylie is primarily non-verbal but can communicate most of her needs. She is enrolled in special education and is currently in the 4th grade. She struggled with school attendance in her last two foster homes, which has definitely affected her progress and ability to learn. Previous teachers report that Kaylie does well when she consistently attends school.

Girl on swing

Kaylie does well with call-and-response, mimicking activities, showing needs, and using visual boards. Most days, her behavior is calm, and learning goes well; however, she can become angry, aggressive, and resistant on other days. 

Fostering kids with autism requires creativity and flexibility

Kaylie loves music, dancing, and singing. She enjoys making music by clapping, stomping, and using wooden spoons on various containers. Dancing with a partner brings a huge smile to her face. Kaylie loves boxes! She will play with empty cereal boxes and cracker boxes for hours, filling, folding, and dumping things out repeatedly. 

Creating a supportive home environment is crucial for Kaylie's well-being. She can become easily frustrated and upset, so having a safe space for her to calm down is important. Modifying the home environment with dim lighting, calming music, and soft surfaces can greatly contribute to her comfort. 

Weekly visits with biological family are supervised.

foster child

Kaylie loves weekly visits with her mom and gets very excited when she first sees her mother. Kaylie feels tired the day after her visits and struggles to wake up for school. All activities are a challenge when Kaylie feels tired.

An experienced foster home or one with autism experience is desired.

Kaylie requires additional supervision and care so a home with a flexible or at-home parent is preferred. Previous foster parents have recommended that Kaylie not be placed in a home with children under age seven. She requires too much attention and can be difficult to handle while tending to the needs of younger kids. Although Kaylie has not demonstrated any harm to family pets, a pet-free home is preferred. 

The great news is we found a loving, flexible CCR home for Kaylie! There will be others like her referred to us. If you are interested in caring for kids with ASD, we would love to speak with you. Of course, we always need homes for siblings and older kids too.

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

 

 

 

Can I Be a Foster Parent?

Wisconsin needs foster parents as diverse as the kids/youth care. More foster parents are needed in counties across Wisconsin. CCR welcomes a diverse pool of foster parents, including differences in age, race, ethnicity, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, education, and financial means. Who you love, where you live, and how much money you make aren't important - we recognize that what matters most is that you have the love, time, and patience to care for a child with heightened trauma temporarily.

Anyone can apply to be a foster parent.

Married, single, partnered, divorced, or widowed. Your relationship status doesn't matter to the kids in foster care or us. Families come in many different shapes and sizes, and we assess everyone who applies to foster similarly. Some children in care may benefit from being placed with a single foster parent. Others may thrive from the balance of a nuclear, two-parent household. A widower might be the perfect match for a boy in care. As long as you are 25, you will need a support system and a flexible schedule regardless of your relationship status.

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LGBTQ hoping to be a foster parent, you've come to the right place.

We proudly support the LGBTQ community, believing everyone should have an equal chance to foster a  child. Your self-identity or sexual preferences should not be a concern or prevent you from becoming a foster parent. CCR aims to place as many children as possible in loving, stable homes where healing can happen. Equality is our approach, and placing more children in need into the arms of more loving foster parents is what we’re here to do.

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We're looking for foster parents who want to make a difference and meet kids where they are at. Some youth feel more secure and accepted with LGBTQ foster parents. Many youth benefit from a gender-affirming foster home. There are hundreds of kids longing to be accepted and loved. We need more foster parents who want to learn about trauma and how to parent children with trauma histories. We will teach and guide you no matter who you are, how you identify, or who you love.

Foster parents come from a variety of backgrounds.

There are over 7,400 kids in Wisconsin foster care from all corners of the state. Each child is as different as the families caring for them. Having a wide variety of families is essential to meet the children's individual needs. No matter your race, ethnicity, or national origin, we welcome you to foster with us to help us build an even more robust, diverse nurturing community.

Do you have a high school diploma? Perhaps you never completed high school. That's okay. There is no higher education degree required to be a foster parent. We currently need foster parents of all educational backgrounds in the 60 county locations we serve.

Kids or no kids either is okay.

Many CCR foster parents have biological children. Others have stepchildren, adopted kids, or guardianship. Many CCR foster parents do not have children. They may have nieces or nephews or have worked with children, coached, or volunteered with kids in the community. All are welcome to explore fostering with us. Any experience with children/youth is valuable. Being open-minded and willing to learn how to parent using trauma-informed skills will be necessary.

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What do people believe disqualifies you from becoming a foster parent?

Criminal background or problematic past.

Maybe you found yourself walking a different path in previous years. Perhaps you have minor offenses in your past that you're worried might stop you from fostering. You may even have a felony from years ago. Sometimes the challenges a person has faced, or their life experiences are precisely why they would be a successful foster parent. Please talk with us; we can tell you if your history will allow or prevent you from fostering a child. Most misdemeanors and many felonies will not disqualify you from fostering.

Renting vs. owning a home.

Do I need to own a house to be a foster parent? No. You need a home suitable for fostering, with bedroom space for a foster child or siblings. In addition, you must be free from any form of housing assistance. Foster parents live in various home types, including; apartments, townhomes, trailer homes, and duplexes. Homes must be safe and meet all state licensing requirements. Our team will guide you through the legal and safety requirements of preparing your home to welcome foster children.

Family pets and farm animals.

The majority of our foster families have pets. From dogs and cats to cows and chickens, pets and farm animals can often be a comforting friend to a foster child. However, ensuring that any pets in your household can live safely alongside foster youth is essential. Pets will be assessed as part of the process in areas such as behavior and temperament, and vet records demonstrating up-to-date shots are required. In addition, not all children can be successful living with pets. If a child has a known history of animal aggression or fear of animals, we will search for an appropriate foster home without animals.

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Being financially stable.

It does not matter how much or how little income you have. What matters is that you are financially stable. The ability to pay your bills on time and take care of your household using your income is required. CCR foster parents must be free of housing assistance and food stamps. Any disability benefits will be reviewed to ensure that proper care of the children can be met.

Personal experiences 

Your childhood and adult experiences may help you connect with a child/youth and relate to their trauma history. Every foster parent has something different to offer a child. What matters most is that you desire to learn about childhood trauma and can provide a stable and structured environment. Your life experiences, bad or good, could make you the perfect match for a child/youth in foster care.

We need foster homes with flexible schedules in all corners of Wisconsin. We especially need more homes wishing to help siblings and teens. Please contact us anytime to discuss your interest and learn more about fostering with us. 

 

Providing Respite Care for Wisconsin Foster Parents

girl at zoo

If you desire to help foster kids but cannot commit to full-time foster care, providing respite care might be the perfect way to get involved. Respite providers give CCR foster parents a break for a few hours, overnight, or a few days. Being a certified respite provider to one or two CCR families is a great way to get involved and help kids in Wisconsin foster care. 

Respite care gives foster parents a much-needed break.

All parents need a break from time to time. Because of the higher emotional needs and behaviors of many kids in foster care, foster parents need an occasional break. Using a certified respite provider allows foster parents to take time for themselves. Foster parents can look forward to respite care as it is typically scheduled in advance, working with the availability of the respite provider. It is up to both parties to decide on days, times, and locations.

Using respite care regularly allows for dependable relationships to be formed. The children need consistent care because it will enable them to develop a healthy relationship with the provider and look forward to time spent together.

Foster children enjoy spending time with respite providers. 

Respite care can be provided in the foster home or the respite home. Respite can be for a few hours or a weekend, whatever foster parents feel they need to recharge their batteries. While many respite providers plan outings to a park, community pool, movie theater, or local restaurant, others may prepare a child's favorite food or watch a new movie with popcorn. It is a beautiful opportunity for the kids to get a break from their foster parents and enjoy different interactions and surroundings.

Respite care provides safe interaction with another trusting adult.

As much as foster parents need a break from their kiddos, kids also need some time away from their foster parents. A consistent respite provider allows the kids to build relationships with another stable, trusted adult. Many foster children look forward to sleeping over at a respite home and enjoying a change from the everyday routines of foster family life. Much like biological kids enjoying a night with a babysitter, foster kids also want a change of scenery.

Respite providers are not required to have a designated bedroom for foster kids. Having kids sleep on the couch, futon, or inflatable mattress is okay if the child is comfortable and safe.

All CCR foster parents receive paid respite time. 

CCR strongly supports self-care by generously giving all of our foster parents paid respite time. Each child placed in the home receives two monthly respite days and a one-week vacation annually. For example, if two foster children go to respite for the weekend, Saturday morning through Sunday late afternoon, CCR will pay the respite provider for two full days of respite for each child. If a respite provider cares for a child for an afternoon, CCR will pay the provider for a half-day respite. 

CCR is currently paying a higher rate to respite providers that wish to help families caring for multiple teens. 

Providing respite care is a great way to learn more about fostering.

When Tim and Karen first considered becoming foster parents, they could not meet the requirement of a flexible schedule. Both worked full-time and had very little flexibility with their employers. Fostering full-time wasn't compatible with their schedules. They were disappointed at first, but they were eager to learn more after learning that they could get involved in another significant way. They knew there was a need for more foster homes in Wisconsin but had never heard of respite care or what it meant for foster parents. 

Ultimately the Wisconsin couple felt it was something that made sense for them. They wanted to develop relationships with foster kids and help those dedicating their lives to foster care. Within two short months, they were certified to provide respite care. Tim and Karen have been able to help a family near them with their two foster sons, ages 10 and 13. They say it is just the right amount of time to give each month, and they are happy to get to know the boys more each visit.

CCR foster parents across Wisconsin need respite. Contact us to see if we have a need in your county or hometown. 

WI Foster Parent Training – Diversity is Welcome

Foster parent training classes are required and critical to gaining the tools necessary to be a successful Wisconsin foster parent. Training is designed to be informative, engaging, and thought-provoking. Most importantly, our foster parent training teaches trauma-informed parenting skills. New CCR foster parents come from counties across Wisconsin with diverse backgrounds to learn and prepare themselves to welcome kids with trauma histories into their homes. Training is where the foster care journey begins to feel real.Ready to be a foster parent

Foster parent training is important, even if you have parented.

CCR offers new foster parent training opportunities 5-6 times each year. The curriculum allows for each prospective foster parent to participate at a level they are comfortable with. Sharing is encouraged, questions are welcome, and participation almost always increases as training continues, creating an open, honest learning environment for everyone. Because each class represents a diverse group, attendees quickly realize that learning from the experiences of others is just as important as learning from the class presenters.foster parent training video

A typical training consists of 10-12 people from counties all over the state of Wisconsin. Our most recent class came from the following counties:

"We weren't sure at first if we would have what it takes to foster. After speaking with Jane, she made us so comfortable, answered our questions and gave us so much information. It just felt right. "

Many cultures, lifestyles, family make-up, and experiences are represented in foster parent training.

Many prospective foster parents are married couples, and some are single foster parents. In addition, LGBT foster parents and previously retired foster parents who have decided to give fostering another go are in attendance. It is through this diversity that classroom engagement exists. If foster care requirements are met, CCR welcomes all adults over 25 years old to apply and begin the steps to become a foster parent.

Diversity among the group means we can serve a diverse population of kids.

This was a recent group; the diversity was fantastic:

"I grew up in foster care and was adopted. I feel like I know what they might be going through or at least I know how I felt when I was in their shoes." 

Most classes have similar characteristics and family structures, thus creating great dialog and participation among each prospective foster parent. However, if you are exploring becoming a foster parent, please know that one size does not fit all. No matter your background, race, marital status, religion, sexual orientation, culture, etc., CCR would love to speak with you about treatment level foster care and what it might look like for you and your family.

We welcome everyone to explore our foster care frequently asked questions page and find answers to most of the questions you are looking for. We then welcome your phone call or email to inquire further and get more details on fostering children with significant trauma.

Please call us at 800-799-0450

 

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