Teen in Wisconsin Foster Care Ready for Stability

Looking for a foster home with stability and acceptance

Eli is 13 years old and needs a Wisconsin foster home where things don’t change every few months. Years of instability have taught him to be careful with trust. He watches first, listens closely, and waits to see if adults are really going to stay.

Or if they, too, will abandon him.

Understanding anger in teens in foster care

Eli carries a lot of anger from the challenges he’s faced. When he’s overwhelmed or feels misunderstood, that anger can come out in unhealthy ways like yelling, shutting down, or testing limits.

The important thing to know? Eli can calm down. With time, space, and a calm adult who doesn’t escalate the moment, he can regulate and reconnect. He will do best with qualified foster parents who understand that anger is a stress response, not a character flaw.

A foster home that provides predictability

Big chaos, loud homes, or constant changes can overwhelm Eli. He doesn’t respond well to lectures or punishment; he needs patience, clear boundaries, and adults who stay steady even when he can’t. This is where previous foster homes have failed him.

He responds best to calm, predictable routines, including work and family schedules. After school predictability is essential. Additionally, safe outlets like building, drawing, or spending time with family pets can help him regulate his emotions.

When he feels heard and respected, he begins to trust that adults will really be there for him. If not, his emotions can escalate.

School can also be challenging. Eli has ADHD and significant trauma in his past, which makes focusing and staying organized difficult. He receives school support and benefits most from encouragement and consistency rather than pressure. He is below grade level in most areas, particularly reading.

He requires a foster family that will strongly advocate for his education. Spending time reading at home will be important.

Supporting Eli through therapy and reunification

Eli is actively working through big emotions in therapy and will need a foster family willing to support that work. He also has ongoing contact with his biological family, and reunification remains the goal. His foster family will play a key role in helping him feel safe and supported as he prepares for that transition.

What Eli Needs in a Foster Home

Eli would thrive in a home where:

Adults are calm, consistent, and trauma-informed
Anger is met with patience, not punishment
Adults are at home when he is not in school
Expectations are clear, fair, and predictable
Therapy and school supports are encouraged
There are no younger children in the home

Fostering a teen like Eli isn’t about fixing him. It’s about holding steady when things get hard, staying regulated when he can’t, and showing him that safe adults don’t disappear.

If you’re interested in learning more about fostering teens or becoming a foster parent with CCR, we’re here when you’re ready to take the first step.

All identifying information has been changed to protect the identity of children in care. This is not a child needing a home.

Foster Parents Save Wisconsin Teen

Wisconsin foster care was all I could remember.

I never thought I would get out of foster care and survive. I couldn't remember not being in foster care. Then I was placed with a CCR foster family, and this happened...

My name is "Julia." I was placed in a CCR foster home when I was 13 years old. I had been in foster care for most of my life. I lived in 8 different foster homes since I was four years old. I was a victim of sexual abuse at a very young age. Fast forward to my teen years, and I was acting out all of the anger that I felt inside. I was lashing out at people, running away, stealing, and experimenting with weed. Even though I knew I could do better if I tried, I continued to struggle in all areas of my life. I was not attending all of my classes and got suspended for bad behavior more than once. I felt like I didn't belong anywhere and that nobody wanted me or cared.

I tested my foster parents at every turn.

The first six months in my CCR foster home, I continued to struggle and tested my foster parents at every turn, thinking they would eventually have me removed. I was verbally aggressive and defiant, slammed doors, stomped around, complained about everyone and everything. Then, when anyone confronted me about it, I would become highly defensive or shut down.

I eventually began to see that they were not giving up on me. I began to feel like my foster parents were willing to accept me for who I was and give me a chance. When I stopped fighting them, I began to trust both of them. I realized that I could turn my life around if I wanted to. I also realized that I had some positive qualities that would help me make the changes I needed to make. For example, I knew I was smart because I had been on the B honor roll at least once before and wanted to achieve that again.

I made a lot of progress in the foster home by healthily expressing my emotions and began to trust other adults, succeed academically, and participate in typical, healthy teen activities. I also participated in therapy with my foster mom and learned to work through my feelings in healthier ways.

I never thought I would have a family to lean on.

I was with my foster family for four years when they became my legal guardians. After that, I no longer thought of them as my foster parents but more like my real parents. The unconditional love and support that they gave me allowed me to grow and be successful.

After high school graduation, I attended UW-Platteville. I have remained very close to my family and know that they will always be there for me. Sometimes when I look back, I know for sure God put them in my life to save me. I don't like to think about what would have happened to me if I had not met them. I am very grateful for my family.

* Teens need adults who refuse to give up and will accept and love them through trauma—using trauma-informed parenting techniques works! We have helped thousands of youth like Julia heal and grow. Please get in touch with us and learn the truth about fostering teens. The healing that happens is fantastic.

For more information on qualifying to be a foster parent, spend some more time on our website. There are five simple steps to becoming a foster parent, and we will be happy to get you started.

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

Teens in Wisconsin Foster Care - Desperate for Homes

CCR is desperate for new foster parents wishing to help Wisconsin teens. More Teenagers in foster care than ever are at risk of aging out of care with no family or dependable support system. In 2022 we have seen a significant increase in the number of teens referred to CCR. Sadly, it is increasingly challenging to license new foster parents wishing to care for kids over age 12. Although CCR has an exceptional success rate in helping teens in foster care get on a road to healing and success, we don't have enough homes for most of them.

Not enough homes for 90% of teens in foster care.

CCR receives nearly 50 referrals each month from counties across Wisconsin. Most of the kids referred to us are teens, and we cannot place almost 90% of them. The lack of teen foster homes is a state-wide crisis that continues to increase. Licensing new foster parents for teens has been a struggle for many years, but the numbers are getting increasingly dismal. Less than 15% of folks contacting CCR are interested in fostering older youth. The stigma remains. The rumors are still out there. Sadly, only a tiny fraction of those licensed want to help teens.

The truth is that most experienced foster parents believe that caring for teens is often more manageable and less stressful than caring for younger children. There are dozens of testimonials here at Community Care Resources of the positive impact one adult can have on an older child. We have single foster parents, married couples, LGBT foster parents, parents in their 30's, and others in their 70's doing fantastic work with teens.

It doesn't matter who you are, where you come from, or what you might feel your limitations are; you may have precisely what a teen needs to succeed. Foster parents discover that they have an array of skills and life experiences worth sharing with a teen. The growth and healing that can happen before your eyes and the lasting impact you can have on a child's life are like no other experience.

Qualifying to foster teens is easier than one might think.

CCR foster parents represent the diversity of the state and the diversity of the young people receiving care. There is a variety of race, gender, culture, sexual orientation, and financial status. A diverse pool of available foster families helps us match kids with the people who can best meet their specific needs. To read more about teens needing homes., read our meet our foster kids blog.

Foster parents best suited to fostering teenagers:

Adults with flexible but confident and effective decision-making and follow-through skills
Capable of handling conflict and challenges in healthy ways
Willingness to provide opportunities for recreational and extra-curricular activities
Ability to dedicate time, utilize listening skills, and provide care with patience
Have some knowledge of childhood trauma
Willing to support biological family relationships when appropriate or required
Open to establishing life-long relationships in ways that support youth who age out of the system

The placement process of foster kids is a team effort led by our placement coordinator Brian Sullivan. The team works diligently to create placements that will be successful for both parents and children.

"Fostering a teen is one of the BEST things we have ever done. It was not on our radar, but we took a leap. We are so happy to have two teen sisters in our care! They are thriving, doing well in school, and have made many friends. We thank God every day for sending them to us! Jodi from Calumet County, Wisconsin

Preparing a teen for independence involves mentoring and coaching.

Helping a teen prepare for being on their own and stabilized for the next phase in their life is an exciting journey. In place of tying shoes, helping with baths and bedtime, and keeping little ones on task, foster parents teach an older child life skills. It involves structure, supervision, and acceptance. When fostering a teen, the focus is on listening, patience, and consistency. Teaching older children to be independent and preparing them for life on their own can bring numerous rewards and big successes. Any of the following should be expected.

Time management
Confidence building
Money Management
Grooming and Self-Care
Stress Management
Obtaining a Drivers License
Building Healthy Relationships
Household Cleaning and Laundry
Grocery Shopping
Higher Education Exploration
Job Searching
Apartment Finding

Teens in foster care struggle with increasing mental health concerns.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, suicide among kids ages 10-17 increased by over 70% from 2006-2016. During the height of Covid19, teen suicide and mental health concerns rose to an all-time high. In 2021, the American Academy of Pediatrics declared a state of emergency concerning children's and adolescents' mental health. The pressures of social media, lack of in-person relationships, and the absence of parents and adults create toxic outcomes for teens. Complicated and severe trauma histories compound mental health disorders of adolescents in foster care. Foster parents provide the essential positive environments these kids need and crave.

To foster teens, you must be honest about your relationship skills and willingness to be helpful. We would love to speak with you about the details of fostering teen girls or boys. Please call or email us anytime, we look forward to helping you explore fostering and providing the answers to foster care questions you have.