There are numerous steps to becoming a foster parent in Wisconsin. How long it takes often depends on how quickly applicants submit the required paperwork. CCR has a professional team to gently walk you through each step at a pace you are comfortable with.
As expected, caring for someone else's children requires the state of Wisconsin to know you well. As a licensing agency, CCR must follow all state licensing mandates. There are references, background checks, home visits, and new foster parent training. The state mandates most steps to become a foster parent, and CCR requires others. We have a well-organized, thorough licensing process that takes approximately 100 days.
Background checks and fingerprints are required early after the initial application is submitted. If you have lived outside of Wisconsin in the past five years, we will conduct background checks in the states where you previously lived. Even if you have recently undergone a background check or had your fingerprints taken for another reason, such as for a job, we still need to perform these checks again by state requirements.
If there is a misdemeanor or felony in an applicant's past, that does not automatically disqualify someone from being a foster parent. We speak openly with all applicants about any concerns or records.
The first home visit is scheduled after receiving favorable background results. This is an excellent chance to learn more about the licensing process, what to expect, and the details of the upcoming steps. Our licensing specialist will walk through your home for an initial assessment. There's no such thing as a "perfect" foster home. We'll evaluate how your family uses your space and understand your day-to-day life and functions. You'll have plenty of opportunities to prepare your home and make it safe to welcome foster children.
Our goal is to understand you and your family better. It's important to determine what fostering would involve for your family and how welcoming foster children with trauma histories into your home will affect your life.
As mentioned, there will be paperwork, including questionnaires, reference requests, medical and financial forms, and checklists during the remaining home visits. Some of the necessary documents will be:
New foster parents from around the state attend classroom training to prepare to care for children with trauma histories. Our staff does an excellent job preparing new foster parents to begin their foster parenting journey. Monthly in-person and Zoom trainings are held for the new foster parents.
The licensing specialist must write your home study, which is lengthy and takes time to prepare. A license will be issued after submitting the home study to the state. The timing of your first placement will depend on the specific population of children you wish to help and the county in which you reside. We carefully match children with foster parents to ensure kids have the best chance for success and healing.
We hope the details shared here will help you better understand the licensing process. Please don't hesitate to call or contact us anytime to get started. We would love to help you begin the best journey of your life.
