Foster Care

Overview

The Kenosha County Division of Children and Family Services believes that caring for children is society’s most important responsibility. Sometimes children in Kenosha County require temporary out-of-home care because of parental neglect, abuse, illness or death, family stress, abandonment, chemical dependency, exploitation or other issues endangering their health and safety. 

Children can be any age and have varying needs. Often, children are filled with feelings of anger, fear, confusion and hopelessness as a result of having been removed from the only home they have ever known. Some have siblings and some have developmental, physical, emotional or behavioral needs. They might stay in foster care for days, weeks, or months; some for years. All of them need a safe, nurturing, supportive and stable home.

Foster families play an essential role in caring for these children by giving them a place to live temporarily while they cannot live at home. Foster families share themselves and their lives with children in need. Being a foster parent can be challenging and demanding. It requires love, patience and strong parenting skills. However, helping children grow, learn and live with security and love can be immensely rewarding and fulfilling.

Foster care is usually temporary. Children usually continue to visit with their own families until they can be reunited. The goal of the Division of Children and Family Services is to provide a safe, permanent home for the child as soon as possible. Sometimes that means reunification with the birth family, and other times that may be custody, guardianship with relatives, or adoption. During this time, foster parents provide stability, affection and consistency of a family while helping children grow and feel good about themselves.