They Need You. We Need You.
We encourage anyone interested in learning more about the foster care experience to browse our video library below. We’ll answer some frequently asked questions about becoming a foster parent in Wisconsin, the support we provide for foster families, as well as how to prepare for placement.
We hope this information answers some of your questions and inspires you to reach out to have a conversation about what fostering could look like for your family.
Click on a boxed picture to launch the video about that topic.
Introduction
Who We Are
Discover the inspiring story of Foundations Health & Wholeness. From our humble beginnings to our commitment to fostering mental health and wellness, learn how we’ve grown to support individuals and families in our community.
Different Roles Within Foundations Foster Care Program
In this video, we explore the different roles within the Foundations Health & Wholeness Foster Care Program. Watch now to learn more about the important work being done with Wisconsin Foster Care.
Treatment Foster Care Vs. County Foster Care
Understand the differences between Treatment Foster Care and County Foster Care, and learn about the services we provide for our Wisconsin communities.
Referrals and Placements
Learn more about the process of handling statewide referrals and placements for children and teens in foster care. There is an urgent need for foster homes, especially for teens and sibling groups, learn how you can help.
Some Myths & Concerns about Foster Parents and Foster Kids
Jessica addresses common myths and concerns about foster care. This includes living situations, realities of emotional attachment, daycare costs, and other myths.
The Need For Foster Parents
Need for Foster Parents
We highlight the urgent need for foster parents in Wisconsin. With 20-25 weekly referrals for children and teens needing safe, loving homes, there is a critical shortage of licensed foster parents.
Recruiting Foster Parents
Learn about the critical need for foster parents in Wisconsin, and the various roles you can make an impact with including, yard signs and community events.
Qualities of a Foster Parent
Discover the key qualities that make an ideal foster parent. Empathy, flexibility, kindness, and a sense of humor are just a few of the essential traits needed to provide a loving and supportive home for foster children.
The Ideal Foster Parent
We describe the ideal foster parent as being; flexible, loving, and open-minded, with a great sense of humor. They offer patience, compassion, and understanding to support both the child and their family.
Being a Foster Parent
Join Bruce and Stefanie as they share their journey as foster parents with Foundations Health & Wholeness. Discover the challenges and rewards of foster parenting, the importance of trauma-informed care, and more.
What Advice Would You Give New Foster Parents?
Discover the importance of self-care, building a support network, and embracing the unexpected challenges. Hear firsthand experiences on the support provided by Foundations.
Respite Care
Learn how respite care offers temporary relief for foster parents and provides short-term care for children and teens. Discover the unique arrangements and support options available for respite providers.
How We Support Our Families
Training
Learn about the comprehensive training program for foster parents at Foundations Health & Wholeness. Our training includes self-guided pre-placement training and in-depth Wisconsin Foundations training, covering topics like cultural dynamics, trauma-informed care, and positive discipline.
The Court System and Visitations
Learn about the role of foster parents and the court-mandated visitations with biological parents. Our regional director from the Greater Milwaukee office explains how to support foster children during these emotional times, focusing on comfort and understanding.
Navigating Relationships
Learn how foster parents can support interactions with biological families and the importance of being open to family connections, handling transportation and visits, and fostering positive relationships to aid in reunification efforts.
Activities and Sports
Help children in foster care feel like kids. By participating in school events, sports, and community activities, foster children can enjoy normal childhood experiences. Learn how the reasonable and prudent parenting guidelines support these efforts,
Traveling
Children and teens in foster care enjoy experiencing new places and adventures just like anyone else. Foster children are allowed to travel with their foster families, with some conditions based on the destination and trip length. This video explains the guidelines for in-state and out-of-state travel, the importance of maintaining contact with biological families, and the positive impact travel can have on foster children’s lives.
Biological Kids
Learn how fostering can affect your biological children. This video covers important topics like discipline differences, birth order considerations, and the benefits of fostering for biological kids. Discover how to prepare your children for the changes fostering brings and how they can develop empathy and resilience through the experience.
Compensation
Taking in foster children can bring additional expenses. Learn about the financial support available for foster parents, including tax-exempt monthly stipends, child care assistance through Wisconsin Shares, and coverage for medical, dental, and mental health services.
How to Prepare for Placement
Preparing for a foster child placement can be both exciting and overwhelming. Learn how Foundations Health & Wholeness supports foster parents by gathering detailed information, providing 24/7 support, and helping create a comfortable environment for the child.
The First 30 Days
The first 30 days of a foster care placement are busy and crucial. Learn about setting up school, daycare, medical, dental, and optical appointments, and the importance of flexibility and empathy during this adjustment period.
Ongoing Support for Foster Parents
Discover the extensive support available to foster parents at Foundations Health & Wholeness. Learn how our team provides 24/7 assistance, assigns dedicated case managers, and advocates for necessary resources.
Foster Care Therapist
Katie Szerkins, a foster care therapist at Foundations Health & Wholeness, shares her insights on the importance of mental health care for foster families.
Special Topics
What Did You Need From Adults to Succeed?
Our team share their experiences and highlight the importance of having supportive adults in their lives. They emphasize the need for unconditional love, consistency, and a safety net. Discover how listening, understanding without judgment, and showing up during both good and bad days can make a significant difference in the lives of foster children and teens.
What Can You Do To Support and Advocate For A Foster Family
Learn how you can support foster families by becoming a respite provider, offering transportation help, or bringing home-cooked meals. Discover the importance of community resources like foster care closets and organizations such as Foster The Village. Discover how listening, understanding without judgment, and showing up during both good and bad days can make a significant difference in the lives of foster children and teens.
Children with Disabilities
Learn about the unique challenges and rewards of fostering medically fragile children. Discover the necessary medical equipment and training involved, and how community-based services support these children and their foster families. Understand the emotional aspects of caring for children with shorter life expectancies and the critical role of providing them with a safe and loving home.
Race, Ethnicity and Culture
Fostering children from diverse backgrounds requires sensitivity to their cultural needs. Learn how to accommodate different hair and skin care routines, dietary restrictions, clothing preferences, and religious practices. Foundations Health & Wholeness provides resources, education, and support to help foster parents provide culturally appropriate care, ensuring the child's identity and well-being are maintained.
What If It Doesn't Work Out
Sometimes foster placements face challenges that prevent a child from remaining in the home. Learn about the steps Foundations Health & Wholeness takes to support foster families, including pre-placement visits, 30-day notices, respite care, and dedicated therapy. Discover how we strive to make successful matches and provide ongoing support to ensure the safety and well-being of both foster children and families.
Infertility and Adoption
Explore the sensitive topics of adoption and infertility in foster care. Learn how Foundations Health & Wholeness supports families who wish to foster or adopt, emphasizing that while adoption is possible, it is not guaranteed. Discover how the primary goal remains reunification with biological families and the support provided throughout the foster care journey.
Youth Offenders
Addressing concerns about fostering youth offenders, this video highlights the importance of understanding the trauma behind their actions. Discover how supervision, therapy, and positive role models can help these teens make better choices and build better habits. Learn how fostering youth offenders can provide them with the support and guidance they need to grow and thrive.
Teens and Aging Out
Discover how Foundations Health & Wholeness supports teens aging out of foster care. Learn about the independent living programs in Wisconsin that teach job readiness, money management, cooking, and daily living skills. Explore how foster care helps teens enroll in college, find apartments, and build lasting connections with foster families, ensuring they have a place to call home even after leaving the system.
Trauma, Trauma-Informed Parenting & Foster Youth
Learn about the impact of trauma on foster children and teens. Discover how trauma-informed care and ongoing training provided by Foundations Health & Wholeness help foster parents support and nurture their foster youth. Understand the importance of creating a structured, loving environment and acting as healthy role models to help children cope with and heal from their traumatic experiences.
How Did Working in Foster Care Inspire You?
Discover how working in foster care inspired some of our team to become a foster parent. Learn about the empathy gained from understanding the challenges foster families face, and the rewarding experience of supporting children and families through difficult times. See how knowing the children by name and witnessing their success brings immense fulfillment.
Some Joy For You
Some Bunny To Talk To
Join Katie Zerkins, foster care therapist at Foundations Health & Wholeness, as she reads "Some Bunny to Talk To," a story about Little Bunny's journey to therapy. Learn how therapy can help children in foster care navigate separation and trauma, and discover the simple, supportive ways therapists assist children in feeling safe and understood.
And... Scene!
Enjoy a collection of outtakes and bloopers from the team at Foundations Health & Wholeness. Watch as we navigate wordy spots, awkward smiles, and funny moments while filming. It's a reminder that we're all human and sometimes, words are hard!
Ready To Start A Conversation About Fostering?
Contact Collin Drews, our statewide foster care recruiting manager, at 920-606-1205 or [email protected]. Collin can answer your questions and help you with the process.
Or, if you aren’t ready to chat, you can complete an Foster Care application or Respite Care application and send it to us.
