Wisconsin foster care and adoption guidelines
We are here to help provide the information you need to start your foster care or adoption process. We are happy to answer any questions.
On this page:
- State contact information
- Foster care and adoption licensing requirements
- Costs to foster and adopt
- Agency contact and orientation information
- Post-adoption support services
- Information on Wisconsin's children
- Additional resources
State contact information
Coalition for Children, Youth and Families
Our mission is to ensure that all children in Wisconsin find permanent and stable families. We are here to offer assistance, support, and guidance, with the intention of making sure we find families for children who need them and keeping those families as strong and stable as they can be.
To learn more about foster care and adoption in Wisconsin, please use the contact information below.
Phone (teléfono): 414-475-1246
Toll-free phone: 800-762-8063
Website: coalitionforcyf.org/
Email (correo electrónico): info@coalitionforcyf.org
Foster care and adoption
In general, foster and adoptive parents must be in good physical and mental health. They must also be able to raise the child in a safe, caring environment.
The following are some of the characteristics necessary to be a good foster or adoptive parent:
- Stability
- Maturity
- Commitment
- Patience
- Dependability
- Flexibility
- Sense of humor
- Enjoys children and is an advocate for them
- Team player willing to work with your social worker, the birth parents, as needed, and community services
Minimum qualifications include:
- Are at least 21 years old
- Are single or married or divorced
- Already have children in your home or no children in the home
- Are of any race
- Have sufficient income to cover your financial needs
- Own or rent your home or apartment
- Have enough room for the child
- Complete proper training requirements
- Pass criminal background checks
If you meet these basic qualifications then you’re off to a great start!
Costs to foster and adopt
There are no costs to foster and adopt in Wisconsin.
Agency contact and orientation information
Wisconsin is a county run, state administered foster care system. To find out how you can get started as a foster parent in your county, visit fosterparentsrock.org, or call 800-762-8063
For more information about adoption, visit the Wisconsin Adoption website or call 800-762-8063. You can also view profiles of Wisconsin Waiting Children on their Heart Gallery page.Post-adoption support services
See a comprehensive list of post-adoption and guardianship support services and support groups available to families who live in Wisconsin.
Information on Wisconsin's children
There are 6,918 children in foster care in Wisconsin; 1,380 of these children are waiting for adoptive families. The children in care are from all cultural and socio-economic backgrounds. The children’s average ages are frequently school-aged, 5 to14 years old. While there is a need for foster and adoptive families for children of all ages, an area of unmet need continues to be finding families for older youth and sibling groups.
Additional resources
Please visit the Coalition for Children Youth and Families website, contact them at 800-762-8063, or email info@coalitionforcyf.org for a comprehensive calendar of special events, support group meetings, conferences and training opportunities.