Foster Care
What is Foster Care?
Foster care is temporary family care when a child is unable to stay at home or with his or her parents. The ultimate goal of the Agency and the foster parents is to reunify a child with their birth parents or relatives.
If you are interested in learning more about becoming a foster parent in Iowa County, please contact the Foster Care Coordinator at (608)930-9801. Click here for a brochure on Foster Care
Is Foster Care a Good Fit for Me?
- Do you have enough space in your home for the child to have a bed of his or her own (not in a common living space)?
- Are the members of your household in good health?
- Does your income meet the basic needs of your own family?
- Are you willing and able to make adjustments in your life and your home to meet the specific needs of a child place in your home?
- Do you have the ability to accept a child where he or she is at mentally, physically, socially, emotionally, and spiritually?
- Are you able to maintain a positive attitude toward a child’s parents and work cooperatively with them?
- Are you willing and able to take a child to counseling appointments, doctor’s visits, court hearings, and other activities?
- Are you comfortable with the fact that a child placed in your home may eventually return to his or her own home?
Other Ways to Help Children in Foster Care
- Become a Certified Respite Provider to offer foster parents a break from their responsibilities. To learn more about becoming a Certified Respite Provider, please contact the Foster Care Coordinator at (608)930-9801. Click here for a brochure on Respite Care
- Help recruit people you believe would make great foster parents! Please refer friends and family to our website, Facebook Page, or call (608)930-9801 for more information.
- Consider having your business become a “Foster Friendly Business.” Offering discounts to foster families is a fantastic way to show support! If your business is already “Foster Friendly,” please share this information with the Foster Care Coordinator, so all foster families can be made aware.
- Plan a service project for your group that benefits children in foster care, such as collecting donated items (i.e.: school supplies, care packages, baby items, etc.).
- Help provide Christmas gifts for children in foster care by participating in the Iowa County Holiday Project. To learn more about donating for the Holiday Project, please call (608)930-9801.
To learn more about foster care and adoption, please visit: Coalition for Children, Youth & Families - coalitionforcyf.org
Click here for Foster Parent Inquiry Form
LEVELS OF CARE:
LEVEL I AND LEVEL II OVERVIEW
Foster Care Licensing | ||
Certification Level | Level I | Level II |
Correlation to Current System | Child-Specific Homes | Current DCF 56 Foster Care, including child-specific licenses |
Eligible for kinship care Payment during licensure | Only relatives who meet current kinship care eligibility during licensing process | |
Base Foster Care Licensing Code | * Must meet 56.01-56.12 * Relatives may be granted Non-Safety Related Waivers | |
Basic Foster Care Maintenance Rate | $238 payment | Age-related payments |
Supplemental or Exceptional Payments | Does not quality | Qualifies given a child’s specific needs |
Clothing Allowance | Qualifies if the child meets the criteria | |
Certification Level | ||
Certification Level | Level I | Level II |
References | * None | * 3 positive references from non-related individuals |
Training Requirements | * Preplacement training within 6 months of licensure | * Preplacement prior to placement of a child or within 6 months of licensure * 30 hours foundation training within initial licensure period * 10 hours ongoing training in each 12-month period of licensure subsequent to initial licensure period |