Treatment Foster Care – Serving a Need in Our Area

FCC’s Treatment Foster Care program serves youth with significant emotional, behavioral, and medical needs across both Wisconsin and Minnesota, with foster homes located within an hour of La Crosse.

At the end of 2021, Wisconsin reported:

  •  6,887 children in out-of-home care
  • 21.7% of these youth had at least 1 documented disability
    • That number is likely higher because disability status is unknown for over half of children in out-of-home care

In La Crosse County, there were as many as 267 youth in out-of-home care in 2022. During this time, there were only 68 homes licensed to provide foster care. This shows the need for treatment foster care providers.

According to Destiny Ziel, Social Worker with the Treatment Foster Care & Host Homes, “Because these youth have higher needs, FCC’s Treatment Foster Care providers go through an enhanced screening and training process during the licensing process. Once licensed, they received regular opportunities to build their skills through ongoing training and education.”

Knowing that the need is so great, we are always striving to expand the reach of our program. Interested in getting involved? The licensing process usually takes 3-4 months to complete and consists of the following:

  • Submit your interest to the program staff, who will schedule a phone consultation to answer any questions
  • Complete application paperwork
  • Staff will perform background and reference checks
  • Complete a home study consisting of interviews and 4-5 home visits
  • Complete training

Foster families are supported by program staff, including social workers, mental health professionals, respite care providers, and other service providers. Foster parents also benefit from regular support groups with other local foster families, in-house training, access to a 24/7 phone line, and financial compensation.

Treatment foster parents play an essential role as part of a child’s treatment team, working with other service providers, school staff, social workers, and sometimes a child’s biological family. Foster youth flourish with care, patience, and guidance in our foster homes. Occasionally, they even find a forever home when it is not possible to return to their biological parents.

These homes are essential to maintaining as normal a childhood as possible for these youth because they allow youth to remain in a family setting rather than being placed in group homes and residential treatment centers. At present, there is a serious shortage of qualified and capable foster homes to provide care for these youth.

Applicants must be 21 or older and have a stable income, but need not be married, own a home, or have experience with fostering. We are happy to discuss specific licensing requirements with any interested parties.

For more information or questions, email dziel@fccnetworkorg.

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