Foster care (also known as out-of-home care) is a temporary service provided by each state for children who cannot live with their families. Children in foster care may live with relatives or with unrelated foster parents. Foster care can also refer to placement settings such as group homes, residential care facilities, emergency shelters, and supervised independent living.
In Wisconsin, foster care is a system designed to provide a safe, temporary living situation for children who cannot live with their families due to abuse, neglect, or other circumstances that endanger their well-being. The Wisconsin Department of Children and Families (DCF) oversees the foster care program, working in conjunction with county agencies to license foster homes and place children in appropriate settings. Children in foster care may be placed with relatives, known as kinship care, or with unrelated foster parents. Other placement options include group homes, residential care centers, emergency shelters, and supervised independent living programs for older youth. The goal of foster care in Wisconsin is to provide a stable and supportive environment for children while working towards the primary objective of family reunification whenever possible. If reunification is not an option, the state may pursue other permanency plans, such as adoption or guardianship.