Foster care is 24 hour care provided by licensed foster parent for children who cannot live with their parents because it is unsafe, they have special care or treatment needs or other circumstances exist that result in parents or family members being unable to care for them.  Placement in foster care is generally temporary while Department staff work with the family toward having children reunified with their parents.  While families are receiving services and support to strengthen their parenting knowledge and skills to eliminate safety concerns, foster care provides children with a stable, safe and nurturing environment.

If you are interested in becoming a foster parent:  Please reach out to the Ozaukee County Foster Care Coordinator Kristine Kuehlmann at kkuehlmann@ozaukeecounty.gov or 262-284-8205

What are the eligibility and qualifications required to become a foster parent?

Minimum qualifications include:

• You must be a responsible and mature individual who is 21 year of age or older
• You may be single, married or partnered
• Successful completion of a background check on all adult household members
• Be free of physical or mental conditions that would interfere with the ability to provide care to a foster child
• Have a stable income sufficient to meet the foster family’s obligations without reliance on the foster care reimbursement
• Work cooperatively with Department staff
• Be willing to work with the child’s biological family
• Have a willingness to promote normalcy for a foster child
• Have homeowner’s/renter’s and vehicle insurance
• The ability to maintain in confidence all personal information about a foster child and their family
• Have a bed for all household members, including foster children, in compliance with standards established by the State of Wisconsin
• All household members, including children, must participate in the home study and interviewing process
• Complete foster home licensing requirements as outlined in Wisconsin Administrative Code DCF 56:  Foster Home for Children   

How long does the licensing process take?

The process takes approximately 60-90 days from receipt of all completed application/licensing materials.  

Do foster parent receive a stipend?

Foster parents receive a monthly stipend for each child placed in the home based on a standard scale to pay for the cost of caring for the child based on age, needs of the child and other exceptional circumstances as outlined in Understanding the Uniform Foster Care Rate. 

How long do children stay in foster care?

The amount of time a child will spend in foster care varies. Some children are in a foster home for one day and some children are in foster care for over a year, until the biological parents are able to care for him or her again, a placement can be made with a relative, or until the child can be adopted. 

What are the bedroom requirements for a foster child?

• The bedroom shall have 40 square feet of floor space per child.  
• No child over the age of one may regularly share a bedroom with an adult.
• No child over the age of 6 may regularly share a bedroom with another child of the opposite sex.
• No child may regularly sleep in an unfinished attic or unfinished basement.
• All children shall sleep within call distance of the foster parent.  
• A bedroom that someone must pass through to get to another part of the home may not be used.  
• Each bedroom must have a door and a window. 

Will I have contact with the foster child’s biological family?

Biological parents have the right to visit and have contact with their children as determined by the Department and the court. Contact is determined case by case with a focus on each person’s safety and well-being.   Ozaukee County encourages and supports contact and communication between biological parents and foster parents to work in partnership toward the best interests of the child.