Wisconsin
Success
Each day, Wisconsin foster
and adoptive workers use creative and successful techniques to recruit
and retain the unique families that serve children in foster care
and adoption. The Foster Care and Adoption Resource Center (FCARC)
“Wisconsin Success “highlights strategies implemented
by both urban and rural Wisconsin agencies that have been successful.
Please make use of these ideas or expand upon them to recruit or retain
foster and adopt families. If your agency has had successful strategies,
please share your ideas by contacting your area FCARC resource specialist:
We are happy to post
your ideas.
Planting
the Foster Care Seed in Washburn County
Retention Counts in Jackson County
Saturday Harbor Market Recruitment in Kenosha County
Planting
the Foster Care Seed in Washburn County
Lisa Cottrell, Foster Care Coordinator for Washburn County, found
success in recruiting foster families in her rural northwestern Wisconsin
county by writing letters to local churches. By providing several
examples of short announcements about the need for foster families,
the church staff chose the announcement for their bulletin and provided
this message to congregations for about one month. Lisa had 7 families
voice an interest in learning more about providing foster care! As
a follow-up, Lisa scheduled an informational meeting for those families.
As a result, she has met with two families who have followed through
with the licensing process. Lisa is pleased with this result, knowing
that the word has spread about the need for foster homes for children.
Retention
Counts in Jackson County
Coordinator for Jackson County, Karla Meyer, has found success in
retaining the families that are currently licensed in her rural Western
Wisconsin County. There are presently 17 licensed homes. Within the
last three years, she has increased the number of homes by over double!
Karla attributes part of this success by expressing appreciation and
support of these families from the agency and community. The Jackson
County Human Services Department sponsored a picnic and potluck for
families to acknowledge Foster Family Month during the month of May.
The agency director grilled the meal and also supplied the food. Social
work staff attended the event and socialized with the families.
One other method of retention
occurred when Karla organized a Foster Parent Appreciation Night.
The families were served a meal and they all received gift bags. Area
businesses donated items. Each foster family received a personalized
note written by social work staff to congratulate them and to acknowledge
their efforts and work with children.
Karla updates her current
foster families of the newly licensed families so that they can be
contacted and supported by the experienced families. She believes
this really makes them feel a "part of the team."
Saturday
Harbor Market Recruitment in Kenosha County
Nicole Riedel of Community Impact Programs in Kenosha
County has done some successful recruiting at the weekly Saturday
Harbor Market. The Harbor Market provides them with a free spot at
the market as a non-profit. A lot of people have approached them there
and have inquired about foster care. She hands out an average of 7
inquiry packets each Saturday. Of the 14 inquiry packets handed out,
she has received 4 completed applications which will most likely lead
to licensing.
Nicole plans to have information
at one more market in Kenosha, and borrowed the Resource Center Live
Deeper, Love Longer, Leave Bigger poster board to display at
her table. They also plan to have a booth at the Farmer’s Market
in Wilmot, a smaller city in their county, so that they can reach
those who live in the rural areas of the county as well.
