The Manitowoc County Foster Care program is in major need of foster parents.
Manitowoc County Foster Care Coordinator Karen Zahn says they currently have around 150 children who are in out-of-home care situations, ranging from children in foster homes to children who have been placed with other family members.
Zahn noted that while the foster parents they have are “wonderful”, they do not have any more room. And that is just one of the issues they are facing.
“The childcare challenge is also a big problem for us right now because many of our foster parents work and because they work and they need childcare,” she explained. “So when we’re looking for a placement, if no childcare is available, likely that provider is not going to be able to say yes.”
The foster care system is a state program as well, with the licenses being distributed by the state, but those licenses are held by Manitowoc County.
“We do all the licensing prep work for them to get them licensed, provide the trainings, provide ongoing support retention activities,” Zahn noted. “Our unit is also responsible for all the recruitment of new foster parents.”
As a part of that recruitment, Manitowoc County Foster Care holds informational sessions on a regular basis to answer any questions potential foster parents may have.
Zahn said that one of the most common questions relates to how long the child will be in their care, which she said is a tough one to answer.
“Kids could be in home for a day or kids could be in a home for months or longer,” she explained. “It just really depends on the individual situation and what the parents need to do in order to meet their conditions to get their kids back.”
Christy Torrison and Karen Zahn
Zahn did specify that foster care is intended to be temporary, with a goal of reuniting the child with their parents.
Christy Torrison, the Supervisor of the Children and Families Unit, added, “Foster parents are encouraged to work closely with parents to have family interaction while the parents are working on other conditions of return, whether it’s mental health concerns, stable housing. There are times that it could come to a termination, parental rights, but then the case is transferred to the state for adoptions.”
With the Ethan Hauschultz case back in the spotlight, Zahn explained the vetting process for foster families and how it is designed to help keep another situation like that from happening again.
“We go through lengthy background checks, including Adam Walsh fingerprinting,” she said. “In addition to that, foster parents go through a number of interviews. They go through training, they have health assessments, their homes are checked for safety. Like there are a number of requirements that foster parents need to go through in order to get licensed.”
At the end of the day, Zahn said its all about making sure these children who are stuck in a bad situation have the best opportunity to grow into the best possible version of themselves they can be.
She put it bluntly, “Every child needs at least one person, if not more, that believes in them, that believes that they can succeed and that they have a future ahead.”
Those who would like to learn more about the foster care system are encouraged to visit ManitowocCountyWI.gov.
