BEAVER DAM — Family Works is seeking more foster parents and respite providers to help care for children across Wisconsin.
The private treatment foster care agency works with children from birth through age 21, with the greatest need involving children ages 10 to 17 and sibling groups.
Family Works Executive Director Rachel Karow said the agency receives more than 900 referrals each year but has about 45 licensed foster families.
“The need is very great, and that’s actually why we’re here today,” Karow said.
Social worker Kimberly Braun said many children placed in treatment foster care have experienced trauma and may face social, emotional, behavioral, medical or mental health challenges.
“At the end of the day, what these kids need is a supportive, safe, nurturing foster home,” Braun said.
Family Works encourages foster parents to keep siblings together whenever it can be done safely.
“The research tells us that one of the strongest bonds that a person can have in their life is the sibling bond,” Braun said.
Karow and Braun said foster parents do not need to be married, have children, live in a large home or be perfect parents. They said the agency is looking for people who are p...