GREEN BAY, Wis., (WFRV)- Northeast Wisconsin’s need for foster parents is growing.
Foundations Health and Wholeness is a private company that helps train and connect foster parents with children and each week they are getting calls for more children needing stable homes.
“The need is so critical, we get thirty to forty referrals a week of kids that are in need of out of home placement,” said Jory Gennett, Region director for Foundations Health and Wholeness said.
Many children are unable to be locally placed because of the lack of licensed foster homes in the area.
“Out of our Green Bay office we have about 35-40 foster homes. Many times we are unable to place those kids because we don’t have the capacity for the need in the community,” said Gennett.
Gennett and his team said 60% of those who need homes are teenagers.
“I think once they are placed in a home and they are given that daily structure and routine. Sure there are bumps in the roads with the placement, but oftentimes our foster kids just thrive once they are in that stable loving environment.” said Chris Kirsch, case manager for foster families.
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Jess Leniar has been a foster parent for twelve years, she said she does it because every child deserves a roof over their heads.
“They are just kids, they are kids who need people to love them and support them and be there for them,” Liniar said.
The process to become licensed takes around one hundred days and Gennett said by starting now children can potentially be placed in a home for the holidays.
“Getting licensed by Christmas, because it’s October right now, that we can get homes licensed before Christmas and potentially get some kiddos in their care for the holidays,” said Gennett.
If you or someone you know are interested in becoming a foster parent though Foundations Health and Wholeness, click here.
