Treatment Foster Care

Treatment Foster Care

What Is Treatment Foster Care?

Treatment foster care (TFC) is designed to meet the needs of children who require a higher level of foster care. It is tailored to meet the unique challenges of children with treatment needs that range from moderate to high. Foster parents are also supported at a higher level through specialized training, respite services, dedicated support teams, and peer support.

TFC is family-based care, provided in your home. The focus is on the treatment needs of the children. There is an emphasis on trauma-informed care and child well-being.

As a treatment foster parent, you are part of a professional team.

TFC licenses available:

  • Level 3 (Moderate treatment foster care)
  • Level 4 (Specialized treatment foster care)

 

Curious about what foster programs are available in your area?

Who Are the Foster Parents?

Treatment foster parents are from all walks of life — Single people, couples, young families, empty nesters, stay-at-home parents and those working inside or outside of the home. They are ordinary people who have made an extraordinary commitment to caring for kids and helping to make their community a better place.

Two common traits of foster parents:

  • Foster parents want to help kids. They are in it for the kids. Their focus is on the best interests of the children in their care.
  • Foster parents are adaptable. They can adjust to unexpected circumstances.

Interested in learning more?

Or download this form and apply today!

Foster parents provide day-to-day care and safety for children. They meet the child’s medical, educational, social and developmental needs. They make sure their well-being is provided for.

Foster parents are also expected to comply with agency requirements, meet licensing standards and share any important information about the child to the team and the courts.

  • Foster parenting also means working with the child’s family, the agency and, when appropriate, the child’s tribe.
  • Foster parents make sure the child’s treatment needs are met. They include the birth family in as much of the child’s life as possible.
  • As the child’s case develops, foster parents prepare the child to go home or to reach another permanent home, such as adoption or guardianship.

The children come from diverse backgrounds and range in age from birth to 18.

Children receiving treatment-level care could have a variety of needs ranging from moderate to significant. Some examples include:

  • Trauma histories such as abuse, neglect or witnessing domestic violence
  • Emotional and behavioral disorders
  • Moderate to complex medical needs
  • Developmental or cognitive delays

Most children attend daycare and school, participate in activities and therapies and still have connections and visits with their birth family. Keeping siblings placed together is a goal whenever possible.

 

  • Trust: Children’s Wisconsin is an organization with a clear mission and strong core values. We have established best practices and safety standards to ensure quality service for the health and well-being of children.
  • Support: You will not be alone in the fostering journey. Staff are available around the clock to support you.
  • Respite awarded: Treatment foster care homes earn a minimum of three respite nights per month. Those caring for youth 13+ earn five respite nights per month. It’s okay to take a break! You earned it.
  • Clinical resources: Expert consultation is available to foster parents needing additional support and/or who are caring for high-risk youth. Parent Child Interaction Therapy and the Child Counseling Center prioritize children in foster care.
  • No forced placements: We work with you to develop the best matches for your home. We will respect the age range that you prefer to foster.
  • Additional support: All foster children have a case manager, but the treatment program offers an additional staff member who will work closely with you on stability of placements and advocate for you and your foster child.
  • Teen incentive and support: Treatment foster parents caring for teens earn two extra respite nights per teen/per month. A financial reimbursement up to $100 per month/per family can be awarded for activities focused on relationship building between teens and parents. An adolescent specialist is automatically provided as support to families that foster teenagers.
  • In-house training: Statewide educators are on staff to support your pre-placement and ongoing training needs at no cost. Virtual training platforms allow you to remain at home. A training model, Attachment, Regulation and Competency (ARC), offers a parenting framework and skills to foster families. Participate in trauma-informed care (TIC) education for fostering children with trauma histories.
  • Foster Parent Mentoring Program: Experienced foster families are matched with new foster parents. Get support and guidance from another peer.
  • You must be at least 21 years of age.
  • You will need to agree to a series of background checks for all adults residing in the home.
  • You must possess sound judgment and positive parenting skills.
  • You can be single, partnered or married. If it is a two-parent household, both individuals must be on the foster home license — meeting all licensing and training requirements.
  • You will need stable and sufficient income to meet family/ household expenses without relying on the foster care stipend. You must be above the federal poverty guideline for size of household.
  • At least one applicant will need a high school diploma or GED. Or you must take a literacy test to verify that you are at or above an 8th grade reading level.
  • Provide verification of homeowner’s or renter’s insurance.
  • Provide verification of vehicle liability insurance (if you own an automobile).
  • Complete health examination for all members of the household.
  • Four favorable references — three nonrelatives and one adult relative.
  • Employment verification/ reference.
  • Physical environment of the home must meet licensing requirements.
  • Complete interview process.
  • Complete Nurturing Connections training (formerly Foundations Training) prior to licensure.
  • You will need more than a one-bedroom house/apartment.
  • You cannot have a daycare in your home.

For a Level 3 license (moderate treatment foster care), at least one applicant in the house must have at least three of the following. For a Level 4 license (specialized treatment foster care), at least one applicant in the house must meet at least four of the following:

  • At least one year working as a foster parent or kinship care provider with a child in their home for at least one year.
  • At least five years working with or parenting children.
  • At least 500 hours working as a respite care provider for children under the supervision of a human services agency.
  • A high school diploma or the equivalent.
  • A college, vocational, technical or advanced degree in the child’s treatment needs, such as nursing, medicine, social work or psychology.
  • A strong relationship with the child through previous professional or personal experience.
  • Work or personal experience that shows you have the knowledge, skill, ability and motivation to meet the needs of a child in treatment foster care.

Want to learn more about fostering teens?

Curious about what foster programs are available in your area?