Foster Care, Kinship Care, and Adoption: Siblings and Relatives

Foster Care
If you are 18 years of age or over, you may apply to become a foster parent for your brothers, sisters, stepbrothers, stepsisters, first cousins, nieces, and nephews if they are in or may be placed in foster care. Until you turn 21, you can only become a foster parent for the relatives listed above. To become a foster parent, you must have a stable income and have your own place, among other requirements.

Learn about these requirements by going to http://dcf.wisconsin.gov/children/foster/index.htm, http://www.legis.state.wi.us/rsb/code/dcf/dcf056.pdf, or by calling or e-mailing the Wisconsin Department of Children and Families (DCF) at 1-608-264-6933 or dcfweb @ wisconsin.gov.

Kinship Care
Even if your younger relatives are not in foster care, you may be able to receive Kinship Care payments of $215 per month if you are caring for these family members. To receive these payments, you must be at least 18 years old, and a kinship care assessor must find that the child would be in need of protective services if he or she were to remain with the parent(s), among other requirements.

To find a kinship care coordinator, access forms, and view additional requirements, click here or call the DCF Kinship Care program at 414-220-7035 (for Milwaukee) or 1-608-266-2464 (for other counties).

Adoption
You might be able to adopt your siblings or relatives, but the requirements for adoptive parents are different than the requirements for foster parents. For instance, the biological parents’ rights must be terminated by a court before you can adopt your younger siblings or relatives. You can call DCF’s adoption assistance line at 1-866-666-5532 for help if you are considering adopting your relatives.

 

 

 

 

 

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