Georgia Leaphart, Local Teen Reporter
Behind every foster care statistic lies a child impacted by the work of foster families and social workers. They are the ones supporting youths and their families in our own neighborhoods to guide a foster youths’ future. In Outagamie, Calumet, and Winnebago counties, there were 304 children in out-of-home care in 2023. 267 of these children were in foster care. “Being a part of seeing them become resilient from their experiences and supporting them through that…[is] some of the most rewarding work out there,” says Molly McGregor, Foster Care Recruitment Specialist for Children’s Wisconsin. But challenges exist for social workers facing underfunding, especially in offering proactive support.
Yet, there is still a need for foster parents, and McGregor tells us “that there’s many different opportunities for that,” including short-term commitments, and options that allow you to care for children of different ages. If fostering is not an option, providing support to foster families allows them a greater ability to navigate hosting a child in their home.
What you can do today is donate secondhand clothes and toys to Robyn’s Nest, a foster care closet. For people looking for a long-term advocacy role, CASA of the Fox Cities trains you to protect the child’s best interests while in foster care. Furthermore, you can provide proactive support by volunteering with Safe Families for Kids, helping to support a vulnerable family before foster care is needed.
85% of Child Protective Service investigations involve families 200% below the federal poverty level, according to the Policy Circle, suggesting that the greatest driver of child maltreatment is neglect based on missing resources. However, understand that your help, whether it’s anywhere from Fox Valley Literacy to Feeding America, contributes to a shared effort in creating a more caring and connected community.
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