Foster Care

To meet the needs of children in crisis, WCH depends on caring foster families (more recently known as Resource Families) in the community to provide assistance. The Foster Care Department trains, supervises, and supports these families who care for children who are best served by one or two primary caregivers.

Resource families serve an important role by giving personal attention and nurturing the needs of children while in a stable, family atmosphere. Their responsibilities include providing supervision, physical care, recreation, transportation and nutrition, while the professionals at the Home focus on ensuring the child's safety.

Experience the Rewards

Participating as a foster parent at WCH is a worthwhile and rewarding experience with positive benefits. Not only will you help children, additional benefits are:

• Regular guidance and support by a trained foster care worker
• Valuable child care training and support
• Access to child care assistance through the WCH Volunteer Program
• Financial reimbursement
• Mileage reimbursement
• On call Foster Care support staff 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
• Personal satisfaction of knowing you have touched a child's life forever

Types of Foster Care Homes

• Emergency Homes
• Long term Homes
• Specialized Long term Homes
• Both Emergency and Long term Homes
• Adoptive Homes

Share Your Warmth & Care

You may apply to become a foster parent by meeting these basic, initial requirements:

• Pass a Kansas Bureau Investigation and Child Abuse/Neglect background check
• Be an adult, single or married, over 21 years of age
• Own or rent a home
• Meet income guidelines to provide for additional child/children in your home
• Provide care and love in a safe and structured home
• Be emotionally capable of handling children that have been through trauma

If you are within these guidelines, you can begin the licensing process. Pre-licensure trainings are required and information on these trainings and a schedule for them will be provided upon approval of a Foster Care Questionnaire. These trainings will explain the foster care system and prepare you for the necessary care for the children in need that you may have in your home.

For more information please contact:
Foster Care Director
Erin Teeter
(316) 684-6581 ext 269 | eteeter@wch.org