All humans share the desire to belong, to be a part of a family, and to have a place to call home. Every child deserves these things; yet, many children in the foster care system don’t have them. Tragically, thousands of kids are born into a cruel world and do not have a safe, familiar place to sleep at night or know where their next meal will come from.

The number of children needing foster care has grown far faster than the number of families willing to take them in. In 2016 alone, Anu Family Services received 1,087 referrals in Wisconsin for children in need of foster care. However, due to the epidemic shortage of foster homes, Anu was only able to place 44 of them. 

Becoming a healing foster parent is a journey that can help re-write the script of a child’s life. There are many vulnerable children who can’t live with their birth family for a variety of reasons and are in need of a foster family. Becoming a foster parent takes true commitment but is a very rewarding experience. Ashley Hansen, Anu Foster Care Specialist, asks her foster parents to “keep your eyes, ears, and hearts open to notice the small meaningful signs of healing.”

Fostering a child can be a difficult and emotional journey, but with the right support and resources, it is well worth it. “My foster son moved into our shared home in late April of last year,” said Julie Carver, an Anu foster parent. “He changed the script of who I thought I’d be as a healing parent and what I imagined the journey would be like. The work of fostering a child can’t be underestimated. Yet, the gifts I have received as a foster parent, are far greater than the gifts I gave while loving this beautiful child.”

If you are interested in fostering, please call (877) 287-2441 ext. 7 or visit anufs.org.