Foster Care

Foster Care is 24-hour care provided by licensed foster parents for children who cannot live with their parents because they are unsafe, have special care or treatment needs, or other circumstances exist that result in their parents or family being unable to care for them.

Generally, placement in foster care is temporary and intended to give the child's family time to make necessary changes so that the child can live safely in his or her home and community. Most children in foster care return home to their families. When children cannot return home, they find permanence through placement with relatives, adoption by the foster family, or other means.

Foster parents provide a temporary home for children until they can be safely reunited with biological family or reach another form of permanency, such as adoption or guardianship.

Respite Care

Respite Care is a temporary, short-term service that provides relief to primary caregivers who are responsible for the ongoing care of a loved one with a chronic illness or disability. It allows caregivers to take a break, or attend to other obligations while their loved one receives professional care. The duration of respite care can vary depending on the individual's needs.

Kinship Care 

Kinship Care is a program designed to help support a child who resides outside of his or her own home, either temporarily or long term, with a relative.

Kinship Care supports the concept of children residing with a relative to alleviate family stress or temporary familial problems, rather than being placed in a foster home or other type of out-of-home placement.

Apply for Kinship Care

Kinship Care Payment Application Form

Background Information Disclosure Fillable Form
(One for each adult in the household)

Other Information

Invoice: Kinship Care Services

Chippewa County DHS has an urgent need for foster care and respite care providers. If you are interested, please contact us at 715-726-7788.

Foster Care Flyer

Additional Resources