There are many organizations, websites, and resources that support foster, kinship, and adoptive parents. On this page, you will find some suggested websites, support groups, and downloadable resources that you may find helpful. Please feel free to contact us at 800-762-8063 with questions or other support group informational needs.
Conference Information & Handouts
The annual Healing Centered Families Conference is a conference that supports all families touched by the child welfare system, focusing on healing and support for all family members.
- The 2025 conference will be held on Saturday, November 15, 2025, at the Chula Vista Resort in the Wisconsin Dells. More information will be posted when it becomes available.
- Information from the 2024 Conference is available here.
Resource Downloads
- Camp Information: Review an overview of summer camp and program options in Wisconsin, specifically designed for children and families involved in the foster care, adoption, and child welfare systems.
- Family Support Groups & Support Associations: This comprehensive directory of family support groups and associations in Wisconsin is organized by both statewide and regional options, as well as online resources.
- Ongoing Support Group Flyers: This webpage provides information about various ongoing support groups available to families affected by foster care, kinship care, and adoption.
- Respite Care Providers: Find information about respite care providers in Wisconsin, focusing on organizations that offer temporary care and crisis support for children and youth.
- Wisconsin Waiver Services: An overview of Wisconsin’s waiver services, specifically available to children post-adoption who have disabilities or special needs.
Searching for Birth Relatives
Children and adults who were adopted sometimes wonder about their birth family and their own history. It can be a life-changing decision to search for pieces of information or even meet members of your birth family. If you’re thinking about searching for your birth family, please visit the Wisconsin Department of Children & Families web page about the Adoption Records Search Program.
You might also be interested in our tip sheet, To Search or Not to Search. Making the decision to initiate a search is often a critical turning point in the life of an adopted person. There are many possible outcomes when you decide to search. The decision to search is a personal decision that requires a great deal of thought, questions, and personal reflection. This tip sheet highlights key questions for your consideration.
Support Organizations
The Child Welfare League of America is the nation’s oldest and largest membership-based child welfare organization. The Child Welfare League is committed to engaging people everywhere in promoting the well-being of children, youth, and their families and protecting every child from harm.
Families Rising amplifies the voices of those with lived experience, assists adoptive, foster, and kinship parents, educates child welfare professionals, and champions the well-being of children and families.
The National Foster Parent Association is a respected national voice for foster, kinship, and adoptive parents. They provide networking, education, and advocacy.
The Wisconsin Foster and Adoptive Parents Association is a peer-driven organization that strongly believes in the power of families to positively impact children’s lives. Their goal is to increase the information, resources, training, and support available to families who foster or adopt in Wisconsin. They offer training and support services designed to help these families thrive, ensuring the best possible care for the children they welcome into their homes.
Websites with More Information & Resources
Child Welfare Information Gateway is your connection to trusted resources on the child welfare continuum. They provide publications, research, and learning tools selected by experts to support thriving children, youth, families, and communities.
Connect for Kids (AKA Spark Action) makes the best use of communications technologies, specifically the Internet, to give adults (parents, grandparents, guardians, educators, advocates, policymakers, elected officials, and others) the tools and information they need to improve the lives of youth and families. The Connect for Kids online publication covers more than 30 topics, ranging from arts to youth development, foster care to adoption, and welfare reform.
Dr. John DeGarmo’s website offers a wealth of information, training opportunities, and additional resources, all focused on foster care.
Kindering Center is committed to creating and providing superior, individualized, family-centered services for children who are disabled, medically fragile, or vulnerable because of abuse or neglect to develop maximum potential, hope, and community understanding.
The Strategic Sharing Booklet from Casey.org is a valuable resource for individuals involved in foster care. You may have opportunities to share your life story with others, educating and influencing them. Whether you are a person in or from foster care, a care provider, a professional, or an interested community member, you’ve lived a story of your own.
Sign Up for Our Email Newsletter
Whether you’re a professional seeking support in your work, a caregiver searching for helpful resources for yourself, a family member looking for information to assist your loved ones, or anyone in between, this quarterly e-newsletter is for you.
Read Past Editions by Clicking on the Links Below
Find Hope & Inspiration
Real parents.
Real families.
Real moments of vulnerability, courage, and insight.
We hope the stories you hear in the “No Matter What Families” videos remind you that you are not alone on your journey through adoption, foster care, or kinship caregiving, and inspire you to reach out and make connections when you need support.
