GREEN BAY, Wis. — Leaders with Foundations Health and Wholeness said there are many children in our area and throughout Wisconsin in need of loving and caring homes.
Foundations Health and Wholeness is a non-profit proving mental health care and foster care programs.
Collin Drews is the foster care recruitment manager for Foundations. He said nearly 8 thousand children are in foster care or in need of a foster home in Wisconsin.
Rachel McCain has been a foster parent for a little over a year, and during that time has supported two teenage girls.
"I really feel like I had the call in my life to be a foster parent before that, but I was in a place that I didn't think that I could," said McCain.
She said she was single and wasn''t sure she had the support she needed, but then, she stumbled upon Foundations.
"I knew it was a fit right away."
McCain added that although her first placement was a challenge, she knew she wanted to care for foster children.
"Day to day you don't always see rewards, so it can be discovering, but every human is created with desire to make a difference and to have an impact, and with this, you know you're having an impact, even if you might not see it," said McCain.
McCain, along with fostering, also works a full time job.
"We're willing to do what we have to do to help, again, support our foster parents, support our children, because at the end of the day, we know what a big responsibility they have and what challenges they sometimes have," said Drews.
He said Foundations gets 20 to 30 referrals a week of kids in need of a home.
They have offices in Green Bay, Appleton, Sheboygan, and Brookfield.
"There could be neglect, abuse going on in the home, there could be mom and dad could be incarcerated. There could be alcohol and drugs going on in the home," said Drews.
As for McCain, she's now married and excited to welcome her own child into their home in September while continuing to take in children when they need a safe and loving home.
"It's fun. It's challenging, but it also stretches us as people to be better and to be mentors and role models for these kids who really need it," said McCain.
If you're interested in becoming a foster parent or want more information on Foundations, click here.
