If you’re a foster parent or kinship caregiver in Wisconsin who has experienced caseworker turnover, this free handout offers practical guidance for navigating these transitions. High turnover in child welfare is common across Wisconsin and nationwide, but that doesn’t make it less challenging for families caring for children in out-of-home placement.

This two-page resource acknowledges the real impact of caseworker changes, including the stress of starting over with new workers, delays in decision-making, confusion from different approaches, and difficulty accessing needed services. More importantly, it provides concrete strategies that foster parents and kinship caregivers can use to create stability despite system turnover.

The handout covers three key areas: building productive relationships with new caseworkers (including the importance of documentation and clear communication), strengthening your own support network through connections with other foster and kinship families, and understanding how your voice can contribute to system improvement. The resource emphasizes that caseworker turnover is a system issue, not a reflection on your family, while validating the commitment you show every day to the children in your care.

This handout is especially valuable for families throughout Wisconsin who are working with county child welfare agencies, tribal child welfare programs, or private child-placing agencies. It’s also helpful for new foster parents and kinship caregivers who want to understand what to expect as they navigate the child welfare system.

Download the free PDF

Author: Wisconsin Family Connections Center
Additional Author: Coalition for Children, Youth & Families