05/10/2019- One Marinette woman who’s been “Mom” to nearly two dozen kids says she has a lot to be thankful for this Mothers’ Day. Karie Anderson and her husband have served as foster parents for Marinette County for the past six years. They adopted after discovering they wouldn’t be able to have children of their own, but Anderson says she felt called to open their doors to even more kids in need of a safe place to come home to.
Anderson has fostered children for as little as five hours to as long as five years. She says every case is different and while being a foster mom isn’t always easy, it’s always worth it.
May is National Foster Care Month and Marinette County currently has 56 children in foster or other out-of-home care. This number has increased steadily in the past several years, due largely to substance abuse and mental health issues that have led to situations of abuse and neglect or a parents’ inability to provide safe care for their children. There is an ongoing need to license additional foster homes locally for children of all ages, and a particular need for additional resources for sibling groups. For more information about becoming a licensed foster home call Marinette County’s Foster Care Coordinator at 715-732-7799.