Anu Family Services

03/02/2026

March is Social Work Appreciation Month, and we want to recognize the dedicated professionals at Anu Family Services and our partner agencies.

Every day, you show up for individuals, children, and families with skill, compassion, and determination. Your work changes lives. It strengthens families, supports healing, and builds brighter futures.

We are sincerely thankful for your commitment and the difference you make in our communities.

03/02/2026

Myth: You need years of parenting experience to be a treatment foster parent.
Truth: Many successful treatment foster parents started with zero experience. Training, mentoring, and 24/7 support help you grow into the role.

🌱 Experience comes with support.

👉🏻Learn more about fostering with Anu at: https://www.anufs.org/become-foster-parent/

03/01/2026

Our work wouldn’t be possible without foster parents like Kristy. Today, we’re honored to highlight someone whose kindness and commitment truly inspire us.

Kristy has been a dedicated foster parent with Anu Family Services since 2023, opening her home and heart to teen boys—youth who are often the hardest to find placements for. Kristy excels at building and maintaining strong connections with biological families, ensuring youth remain connected to their parents, siblings, grandparents, and even previous placements whenever possible. Kristy understands that fostering isn’t just about providing a home—it’s about preserving relationships, building trust, and showing up, again and again.

We asked Kristy one question: “What is your favorite part about fostering?”

Here is what she had to say: “When asked what my favorite thing about foster care is, I had a hard time coming up with one. Being a foster parent is the hardest thing I have ever done and also the most rewarding. I knew going into it that being a single parent of teen boys would be difficult. Taking on teens who have not felt safe or loved was going to be a challenge in itself, which leads me to the answer to my favorite thing about fostering. My boys, whether they are in my home anymore or not, know that I am their security. They know that they can call me anytime to talk. My boys have told me that my house is the first time they have felt safe and loved. The hard exterior of my boys will crack, and I will see the soft heart of the little boys who were hurt so long ago. Getting to that place with teen boys takes a lot of time and sarcasm, and it is the best part about fostering. Knowing that my boys have felt safety, security, and love for the first time in their lives, and that healing is taking place, is my absolute favorite thing.”

Thank you, Kristy, for providing a safe and loving home that allows youth to heal and feel safety and security.

02/23/2026

Myth: You have to be a therapist or social worker to be a treatment foster parent.
Truth: You need a caring heart, patience, and a willingness to learn. We provide training, ongoing support, and a professional team to guide you every step of the way.

💙 You’re never doing this alone.

👉 Curious if you’d be a good fit? Message us to learn more or visit https://www.anufs.org/become-foster-parent/

02/16/2026

Myth: Children in treatment foster care are “too hard” to care for.
Truth: Children placed in foster care are dealing with trauma—not because they are bad, but because they’ve been hurt. With structure, consistency, and support, they can thrive.

✨ Healing happens in safe, loving homes.

Want to learn more how you can provide a safe, loving home? Visit https://www.anufs.org/become-foster-parent/

02/14/2026

💖 Happy Valentine’s Day! 💖

Today we’re celebrating the many ways love shows up in the lives of children—through safety, stability, patience, and care.

Every child deserves to feel valued, supported, and surrounded by people who believe in them. To our foster parents, staff, partners, and advocates: thank you for the love you share every day in ways both big and small.

Together, we’re helping hearts heal and futures grow. 💕

02/10/2026

Congratulations to our very own, Hilary McElroy, who has been named to the Wisconsin Youth Company's Board of Directors.

Hilary has been with Anu since 2013 and is a compassionate advocate for children and families. We are incredibly lucky to have Hilary as part of our Staff Leadership Team.

Please join us in welcoming Kerri Fabin, Nicole Brey, and Hilary McElroy to our board of directors.

Kerri is the director of operations at Husky Homes, Compass Real Estate. She spent 14 years as a vice president in the manufacturing industry and founded a STEM-focused youth enrichment business for school age children before moving to Madison in 2019. She is excited for this new opportunity to guide success and exceptional experiences at Wisconsin Youth Company.

Nicole is a senior enterprise strategy manager at CapSpecialty with a focus on Information Technology and Information Security. She enjoys being involved within the community and volunteering with different organizations. She strongly supports Wisconsin Youth Company's missions and values, and is ecstatic about joining the board.

Hilary is the director of community programs at Anu Family Services and the proud parent of a Theresa Terrace and Elver Park Neighborhood Center alum. She is passionate about Wisconsin Youth Company's mission and the communities it serves and is excited for the opportunity to serve on the board.

02/09/2026

Myth: "Same-sex couples cannot be foster parents."
Truth: Loving, committed couples and single individuals of all orientations are welcome and needed.

Same-sex couples are eligible to foster and adopt. What matters is your ability to provide safety, stability, and care.

If you have a supportive home and a commitment to a child’s well-being, you can foster.

👉🏻Learn more about fostering with Anu at: https://www.anufs.org/become-foster-parent/

02/05/2026

Love doesn’t erase trauma, but it makes healing possible.
At Anu Family Services, healing begins with safety, consistency, and care.

02/04/2026

Love working with children and families? Want a job that actually means something? We’re hiring compassionate humans who believe in hope, growth, and second chances.

Come be part of a team where kindness counts, teamwork matters, and every day brings the chance to make a difference.

✨ Purpose-driven work
✨ Supportive team
✨ Real impact

📩 Apply today and help us change lives—one family at a time.

02/02/2026

Myth: “You have to be married to foster.”
Truth: Single adults can foster too.

Families come in all shapes and sizes—and so do foster parents.
What matters most is your commitment to a child’s well-being.

👉 Learn more today: https://www.anufs.org/become-foster-parent/

02/01/2026

🌟February Spotlight🌟

We're shining a spotlight on the everyday heroes who open their homes and hearts to children in need.

This month, we would like to recognize Malissa and Randy.

Malissa and Randy began their foster care journey in 2013 and have since opened their home to dozens of children. Known for their deep compassion and genuine commitment, they work tirelessly to ensure every child who enters their home feels safe, valued, and supported. Along the way, they have also grown their family through the adoption of three beautiful children.

Today, Malissa and Randy continue to foster with the same dedication and heart that first inspired them more than a decade ago. They advocate for the needs of children in care, partner closely with social workers and biological families, and encourage others to consider getting involved.

If you are interested in fostering, supporting foster families, or learning more about the foster care process, Malissa and Randy’s story is a wonderful reminder that one family truly can make a profound difference. Their journey shows that with love, patience, and community, every child can be given the chance to thrive.

On behalf of our team and the children whose lives you have touched, we want to extend our heartfelt gratitude to Malissa and Randy for their unwavering dedication to fostering. Your kindness, patience, and willingness to step in during moments when children need it most are nothing short of inspiring.