Urgent need for Sublette County foster homes
A call for compassion and community support
by Wyoming Department of Family Services
May 1, 2025
PINEDALE, WY - Across the nation, thousands of children are waiting for safe, loving homes. Every day, children in foster care face uncertainty, hardship, and trauma due to circumstances beyond their control. As these young lives hang in the balance, the need for foster homes has never been greater. On any given day in Wyoming, there are 1000 children in foster care with Sublette County consistently contributing to that number. Right now, Sublette County is witnessing an extreme shortage of available foster homes.
"Every child deserves to grow up in a stable and nurturing environment," said Kelsi Rammell, Foster Care Coordinator for Sublette County. "Unfortunately, we are facing a critical shortage of foster homes, which makes it harder for children to find the care and stability they need. This is a community-wide challenge, and it will take all of us working together to make a real difference. We have three foster families in Sublette County and not one of them is available to take foster children. Our focus is to support children and families and keeping them in their own community and maintaining their own support in that community is crucial. If we don't have foster homes here and law enforcement says the child can't stay safely in their home, it could mean that those children have to be placed in a foster home in a surrounding town, hours away from home. No one wants that."
The need for foster parents is particularly urgent for young children and those who are older, also sibling groups, or those with special needs, as these children often face the greatest challenges in finding placement.
Why Foster Care Matters:
Foster care provides a safe environment for children who have been removed from their homes due to abuse, neglect, or family crisis.
Children in foster care are given the opportunity to heal, grow, and reach their full potential.
Foster homes offer children stability, emotional support, and a chance to build positive relationships with caring adults until they can return home safely.
How You Can Help: Becoming a foster parent is a life-changing decision, but it is also one of the most rewarding and impactful ways to change a child's life. Those interested in fostering can expect support through training, resources, and guidance to ensure they are prepared for the challenges and joys of fostering.
Wyoming DFS is offering an informational session in Pinedale at the library on May 8th, from 6-7pm. Anyone in attendance can expect to hear from foster parents and caseworkers to bust myths around foster care and explain all the ways to support foster care including becoming a foster parent and additional ways to support foster children and families without becoming a foster parent, such as volunteering, donating, or becoming a mentor.
"We believe that with the right support and resources, every foster child can thrive," said Kelsi. "But we need more compassionate individuals and families to step forward. By opening your heart and your home, you can provide a child with the hope and stability they need to succeed."
For more information: To learn more about becoming a foster parent or how you can support foster children, please contact Kelsi at 307-699-4097 or email kelsi.rammell@wyo.gov or visit dfs.wyo.gov/fostercare.
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