Working in law enforcement, Mike Wizner and Jody Johnson have seen kids in crisis. That is why the husband and wife have been foster parents to 25 children since 2001.
“When we first got involved, my sister and her husband adopted two siblings,” Johnson said. “We thought there was such a need. We have love, stability and a safe place.”
When their daughter, Jessica Heling, turned 16, Johnson wasn’t ready to stop nurturing. Now with three children of her own, Heling helps out by babysitting.
“She helps me immensely,” said Johnson. “We’re blessed with friends and family who are close.”
With four boys — Jessie, 18, who has been with them since 2002, Aidan, 14, Jordan, 7, and D, 4 — two cats and a dog, they have a busy household.
“All of my kids are unique and they have different strengths and weaknesses,” said Johnson, a Shawano police officer assigned to the Shawano School District as the resource officer.
Her husband is a sergeant for the Shawano County Sheriff’s Department.
“I couldn’t do it without him and we couldn’t do it without each other,” Johnson said. “We’ve always lived a life of service.”
Johnson works days and Wizner works nights so that one of them is always at home. Wizner takes the kids to Scouts and coaches them in sports.
“It’s giving the kids a chance to participate in sports and extracurricular activities,” Wizner said.
Johnson said patience, consistency and nurturing are valuable traits for a foster parent.
“Each of the kids has come with different challenges, and you adjust to their needs,” Johnson said. “Shawano County needs foster parents. It’s a commitment and a lifestyle change to be what they need. The hard part is that you form relationships with the kids and then they go home. They take a piece of your heart.”
Vicki Heling, children and families service unit supervisor for Shawano County, said there is a desperate need for foster parents.
“Being a foster parent gives you the opportunity to make a difference in the lives of vulnerable children and adolescents,“ she said. “Foster parenting can be a very rewarding and gratifying job.”
Foster parents are especially needed for older children, Heling said. While some of the children may be troubled, most of them just need to get out of an unsafe situation.
“I think if people can give back in some way, they should give it a try,” Johnson said. “If we can do it, other people can do it.”
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