Nebraska Foster Care
Children from all backgrounds enter the Nebraska foster care system, many bearing the scars of trauma. Foster parents open their homes and hearts – helping children heal, trust, and hope again. Children in care range in age from birth to 21, mostly school-aged. Most enter foster care due to abuse or neglect, while others exhibit behavioral disorders. We strive to keep sibling groups together and in their home community. Whatever their story, each child in foster care in Nebraska needs a safe place to stay and a family to provide for their emotional, educational, medical, and special behavioral needs.
Is there room in your life to foster a child?
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Can I be a foster parent in Nebraska?
YES! By meeting the following requirements and making the decision to open up your heart and your home, you can bring hope to a child in Nebraska that needs you:
- Be 21 years of age or older
- Take 30 hours of pre-service training
- Pass criminal and child welfare clearance checks
- Have a source of income other than foster care reimbursement
- Own or rent a residence that meets all state requirements
- Be willing to work as part of a professional team
“The more love you have, the more love you have to give. It’s an inexhaustible thing. It never dries up.”
Joel Merssman
Saint Francis Foster Parent
Frequently Asked Questions
Foster care is a system designed to provide a temporary home and family for children who cannot live with their birth parents due to various reasons, such as abuse, neglect, or behavioral disorders. Children in foster care, ranging from birth to 21 years old, often come from diverse backgrounds and have experienced trauma. Foster parents play a crucial role in helping these children heal, trust, and hope again by providing a safe, nurturing, and supportive environment.
Foster care involves placing children in the temporary care of foster parents who provide daily support, nurturing, and stability. These parents work closely with birth parents and child welfare professionals to prepare children for a safe return to their family, when possible. If reunification is not viable, foster parents may assist with the transition to a relative’s care, adoption, or independent living for older youths. Foster care also includes support services like respite care, which offers foster parents short-term breaks, and therapeutic foster care for adolescents needing more specialized attention.
In Nebraska, foster parents come from various backgrounds and lifestyles. Key requirements include having the capacity to provide a safe and nurturing environment, meeting the child’s emotional, educational, medical, and behavioral needs, and working collaboratively with child welfare professionals. Prospective foster parents undergo a thorough assessment and training process. They don’t need to be wealthy, own a large home, or be married. What’s essential is having room in their heart and home to offer a child a safe space for healing and growth.
The number of children in foster care can vary and is subject to change over time. For the most current statistics on the number of children in foster care, it’s recommended to refer to the latest data provided by child welfare agencies or governmental organizations. These statistics help understand the scope of the foster care system and the ongoing need for compassionate and dedicated foster parents.
