For Immediate Release

Feb. 24, 2011
Contact: Bev Carlson
Director of Public Relations
Lutheran Family Services of Nebraska
bcarlson@LFSneb.org or (402) 978.5646, cell (402) 639.0957

News Notes

Foster Care Reimbursement:

In response to the ongoing concerns about foster care family reimbursement, Lutheran Family Services of Nebraska will, at its own expense, increase the daily rate paid to its foster parents. Starting March 1, 2011 the traditional rate for LFS parents will increase to $15/day. The rates for Emergency, Continuity, and Agency-based levels will remain the same.

All other support will continue, including 24 hour on-call availability, case management, direct support, and respite care.

Foster Care Adoption – Fandango℠:

Over 900 Nebraska children are currently in foster care and available for adoption. While they wait for a permanent family, these children are moved from foster home to foster home, hoping that some day someone will care enough to love them and give them some permanency.

Fandango℠ is a fundraiser created on behalf of these children. On Friday, February 25, a live/silent auction and dinner at Champions Run in Omaha will raise awareness and funding to find homes for foster children. Attendees will hear, via video, some of these children tell their own stories of their heart’s desire for a permanent family.

Early Childhood Therapies/Child Sexual Abuse:

Council Bluffs
Lutheran Family Services will receive a $60,000 grant from Promise Partners for expanded early childhood mental health therapies in Council Bluffs.

In addition to an expansion of the current specialized therapies offered at the Pottawattamie County Center for Healthy Families, the grant now allows the addition of the RSafe^® (Reparation and Safety) Program. RSafe^® treats child victims of sexual abuse, children with sexual behavior problems and families of those affected by child sexual abuse.

Lincoln

In Lincoln, Lutheran Family Services of Nebraska is now offering two important early childhood specialized therapies.

PCIT (Parent/Child Interaction Therapy)
CPP (Child/Parent Psychotherapy)

During PCIT, parents learn play therapy skills to enhance their parent-child relationship.  Parents also learn to manage their child’s behaviors through behavioral principles and discipline techniques. More information at www.pcit.org

CPP is used with children ages birth to 6 who have experienced interpersonal violence or trauma.

Both of these therapies have been used successfully at other locations (including Council Bluffs) as part of LFS’ ongoing commitment to early intervention and prevention programming.  The Lincoln office is already taking referrals.

Lutheran Family Services is a community-based organization which impacts over 35,000 individuals annually, from 31 offices in 18 cities in the areas of behavioral health, children services and community services.