Every year, hundreds of youth in Nebraska are removed from their families because of neglect and abuse. While these families heal, their children need a safe, loving, home-like atmosphere with minimal judgment and abundant patience.
Team Members
Foster parents have the most direct contact with the child and are central to the planning team which also includes:
- LFS foster care staff
- A Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services case manager
- Biological parents
- Teachers, therapists, counselors and other professionals involved with the family
The team works together in the child’s best interests:
- If needed, a therapist provides the foster child´s treatment
- The foster parent initiates visits with the child’s biological family, ensures visits occur and may assist with supervising desired behavior changes
- Foster parents may mentor the biological parents
- The biological parents and child reunite after meeting certain criteria. If this is not possible, a guardian or someone willing to adopt a foster child is identified
Why Provide Foster Care with us
- The ratio between LFS foster care specialists and foster parents ensures each foster family receives the time, attention and support they need for successful placements.
- LFS foster care is directed and supervised by staff who have been foster parents themselves and understand the challenges and rewards of caring for foster children.
- LFS believes foster children should know their belongings are valued; every child entering an LFS foster home is given a suitcase for their belongings.
- Foster families and foster children are provided with care packages at the beginning of a placement and through out the year. These packages often include clothing, toys, household cleaners, toothpaste, shampoo, soaps, laundry detergent, dish washing detergent and other items.
- LFS offers holiday gift assistance.
- Foster families receive 24 days of paid respite per year. When possible, LFS helps locate and arrange the respite. If a foster parent experiences a unique situation and needs additional respite, temporary additional respite may be possible on a case-by-case basis.
- All foster parents qualify for the Employee Assistance Program which provides access to short-term counseling for stress, relationships, parenting, job concerns, grief, depression, emotional difficulties and financial stress.
- Foster parents have access to more than 15 training courses on many topics including parenting, attachment and cultural issues.
- Ongoing on-line training so foster parents can earn their required yearly CEU at convenient times in their own home.
- Foster parents are notified of community discounts and family centered activities.
To learn more about providing foster care in Nebraska, contact us at fostercare@lfsneb.org or call (800) 267-9876.
