Becoming a foster parent is a life-changing experience. Foster parenting involves providing a selfless kind of love and support to children in need of a secure and stable home. Foster parents are special people who choose to provide love and security for children who are often hurting.

The Foster Care program at Nebraska Children’s Home Society provides temporary foster care for young children – from newborn to early elementary school – who are placed into our care by other agencies, the court, or voluntarily by the child’s parents. Our Foster Care Program is only available for families in Omaha and the surrounding area.

Although our program allows for the care of children in crisis as a result of abuse or neglect, we also provide foster care for medically fragile children. Our definition of these children with special needs covers a broad spectrum from exposure to drugs or alcohol to those who have received organ transplants.

Looking for Foster Parents
Due to the number of drug exposed newborns coming into foster care, we are in need of stay-at-home parent families or other families who have the necessary resources to care for a newborn until they are at least 6 weeks old, which is the age they must be before attending daycare.

When children are placed into our care, every effort is made to assist the referral agency with the eventual return of a child to his or her home. Reunifying children with their birth families is typically the primary goal of foster care. If the problems cannot be resolved through temporary foster care placement, other permanent options for the child’s future will be explored.

Networking and Support
Nebraska Children’s Home Society makes networking and creation of a support system a unique focus of our Foster Care program.
Our networking opportunities for foster families include:

• Monthly coffees
• Respite care
• Summer activities
• Mentoring
• Holiday parties

Nebraska Children’s Home works hard to provide foster parents with the training and support they need to be the best foster parents they can possibly be.
The support we provide includes:

• Monthly visits and contact
• Education & information sessions
• Liaison between family and referral agency
• Resources for meeting the child’s needs
• Licensing and home study process

At Nebraska Children’s Home Society, we supply foster parents with the resources and support they need to provide a typical, enjoyable childhood experience for the children in their care. We are creating safe, loving environments for children through our Foster Care program.

Questions to Ask Yourself
Becoming a foster parent through Nebraska Children’s Home Society is an important and life-changing decision. Here are a few questions to ask yourself as you consider becoming a foster parent.

• Can my family and I adapt to the changes a foster child will make in our lives?
• Is the rest of my family as committed as I am in serving the needs of a foster child?
• Am I patient and understanding of children’s needs?
• Can my family and I deal with behavior that we are not used to?
• Can I accept and deal with the many different people and agencies a foster parent must work with?

What Should You Do Next?
If you are interested in finding out more about becoming a foster parent through Nebraska Children’s Home Society, or if you have questions about our Foster Care program, please contact us at fostercare@nchs.org or call our Omaha office, listed below.

3549 Fontenelle Blvd.
Omaha, NE 68104
(402) 451-0787