Foster Care

Why Foster
Who can Foster
What to Expect
Why Release
FAQs
Talk to Us

Foster Care

Fostering is Caring

Release trains and supports foster parents as they care for youth who must temporarily live apart from their families. Foster children can be any age from 0 to 18. Sometimes, our foster children have special needs, whether that be physical, mental, or behavioral. Youth in foster care need an extraordinary level of compassion and caring – and so do families caring for them. Release has support available 24/7 for our foster homes. We also offer monthly gatherings for training and community building to replenish foster parents and increase the length of time families provide foster care.

Fostering is Caring

Release trains and supports foster parents as they care for youth that must temporarily live apart from their family. Youth in foster care need an extraordinary level of compassion and caring – and so do families caring for them. Release has support available 24/7 for our foster homes. We also offer monthly gatherings for training and community building to replenish foster parents and increase the length of time families provide foster care.

Why Become a Foster Parent?

There are multiple reasons why someone enters this journey and these reasons can be different for people in the same family. We've found most fall into the following categories.

You have something to give. For whatever reasons, you find yourself with more than what you need to survive. Maybe there's room in your home or space in your heart. You know it's good to share your excess with people in need.

It's also possible you have gone through something and now have come out through the other side (like going through a challenging medical situation that's given you an empathy for children in similar situations). You desire to give because you know suffering with firsthand experience.

You have something to give. For whatever reasons, you find yourself with more than what you need to survive. Maybe there's room in your home or space in your heart. You know it's good to share your excess with people in need.

It's also possible you have gone through something and now have come out through the other side (like going through a challenging medical situation that's given you an empathy for children in similar situations). You desire to give because you know suffering with firsthand experience.

Who Can Foster?

What qualifications do you need to have in order to foster children in the state of Nebraska?

Desire

The first thing required is a desire to provide safe and loving support to children and families.

Reliable Transportation

Part of fostering is getting kids to the many places they need to go.

Room in your Family

Licensing has regulations regarding how many total children can be in a home. Single parent household currently having less than 4 minor children. Married household currently having less than 6 minor children.

Physical Space

You need a bedroom available for foster children. *Foster children can share a room with your children of the same sex as long as space is adequate, and each child has their own bed.

No Crimes Against Children

Criminal record clear of any felony involving abuse/neglect of a child, violent crimes, or being identified on a central registry in any state.

Invested Partners

If married, each spouse must meet all requirements and complete all licensing steps.

Financial Stability

Ability to financially support your current household.

Availability and Commitment

Availability and commitment to transporting children to school and appointments.

Graduate Training

Complete the 10-week Foster Parent training class.

What to Expect as a Foster Parent?

If you think you might want to be a foster parent, here's what you could expect after talking with someone from our foster care team.

Next Steps

① Enroll in training

10-week training course, designed to prepare you for fostering as well as help you decide if fostering is right for your family

② Fingerprints & background checks

③ References

We will need 3 names we are able to contact for a personal reference.

④ Health evaluation

A brief form to be completed by you and a doctor, saying that there are no medical reasons that you are unable to care for children

⑤ Simple home floor plan sketch

⑥ Sign paperwork

Sign and agree to DHHS’s policy for discipline, confidentiality, and other assurances to protect you and any child(ren) placed in your care.

⑦ Home study

You will complete a family profile and then we will do a home evaluation consisting of a family conversation/interview and a tour of your home.

Why Foster with Release?

Holistic support for you and your family is our top priority.

Fostering with any agency is a major decision, and the agency you choose significantly impacts your fostering journey. Release staff understand the unique challenges and rewards of caring for foster children because many of our foster care staff have been foster parents themselves. Their real-life experience helps them provide a holistic support approach to our foster families. We have a long history of working with and caring for families in difficult circumstances. DHHS contracts Release and offers Tiered Levels of Foster Care, providing extra support to children with higher needs.

Wherever you choose to foster, the most important thing is you feel supported, loved, and valued. Fostering is incredibly hard work, and we're committed to being here for you so you do not have to walk down this road alone.

For more information, download our Program Description.

- - Team of former foster parents
  - Staff with 40+ hours of training in Life Space Crisis Intervention that helps families navigate conflict and crisis
  - Once you have a placement we visit your home regularly and available to you 24/7
  - Foster Mother support groups and Foster Father support groups which typically offer a meal and childcare!
  - Part of the Foster the Family Network
  - We partner with over 50 churches and business help support our foster families
  - Staff will pray for your family and/or pray with you based on your comfort level
  - Release Care Closet

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about the Release Foster Care program

If you have been convicted of a felony involving abuse or neglect of a child, spousal abuse, a violent crime including rape, sexual assault, or homicide, or are identified as a perpetrator on the central registry in any state, then you are ineligible to become a foster parent. If you have been convicted of a felony involving physical assault, battery, or a drug-related offense you are ineligible to provide Foster Care for at least five years from the date of conviction. DHHS may evaluate additional convictions based on circumstance to determine eligibility.

The main objective of foster care is reunification, and you need to be prepared to support that plan in order to become a foster parent.

That said, occasionally parental rights are terminated while children are placed in another foster home that is not planning to adopt. These are almost always older children, who have likely been in foster care for many years. If this is something you are interested in, consider looking at the Nebraska Heart Gallery to learn more about children currently needing a forever family. We are happy to discuss this in more detail and help you through the process.

You don’t! We encourage you to fall in love with each of your placements. We know that sometimes this can make it harder for you when they move home, but more often we find that the more you love them, the more you find yourself routing for their families to heal and reunify. When everyone is committed to the goal of reunification then it can be celebrated, which is a beautiful thing to be a part of.

While each case is different, it is important that foster parents be actively involved and supportive of the work being done to help children safely reunify with their birth family whenever possible. This might involve family team meetings, school meetings, doctors’ appointments, court hearings, as well as other circumstances. This topic is discussed in detail during foster parent training, where we encourage questions and open dialog about any concerns you may have.

Talk to our Team

Training classes

We're here if you still have questions or just want to talk more about foster care. Ask for Kat by email or phone (402) 814-1703.