Social Work

Social Work

Our staff works with families who have entered the Nebraska welfare system to help educate and connect them with resources. Families learn how to be safe and receive individualized support navigating the complicated process of coming back together. In 2021, Release social workers supported more than 200 families.
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safe
together
healthy
free

We started our social work program to help kids who completed our residential program find success after returning to their homes or communities. Today, our social workers are experts in trauma and trained to use multiple evidence-based practices. If someone enters the system, at whatever point, we have someone there who is dedicated and trained to help the whole family for generations. We partner with schools and other agencies across the whole care continuum.

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Our staff works with families who have entered the Nebraska welfare system to help educate and connect them with resources. Families learn how to be safe and receive individualized support navigating the complicated process of coming back together. In 2021, Release social workers supported more than 200 families.

safe
together
healthy
free

We started our social work program to help kids who completed our residential program find success after returning to their homes or communities. Today, our social workers are experts in trauma and trained to use multiple evidence-based practices. If someone enters the system, at whatever point, we have someone there who is dedicated and trained to help the whole family for generations. We partner with schools and other agencies across the whole care continuum.

Entering the Child Welfare System.

There's a common misconception that physical and sexual abuse are the main reasons kids removed from their homes. This is far from being true; the majority of kids are placed within foster care simply because their parents lack resources.

Every situation is unique and complicated, but the majority of these factors can be mitigated with support, encouragement, and education. When we walk through these steps together, most families can safely and successfully be reunited.

Douglas and
Sarpy County
0
Average age
of Child
0
Average Number
of Placements
0
Average Number
of Case Workers
0
Median Days in Care
0
Kids in the
Child Welfare System
Parent mental health
8%
Parental incarceration
8%
Physical abuse
12%
Domestic violence
15.5%
Housing substandard - unsafe
19.6%
Parent meth use
20.6%
Parent drug use
31.2%
Neglect
56.2%

Additional reasons: No fault adjudication 10%, Parent alcohol use 9%, What happened to sibling 8%, and Child's behavior 7%. Data source: December 2022 Quarterly Report by the Nebraska Foster Care Review Office.

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Parenting Time.

Supervised visitation is a right protected by law.

One of the most important things for a family in their journey through the system is that they maintain their connection with each other. Research shows that families that stay connected have stronger outcomes and move through the family child welfare system quicker. In 2009, Nebraska created a law that requires every family to be offered supervised visitation.

  • Who: For parents whose children are in foster care and siblings who are in different foster homes.
  • What: The purpose of visitation is to make sure everyone is safe while also providing parental coaching and support. Visits are typically several hours long.
  • When: Every situation is different, but most of the time, visits happen at the convenience of the parents, usually evenings and weekends, and when kids are out of school.
  • Where: Release a visitation room, but they can happen anywhere, including parks, library, and the family's home.
  • How: As a parent, your voice is important. If you would like Release to help with your visits, let your case worker and contact us.
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Parenting Time.

Supervised visitation is a right protected by law.

One of the most important things for a family in their journey through the system is that they maintain their connection with each other. Research shows that families that stay connected have stronger outcomes and move through the family child welfare system quicker. In 2009, Nebraska created a law that requires every family to be offered supervised visitation.

  • Who: For parents whose children are in foster care and siblings who are in different foster homes.
  • What: The purpose of visitation is to make sure everyone is safe while also providing parental coaching and support. Visits are typically several hours long.
  • When: Every situation is different, but most of the time, visits happen at the convenience of the parents, usually evenings and weekends, and when kids are out of school.
  • Where: Release a visitation room, but they can happen anywhere, including parks, library, and the family's home.
  • How: As a parent, your voice is important. If you would like Release to help with your visits, let your case worker and contact us.

Family Support.

We provide in-home services to families in need of resources, support, and skills.

The number one reason families find themselves in the child welfare system is due to neglect.  With access to resources and new skills, most families can be successfully reunited. Family Support services are provided to maintain stability in the homes and equip parents to gain the skills to be reunited safely and free from system involvement. Families are trained in the areas of parenting skills, interpersonal skills, conflict resolution, and life skills such as budgeting employment training, and other life skills.  In addition to training, families are given access to existing resources in their community along with as needed; mental health, spiritual, and physical supports. 

  • Who: For parents, foster parents, and children in the Child Welfare system.
  • What: The purpose of Family Support is to focus on supporting and equipping parents who the State has identified as needing stabilization or reunification of their family.
  • When: Family Support takes place at the convenience of the parents and/or children (days, evenings, and weekends).
  • Where: Family Support takes place in the family's homes or out in the community, where workers connect families to resources needed to strengthen their family unit.
  • How: Family Support workers utilize an evidence-based assessment tool, trauma-informed care practices, and the State's goals to customize an individual plan for each family to be safe, together, healthy, and free. The workers help families walk through the steps with empathy and compassion. 
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Family Support.

We provide in-home services to families in need of resources, support, and skills.

The number one reason families find themselves in the child welfare system is due to neglect.  With access to resources and new skills, most families can be successfully reunited. Family Support services are provided to maintain stability in the homes and equip parents to gain the skills to be reunited safely and free from system involvement. Families are trained in the areas of parenting skills, interpersonal skills, conflict resolution, and life skills such as budgeting employment training, and other life skills.  In addition to training, families are given access to existing resources in their community along with as needed; mental health, spiritual, and physical supports. 

  • Who: For parents, foster parents, and children in the Child Welfare system.
  • What: The purpose of Family Support is to focus on supporting and equipping parents who the State has identified as needing stabilization or reunification of their family.
  • When: Family Support takes place at the convenience of the parents and/or children (days, evenings, and weekends).
  • Where: Family Support takes place in the family's homes or out in the community, where workers connect families to resources needed to strengthen their family unit.
  • How: Family Support workers utilize an evidence-based assessment tool, trauma-informed care practices, and the State's goals to customize an individual plan for each family to be safe, together, healthy, and free. The workers help families walk through the steps with empathy and compassion. 

Areas of Focus.

  • Parenting Skills

  • Housing Assistance

  • Mental Health
  • Support System

  • Domestic Violence

  • Trauma

  • Poverty/Lack of Resources

  • Budgeting/Resource Management

Areas of Focus.

  • Domestic Violence

  • Trauma

  • Poverty/Lack of Resources

  • Budgeting/Resource Management

  • Parenting Skills

  • Housing Assistance

  • Mental Health
  • Support System

Evidence-Based Practices.

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LSCI

Life Space Crisis Intervention (LSCI) is a brain-based, trauma-informed, relationship-building training program for crisis situations with young people who exhibit challenging behaviors.
Learn more
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NCFAS-G+R

The North Carolina Family Assessment Scale (NCFAS-G+R) is an evidence-based assessment tool designed to examine a family's function in their home, which helps in developing a treatment plan.

Learn more
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Motivational Interviewing

A practical and empathetic counseling method to help people resolve ambivalent feelings and insecurities to find the internal motivation behavioral change.
Learn more
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SFP

The Strengthening Families Program (SFP) is a nationally and internationally recognized evidence-based family skills training program and parenting curriculum.
Learn more

Join our Team.

We're always looking for passionate and caring staff to serve the families in our community.
If that sounds like you, apply here to work at Release.