More than 5,000 children and youth in Nebraska live in out-of-home care while their own parents struggle to overcome a major obstacle in their life. Often, these children and youth are victims of physical, sexual, and emotional abuse or neglect. Children in need of foster care often possess their own unique health and developmental challenges.

Teenagers in foster care are particularly vulnerable. Each year, many of these youths "age out" of the foster care system. Their transition into adult living is difficult because the foster care system lacks the resources needed to prepare youths for living on their own.

Many loving, trained resource families open their hearts and homes to these children and youth every day. But there aren't enough foster homes in Nebraska to provide temporary homes, safety, and nurturing to these children and youth. We need you and the entire state of Nebraska to become involved.

Resource parents come from a variety of backgrounds. They can be single, married, or divorced. They can choose to stay at home with the children or work outside the home. They can be as young as 19 years or retired seniors.

There are a number of ways to provide foster care in Nebraska:

• Respite Care: Providing care for a child so that the foster parent can take an occasional break from the child;
• Emergency Foster Care: Being available for immediate placement of a child on a 24-hour basis to serve children in crisis. This care can last a few hours to a maximum of 30 days;
• Foster Care: Providing for a child's physical, emotional, and social needs over a temporary period of time until a permanent living situation can be established;
• Adoption: Making a commitment that lasts a lifetime for a child in need of a "forever family." Many children and youth waiting for adoptive families are older or part of a sibling group. 

Click here for some Frequently Asked Questions prospective foster parents ask.

If you have additional questions, please contact us or click here to complete a form and we will mail more information to you regarding foster care and adoption in Nebraska.