What matters most is how much you care.

Want to make a difference in a child or teen’s life? Foster parenting is one of the most meaningful ways to help children and teens feel safe and connected to a strong family and healthy community as their families work toward safe reunification. Foster parents help youth recover from abuse, neglect or other family challenges in addition to providing education, medical care and support.

There is a child or teen out there who needs someone just like you. Maybe you’ve considered foster parenting but didn’t think you could qualify. The good news is that you don’t need to own a home or have a partner to get started. Anyone can foster as long as they have compassion in their heart and a desire to help others.

More Than 4,000 Children Need You

More than 4,000 children and teens are in the Nebraska foster care system. Many of these youth have experienced abuse, neglect or other family challenges and have been removed from their homes by the courts for their safety and/or wellbeing. Foster parents and families provide care and support for these youth while they are in out-of-home care.

It only takes ONE caring adult to change a child’s life. Give your life a new purpose and be that change for a child in the foster care system.

Requirements to Become a Nebraska Foster Parent

Foster parents can be:

• Single adults, married couples, people in partnerships 
• People of all gender identities and sexual orientations 
• People with or without other kids in the home 
• People who rent or own their living environment 
• People who are financially stable, but can have any income level

Successful foster parents should be committed to:

• Loving all children and teens unconditionally
• Working in partnership with birth family members and child welfare professionals
• Providing ongoing care and support for children and teens until a permanent plan is implemented
• Completing annual continuing education requirements

Basic requirements:

• Must be 21 years of age or older
• Meet basic income guidelines
• Provide adequate bedroom space that meets local fire codes and a separate bed for each child
• Have reliable transportation
• Complete 30 hours of free training
• Agree to use non-physical discipline for children
• Be willing for everyone in your household ages 13 and older to undergo background checks
• Be willing for all licensees to be fingerprinted as part of the federal Adam Walsh Act

KVC Support for Nebraska Foster Parents

• Free ongoing training and support 24/7, 365 days/year
• 24-Hour phone support
• Health care is usually covered by Medicaid, unless the youth’s biological parents have private insurance. Foster parents don’t pay out of pocket because payments go straight to DHHS
• Assistance finding local resources
• Bi-monthly reimbursement to meet the child’s needs plus assistance with back-to-school supplies and holiday gifts

Resources to Learn More

• Read our FAQs on the steps to become a foster parent, financial reimbursement and training requirements
• Read our blog for stories from other KVC Nebraska foster parents and educational articles
• Download our free guides for information about how to know if foster parenting is right for you and how to choose a foster parenting agency

Required Training to Become a Nebraska Foster Parent

Trauma-Informed Partnering for Safety and Permanence-Model Approach to Partnerships in Parenting (TIPS-MAPP) class is required by the state of Nebraska for all foster parents. This free 10-week class is mandatory for all adults that will have a parenting role in a foster home. Throughout the course of training, our class leaders will also come to your home to complete home consultations.

TIPS-MAPP helps build skills for parenting abused and neglected children who have behavioral, emotional, physical and/or educational difficulties. It also helps the potential foster parent decide if foster parenting is right for them. For more information about TIPS-MAPP and other required training, read our Foster Parent Training FAQs.

Final Steps to Become Licensed

During training, you will be assigned a Licensing Specialist who will help you complete all paperwork and a home study. Once the required licensing paperwork and home study are complete, your Licensing Specialist will submit your home study packet to the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services for licensure. A license will be granted if all qualifications are met.

Foster to Adopt

KVC Nebraska is not an adoption agency and does not complete the legal process for private adoptions. However, we do train, support and license foster parents interested in foster-to-adopt situations and families only interested in caring for children who are available for adoption. We also complete adoption home studies for the purpose of adopting a state ward.