foster care
What
do we do?
We give children a loving home.
Since 1980, Christian Heritage has been a pillar in the Nebraska foster care community.
We recruit and train foster families to care for children in loving, Christian homes. We match the needs of each child to the right family to reduce multiple placements and further trauma.
Why
do we do it?
Flourishing requires relationship.
When a child is placed in a Christ- centered foster family and begins to experience Godโs love firsthand, he or she canโt help but be molded and shaped by that love.
Children flourish when they know they are loved unconditionally by others as Christ loves us.
How
do we do it?
We build trust and felt-safety.
Our foster families are uniquely trained in TBRIยฎ๏ธ (Trust-Based Relational Intervention).
TBRI an attachment-based, trauma-informed intervention designed to meet the complex needs of vulnerable children in the foster care system.
CRITICALNEED
Children desperately need the safety and connection you can provide.
Critical
need
Children desperately need
the safety and connection
you can provide.
She said “YES!”
โI LOVE LOVE LOVE the fact that this is a ministry for everybody involved. Itโs the first agency Iโve worked with where the whole agency looks at this as a ministry โfrom the person who does the finances to the person who mows the lawn โ Itโs all ministry to the population we serve. If this is what God has called you to do, you can do it here. If this is what God has called you to do, you can be in it here for the long haul.โ
-Rachael Folds, foster parent
She said “YES!”
โChristian Heritage is the first agency Iโve worked with where the whole agency looks at this as a ministry. If this is what God has called you to do, you can do it here.”
– Rachel Folds, CH Foster Parent
What Makes us Unique?
Deciding to become a foster parent is an important decision. Finding an organization that matches your spiritual values while providing the support you need is just as important. Here are some ways that Christian Heritage provides you with the unique experience you may be looking for as you begin this journey.
Hereโs how our foster care licensing process works.
01.
Pray
We believe foster care is a calling. Trust that God will equip you if you answer that call.
02.
Contact Us
If youโre called to foster care or would like to learn more, weโd love to connect!
03.
Interview
We schedule a conversation over Google Meetย We get to know you, your situation, and your heart for vulnerable children.
04.
Training & Licensing
Attend our 10-week foster parent training class and complete your home study and background check. You could be available for a placement within 6 months start to finish.
05.
Placement
A placement coordinator will visit with you to determine what types of placements will work for you and your family.
06.
Support
Once a child is placed in your home, our foster care specialists offer 24-hour support to you. We also provide support groups, training nights, community gatherings, and more!
โEvery child is one caring adult away from being a success story.โ
โ Jason Shipp, author and former foster child
Ready to make a lasting impact on a childโs life as a licensed foster parent? By joining our caring community, weโll equip you to provide a nurturing home so children can flourish in a loving, gospel-centered environment. Together, we can help change the future of child welfare in Nebraskaโone child at a time.
Questions & Answers
How do I become a licensed foster parent?
The application process involves taking our foster parent training (called TIPS-MAPP). The training is 11 weeks long. Youโll meet once a week for 3 hours. During your training, youโll begin your home study. A home study is your chance to help us get to know the entire picture of you, your family, your history, and help you prepare for fostering. This careful screening process helps determine whether foster care is right for you. If yes, this process also helps us match the right child to your home.
Read our blog post about the foster parent licensing process.
Who are the children in foster care?
A child in foster care may be from birth to age 19. Time in care ranges from a few months to a year or more. Foster families that can care for siblings and teenagers are needed most. Children ages birth through five years rarely enter foster care. Over 80% of children enter care because of neglect, though some enter care because of physical, sexual, or emotional abuse. Our training and support of you is critical to helping these children experience stability in a Christ-centered home.
What makes for a successful foster parent?
Our most successful foster parents are teachable, dependable, and compassionate. Theyโre willing to learn about trauma and how using different parenting styles for children with trauma can be effective and healing. They also know they canโt do it alone and are ready to ask for help when they need it.
Do I need special training to become a licensed foster parent?
Yes. In Nebraska, you must have at least 30 hours of initial training. To finish your licensing process, you must also complete a home study and background check. Weโll provide everything you will need in a clear, straightforward process. You must also complete 12 hours of ongoing training each year of your license.
Do I have to take every child you ask to place with me?
No. Before placement, Christian Heritage will present you with available information about the child we believe โmatchesโ best with your situation. You can always ask for additional information, but sometimes, we know very little about a child. You always have the choice to accept or reject a placement. Saying โnoโ does not affect if we ask you to care for children in the future. You always have the right to do whatโs best for your family.
What kind of support does Christian Heritage offer?
Christian Heritage has an incredible reputation for the support we provide our foster children and families. We are often told we โdo so much moreโ than other agencies. We maintain frequent, consistent contact, and with our on-call line, weโre available 24-7 every day of the year.
Christian Heritage is here to help become a licensed foster parent. But weโre here for so much more than that. We want to equip you to be a safe, loving, connection for vulnerable children for as long as God calls you to foster care.
Do foster children ever become available for adoption?
Yes. Our ultimate goal is for children to return to their homes. But sometimes, thatโs not possible, in which case the court may order an adoption. As a foster parent, you would be a consideration for a child in your home who needs a permanent family.
Ready to help?
I want to be a foster parent
Contact us
to get started
on the next step.
I want to give
Though the state
provides funding for
foster care, itโs not
enough. Your giving
helps cover the
shortfall.
I want to be a foster parent
Contact us
to get started
on the next step.
I want to give
Though the state
provides funding for
foster care, itโs not
enough. Your giving
helps cover the
shortfall.
