Every child deserves a safe, loving homeโbut for hundreds of thousands of children in the U.S. and just over 3,000 kids here in Nebraska, that’s not always their reality. Foster care is a lifeline for kids who cannot stay safely with their families, offering stability during times of crisis.
In this article, weโll explore what foster care is, why itโs needed, and how we can transform the system to support vulnerable children and the families who care for them.
Letโs dive into the heart of foster care and discover how we can work together to create lasting change.
What is foster care?
Foster care is a temporary living arrangement for children whose parents cannot safely care for them. These situations typically arise due to safety concerns or crises that have been identified by child welfare agencies.
While in foster care, children may live with relatives, foster families, or in group facilities. The ultimate goal is reunification with their parents or placement in a permanent, stable home.
The goal of foster care
The main goal of foster care is to give every child a stable, loving, and permanent family. Research shows that strong, secure bonds with nurturing adults are vital for a child’s growth and well-being. Foster care is a temporary solution.
It should end with family reunification, a relative’s care, or adoption.
Why do children enter foster care?
Children enter foster care because their families are in crisis. These childrenโranging from newborns to teenagersโoften come from environments marked by unsafe conditions, abuse, neglect, or situations where their parents are unable to provide care. When their safety is at risk, they are removed from their parents’ care to ensure their well-being.
About 87% of children are in the foster care system due to preventable neglect.
Abuse or neglect reports usually alert child welfare agencies to children. A court order is typically required to remove a child from their home. At the end of 2022, there were around 368,000 children in foster care, though this number has been steadily declining in recent years.
What is a “foster child”?
Aย โโfosยญter childโ is a minor child (under 19 years of age in Nebraska) who has been takยญen into state cusยญtody and placed with a state-licensed careยญgivยญer. These children come from every race, age, gender, and social status.
Because chilยญdren in fosยญter care have been removed from their homes, they all have expeยญriยญenced some degree of loss or trauma. In fact, simply being removed from their home is a source of trauma itself.
What is a foster parent?
Foster parents are state-licensed caregivers who provide a safe home for children who are in the foster system. They temporarily meet a child’s emotional, physical, and developmental needs. They provide:
- Love and support
- Food, shelter, and clothing
- Transportation to appointments and activities
- Medical and dental care
- Guidance in developing social and emotional skills
Foster parents are critical in preparing kids for reunification with their families or adoption.
Group homes vs. foster homes
While most children in foster care live with families, some are placed in group homes, also known as congregate care. These settings are staffed by professionals who care for multiple children. Group homes can help in some cases. But, the Family First Prevention Services Act (2018) aims to cut unnecessary placements and prioritize family care.
Group homes are declining in number around the country as studies show it is a less effective model than living in a single-family home.
Aging out of foster care
In recent years, just under half of the children who exit foster care reunite with their parents or a previous caregiver. Between 2018 and 2021, data shows that at least one in four children were adopted from foster care, while about one in six transitioned to live with a relative or legal guardian.
Encouragingly, most children who leave foster care do not return to it. In fact, only 19.4% of children entering the system in 2019 had been in foster care before, according to the Administration for Children and Families.
However, for the approximately 20,000 young people who “age out” of foster care each yearโdespite recent declinesโthe challenges of adulthood often loom large. Without the support and connections that a permanent family provides, emancipated youth face higher risks of homelessness, unemployment, incarceration, and becoming young parents compared to peers who achieve stable family relationships.
Changing the future of child welfare
To improve the foster care system, federal laws and initiatives emphasize the importance of permanence and family-based care. Key strategies for Christian Heritage include:
- Supporting parents and preventing foster care placements whenever possible
- Engaging children, families, and community stakeholders in decision-making
- Prioritizing high-quality, family-based placements over group settings
- Providing a Christ-centered support system for foster parents
Christian Heritage is helping to lead efforts to improve child welfare by providing thorough training, ongoing support, and a faith-based community where foster parents have a connection to a loving community, not just an organization. We’re also helping shape the future of child welfare through our program Families Together by preventing the trauma of removal and entering the foster system.
Foster care aims to provide children with safety and support. It seeks to give them a better future. Together, we can strengthen the system and improve outcomes for kids in care. We can do this by: investing in family-based solutions, prioritizing permanency, and equipping foster parents with the needed resources.
Want to learn more? Check out foster care resources or consider becoming a foster parent to make a difference in a childโs life.
FAQs about 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.
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.
How do I foster a child?
To fosยญter a child, you must lead with empaยญthy. As a foster parent, you play such a vital role in helpยญing a child heal. You must be responยญsiยญble, lovยญing careยญgivers who provide a safe space for children to flourish physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. Fosยญter parยญents must also conยญsidยญer aspects of chilยญdrenโs emoยญtionยญal and social develยญopยญment, like:
- Relaยญtionยญship skills
- Responยญsiยญble deciยญsion making
- Self-awareยญness
- Self-manยญageยญment
- Social awareยญness
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 toย ask for help when they need it.
Addiยญtionยญalยญly, fosยญter parยญents must meet and mainยญtain the speยญcifยญic cerยญtiยญfiยญcaยญtion requireยญments of each state (see next question).
Do I need special training to become a foster parent?
Yes. In Nebraska, you must have at least 30 hours ofย 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 completeย 12 hours of ongoing training each year of your license.
