How to Become a Foster Parent
Why become a foster parent?
Foster families help, teach, and heal families within their communities. They touch the human heart and can change lives forever. Foster families give children the environment needed so they can just be kids.
What makes Epworth Village Foster Care program unique?
The Epworth Village, Inc. Foster Care program supports families in the Southeastern and Central Service Areas. We focus on families located within a 60 miles radius of York, Nebraska. This area includes the following counties: Adams, Butler, Clay, Fillmore, Hamilton, Hall, Jefferson, Lancaster, Polk, Merrick, Saline, Seward, Thayer, and York.
Epworth Village serves families and children who have experienced a crisis situation within their own home and need temporary assistance. Foster families provide security, consistency and love for children and work as part of a professional team to help heal families. They are supported through 24 hour assistance, initial training and on-going education, in home interventions, and parent support groups.
Foster families interested in joining Epworth Village Foster Care’s team can help families through short term relief care or longer term care until that family is able to reunite or another forever family is identified. Epworth Village Foster Care program services include: Agency Supported Foster Care, Foster to Adopt, and Respite Care:
Agency Supported Foster Care: Teaching and meeting the needs of children and youth while working in partnership to heal the child’s family. You have to become a licensed foster family to provide this service.
Foster to Adopt: When there is a possibility that foster children and youth may be available for adoption, the foster family accepts the children and youth on a temporary foster care basis, but will adopt if they become legally free for adoption. Though Epworth Village is not an adoption agency, we will refer our foster families to the appropriate adoption agency to facilitate and supervise the adoption process from the foster care system.
Respite Care: Providing temporary, short term relief for foster children and youth. You don’t have to be a licensed foster family to provide this service but it is preferred. Must be able to demonstrate through background checks a responsible lifestyle.
How do I become a licensed foster parent?
First off you must feel that desire and calling to teach and serve others. Then call or submit an inquiry to Epworth Village Foster Care. This starts the process! All applicants must be willing to complete at least 30 hours of pre-service foster parent training and meet the State of Nebraska’s and Epworth Village regulations. The following are some basic criteria to meet:
- Be at least age 19.
- Can be single or married.
- Have good background checks and fingerprints results that demonstrate safe driving and lifestyle habits.
- Have adequate space to house a child.
- Have access to a vehicle
- Be accessible by telephone.
- Demonstrate a family-oriented lifestyle.
- Be flexible, responsible, stable, even-tempered, and patient with a good sense of humor.
- Be tolerant of racial, cultural, religious and educational backgrounds different from your own.
Where do I get more information?
Contact:
Hannah Miller
(402) 362-3353
fostercare@epworthvillage.org
Download Foster/Respite Care Application »
Foster Care Needed Items:
- Girl clothing ages infant to 18 years (new or gently used)
- Boy clothing ages infant to 6 years (new or gently used)
- Socks and Underwear for all sizes of children (new)
- Cribs
- Pack n' Plays
- Bunk beds with mattresses
- Wal-Mart gift cards
- Toothbrushes
- Toothpaste
- Deodorant
- Hair brushes
- Hair spray/gel
- Hair ties