Become a Foster Parent

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When you choose to become a CEDARS foster parent, you offer safety and security to a child removed from a home in crisis. As you welcome this new youth into your family, you may notice your family changing. It takes time to get to know the new member of your household. You may wonder how everyone will adjust.

• Click here to listen to Matthew's story.

CEDARS is here to help. Often, everyone adapts naturally. Other times, it takes a bit more conscious effort. With assistance from CEDARS staff in negotiating the network of professionals involved, you will overcome the challenges — and uncover rich rewards as you see your foster son or daughter begin to relax and grow in your home.

Ultimately, CEDARS' goal is to either safely reunite children in our care with their families or find a permanent new home for them. As a foster parent, you give a child stability and room to grow as an individual. Each year, the CEDARS foster care team helps over 175 foster children flourish in out-of-home care.

You Can Help Care for a Foster Child

• You can provide Emergency Foster Care by being available to accept a child in crisis at any time with little or no notice. You may have the youth overnight, or for a slightly longer period of time while a more permanent home is found.

• Agency-Based Foster Care asks that you provide for a child’s physical, emotional and social needs until a permanent home has been identified.

• Families in FosAdop care for foster children as they make plans to adopt them permanently.

• Respite Care is caring for a child temporarily to give foster parents an occastional break.

24/7 Family Support

As a foster parent, you become an integral part of our professional team. That means you have access to support 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. We offer monthly support groups and quarterly gatherings for our foster familes. We also offer regularly scheduled training opportunities. You can also share ideas and get tips in a peer support group.

Frequently Asked Questions About Becoming a Foster Parent

How You Can Make a Difference In a Child's Life

• Request additional information on how you can give a child a chance for a better life or call (402) 434-KIDS (5437).

• Download an application to Become a Respite or Foster Parent and mail it to 6601 Pioneers Blvd., Ste. 2, Lincoln, NE 68506 or fax it to (402) 437-8833.

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