Frequently Asked Questions About Specialized Foster Care
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What does the "specialized" in specialized foster care mean?
"Specialized" indicates
these children have emotional and behavioral problems
serious enough to interfere with their success in traditional
foster care settings. Specialized foster parents must appreciate
and understand that foster children require specialized and intensive parenting.
What are the ages of the children?
Our specialized foster children range in age from 2 to 19, with our average age for being 13. Many of the youth we serve are teenagers.
Do you limit the number of children you place in a specialized foster care home?
Because these children need specialized parenting, our policy
is to place a maximum of two in a home. Only in exceptional circumstances, such as when there is a
group of three siblings, would an exception be made.
What are these kids like?
Specialized foster kids come
from many ethnic and racial backgrounds. They typically have
been separated from their biological families because of neglect
and abuse. They have emotional wounds to heal. They often have
survival skills but few social skills.
Is every foster child eventually reunited with his or her biological family?
No. Reunification is not
always possible. Sometimes the parents have died. Sometimes one
or both parents suffer from chronic mental illness, are incarcerated,
or cannot successfully recover from gambling or drug addictions.
In such cases, the goal is to find an adoptive home or a guardian
for the child.
Do foster parents ever adopt a foster child or become her/his guardian?
Yes. This has happened when
the child cannot be reunited with his or her biological parents
and the legal system has terminated the biological parents parental
rights. Rather than moving the child to another foster home,
many foster parents decide to become the child's guardian or
to adopt the child.
Who can become a foster parent?
You must be at least 21 years
old, be financially stable, and pass criminal and police checks.
Couples living in the same residence must be married. Additionally,
we need people who genuinely care about children, have parenting
experience or experience working with children, are willing to
learn additional skills, want to improve a child's life, and
are patient, flexible and optimistic.
I'm over 60. Am I too old to become a foster parent?
Absolutely not! We have grandparents who are specialized foster parents.
I'm divorced and have a full-time job. Can I be a specialized foster parent?
Certainly. Many of our foster
parents are single and work full-time. They make child care arrangements
for their foster children as any working parent does.
How much do foster parents get reimbursed?
Lutheran Family Services pays $30 a day per foster child.
What does the process involve?
First, request an informational packet by:
Next, we set up an informal office interview so we
can get acquainted and so staff members can answer your questions.
Then we visit your home to determine any barriers
to the state of Nebraska licensing you for foster care. Then
you take 39 hours of specialized training. Typically, these are
thirteen 3-hour evening classes during the week. Next, an official
homestudy is completed, with our case managers assisting you
with this process. When the state licenses you for foster care,
then you are ready for your first specialized foster child.
The only other requirement is you must complete 24 hours of
further training yearly. Meeting this requirement is not difficult
because there are many activities, such as viewing state-approved
parenting videotapes, which fulfill this requirement. This benefits
you because you continue to learn helpful foster parenting ideas
and skills.
Once my home is licensed, is that it?
The state licenses a foster
home for two years, then your license must be renewed. Our case
managers will assist you in this process, which is not as extensive
as the original licensing process.
Besides 24 hours of yearly training, what else is available to help me?
Our case managers are available
24 hours a day. During business hours, you can contact them at
the office. Staff are also available throught their cell phones for any emergencies. Additionally,
foster parent meeting are held each month where you can meet
other specialized foster parents and your training classmates.
They understand the struggles foster parents face. Also, homes are encouraged to take two days of respite every month so you can
have time for yourself.
What happens to older foster kids?
Part of the case plan has
foster parents work with teens on living skills they will need
for independent living. Additionally, teens nearing the age of
majority also participate in the Ansel-Casey assessment, an adult independent living
skills program, so they will better transition to independent
living when they are too old to participate in the foster care
system.
For more information, call us at (402) 661-7100.
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