Relatives and friends are the most natural resources there are to help and support bio-parents and children in need of out-of-home care. Therefore, DHHS is required by law to find and contact relatives and other people with close connections to the family when a child enters state custody.
Kinship & Relative caregivers have a connection to this family that none of the professionals have. This connection is real and important, even if they “haven’t talked in ages.’”
Because of the connection to the family, a Relative or Kinship home may:
- Best meet the child’s needs.
- Maintain better connections to the child’s family.
- Offer the permanency the child might need.
For Relatives, please look at the Online Foster Parent Training available on the DHHS website. It will take approximately 5 hours to complete all the modules to help in getting you licensed as a Relative Foster Home (Those who are related to the child by blood, marriage or adoption). Relatives can start filling out the required paperwork by going to this link: https://family.binti.com/users/signup/nebraska-foster-adoptive-parent-association-initial-template-relative. Use passcode: nebraska4kids.
For Kinship families (those known to the child but are not related), you will need to go through the entire process of becoming a licensed foster parent. Please go to the following link to fill out the paperwork to begin the process: https://family.binti.com/users/signup/nebraska-foster-adoptive-parent-association-initial-template. Use passcode: nebraska4kids.
Please give NFAPA a call for any questions you may have about foster care. 877-257-0176