ICPC State Pages

Nebraska Foster Care

Rates (Foster Care)

Foster care rate paid at:

• Other

If it is a privately managed case in Nebraska the managing Nebraska agency will establish a rate with the receiving state. If it is a case managed by Nebraska DHHS a specific rate schedule will be followed.

Nebraska foster care rates:

Requirements (Foster Care)

Foster Care Resource Requirements:

• REV. OCTOBER 14, 2002 NEBRASKA HEALTH AND PS

  MANUAL LETTER # 74-2002 HUMAN SERVICES MANUAL 390 NAC 7

  7-001.06 ASSESSMENTS OF FAMILIES INTERESTED IN BECOMING FOSTER OR ADOPTIVE PARENTS

  The Department will assess all persons who are interested in becoming foster or adoptive parents. This process includes:

  • home visits;
  • interviews with all the applicants, their children and other persons living in the home;
  • a written home study, using the Department's format;
  • a self-study completed by the applicants;
  • references from three persons;
  • Background checks with the Adult Protective Services Central Registry and the   Central Register of Child Protection Cases;
  • Criminal records check; and
  • A medical summary for each family member.

  In addition, persons caring for children from one or more families must be licensed as foster parents. An approval study is completed for relatives or persons known to the child before placement. If an approval study indicates placement is appropriate, children from one or more families who are related to the caregiver, may be placed without the care giver's being licensed to provide foster care. (See 7-004.02 for Approval of Unlicensed Homes (Non-Emergency Situations.) Families interested in becoming adoptive parents will have an adoptive home study. See 6-002.04 for adoptive home study policy.

  The Department will conduct a home study when a family contacts the Department expressing interest in becoming a foster or adoptive parent. (See Out of Home Care Guidebook for the home study format and process.) The Department will not place a child in a home not known to the child before wardship before the home is licensed, has completed the home study process and has completed required pre-service training.

  Applicants for providing foster or adoptive care must at least meet the following requirements in these areas:

  • Age: The applicant must be at least 19 years of age. Generally, at least one parent should be within the normal child-bearing age for the child to be placed.
  • Health: An applicant must be in such physical and mental condition that it is reasonable to expect him/her to be able to fulfill parenting responsibilities. If there appears to be a health condition which might affect parenting ability, a medical report may be requested. A negative report may be the basis for denial of an application at any point in the home study process.
  • Religion, race and gender: The application of all persons will be considered regardless of race, gender, ethnic group or religion.
  • Income: The applicant must be able to budget his/her financial resources in such a way that a child placed can be reasonably assured of minimum standards of nutrition, health, shelter, clothing and other essentials.
  • Needs of the Children: Applicants must be willing to consider accepting children in the Department's custody or likely to enter the Department's custody.

  The Department will consider all the information and take into consideration the needs of the children in the Department's custody to determine whether a family should become a foster or adoptive family. The home study will include the recommendation.

  The foster or adoptive family will be given the opportunity to review the home study and attach written comments if they wish. Copies of the completed home study will not be provided to the family, the family's attorney or the guardian ad litem. Copies will be given to the court upon request.

Training (Education and Training):

• no information provided

Requirements (Licensing)

Licensing Requirements:

• No Information Provided

Foster Care Placements:

• No Information Provided

Nebraska requires the following types of placement resources to be licensed/approved/certified:

• Foster Care
• Relative-Foster Care
• Adoption
• Foster/Adopt

Nebraska uses the following terms to authorize a resource family for foster care and (or) adoption after completion of education and training in state:

• Approve (Adoption)
• Verified (Foster Home)
• Certified

Nebraska resource training program is as follows:

• No Information Provided

Nebraska accepts the following training programs as comparable to its education and training program licensing:

• Other: Varies with each Region in Nebraska; and the Training must meet Nebraska curriculum.

Wait Time - (License/Certification/Approval - Education and Training)

Average Length of time it takes for a home to be licensed/approved/certified:

• 1-3 mos.

Length of time a license is valid before renewal required:

• 3 mos.

Nebraska offers classes (education and training) to become licensed/certified/approved:

• As needed

Wait Time for Criminal Records Results

Wait time for fingerprint results are:

Live Scan or other technology

• State: 31-60 days
• Local/County: Not Offered

Manually - Fingerprint Card

• State: 31-60 days
• Local/County: Not Offered