foster care

What

do we do?

We give children a loving home.

Since 1980, Christian Heritage has been a pillar in the Nebraska foster care community.

We recruit and train foster families to care for children in loving, Christian homes. We match the needs of each child to the right family to reduce multiple placements and further trauma.

Why

do we do it?

Flourishing requires relationship.

When a child is placed in a Christ- centered foster family and begins to experience God’s love firsthand, he or she can’t help but be molded and shaped by that love.

Children flourish when they know they are loved unconditionally by others as Christ loves us.

How

do we do it?

We build trust and felt-safety.

Our foster families are uniquely trained in TBRI®️ (Trust-Based Relational Intervention).

TBRI an attachment-based, trauma-informed intervention designed to meet the complex needs of vulnerable children in the foster care system.

I want to care for a child

Critical

need

Children desperately need

the safety and connection

you can provide.

Nearly 4,000 Nebraska children need placement due to neglect or abuse.

75% of children who need care are over the age of five.

Children not matched in loving foster care homes are 4 times more likely to attempt suicide.

50% of children in foster care don’t graduate high school on time without the loving support they need.

60% of trafficking victims were in foster care. The security of a loving home can protect these children.

Teens, siblings, and children with higher needs desperately need placements! You can change their lives!

Story

She said “YES!”

“I LOVE LOVE LOVE the fact that this is a ministry for everybody involved. It’s the first agency I’ve worked with where the whole agency looks at this as a ministry –from the person who does the finances to the person who mows the lawn – It’s all ministry to the population we serve. If this is what God has called you to do, you can do it here. If this is what God has called you to do, you can be in it here for the long haul.”

-Rachael Folds, foster parent

I say yes too

helping children flourish

What Makes us Unique?

Deciding to become a foster parent is an important decision. Finding an organization that matches your spiritual values while providing the support you need is just as important. Here are some ways that Christian Heritage provides you with the unique experience you may be looking for as you begin this journey.

Our experienced trainers will prepare you for foster care in a Christ-centered environment.

Trust-Based Relational Intervention training gives you the tools you need to successfully support the children you are caring for.

Our foster care specialists prioritize building relationships with our families. We value them as part of our Christian Heritage family.

We actively pray for our families, especially during hard times. We believe in Jesus and His saving power, and we walk in faith alongside you.

On-call support from knowledgeable Foster Care Specialists will be available for you.

Our community of foster parents support, encourage, and strengthen one another.

Assistance is available to coordinate respite when you need a break.

We host fun, child-focused community gatherings to stay connected as the Christian Heritage family.

We have been providing loving homes for
vulnerable children for over 40 years.

Here’s how our foster care licensing process works.

01.

Pray

We believe foster care is a calling. Trust that God will equip you if you answer that call.

02.

get started

Contact Us

If you’re called to foster care or would like to learn more, we’d love to connect!

03.

Interview

We schedule a conversation over Google Meet We get to know you, your situation, and your heart for vulnerable children.

04.

Training & Licensing

Attend our 10-week foster parent training class and complete your home study and background check. You could be available for a placement within 6 months start to finish.

05.

Placement

A placement coordinator will visit with you to determine what types of placements will work for you and your family.

06.

Support

Once a child is placed in your home, our foster care specialists offer 24-hour support to you. We also provide support groups, training nights, community gatherings, and more!

Browse Foster Care Resources

“Every child is one caring adult away from being a success story.”

– Jason Shipp, author and former foster child

Ready to make a lasting impact on a child’s life as a licensed foster parent? By joining our caring community, we’ll equip you to provide a nurturing home so children can flourish in a loving, gospel-centered environment. Together, we can help change the future of child welfare in Nebraska—one child at a time.

I’m ready

Questions & Answers

How do I become a licensed foster parent?

The application process involves taking our foster parent training (called TIPS-MAPP). The training is 11 weeks long. You’ll meet once a week for 3 hours. During your training, you’ll begin your home study. A home study is your chance to help us get to know the entire picture of you, your family, your history, and help you prepare for fostering. This careful screening process helps determine whether foster care is right for you. If yes, this process also helps us match the right child to your home.

Read our blog post about the foster parent licensing process.

Who are the children in foster care?

A child in foster care may be from birth to age 19. Time in care ranges from a few months to a year or more. Foster families that can care for siblings and teenagers are needed most. Children ages birth through five years rarely enter foster care. Over 80% of children enter care because of neglect, though some enter care because of physical, sexual, or emotional abuse. Our training and support of you is critical to helping these children experience stability in a Christ-centered home.

What makes for a successful foster parent?

Our most successful foster parents are teachable, dependable, and compassionate. They’re willing to learn about trauma and how using different parenting styles for children with trauma can be effective and healing. They also know they can’t do it alone and are ready to ask for help when they need it.

Do I need special training to become a licensed foster parent?

Yes. In Nebraska, you must have at least 30 hours of initial training. To finish your licensing process, you must also complete a home study and background check. We’ll provide everything you will need in a clear, straightforward process. You must also complete 12 hours of ongoing training each year of your license.

Do I have to take every child you ask to place with me?

No. Before placement, Christian Heritage will present you with available information about the child we believe “matches” best with your situation. You can always ask for additional information, but sometimes, we know very little about a child. You always have the choice to accept or reject a placement. Saying “no” does not affect if we ask you to care for children in the future. You always have the right to do what’s best for your family.

What kind of support does Christian Heritage offer?

Christian Heritage has an incredible reputation for the support we provide our foster children and families. We are often told we “do so much more” than other agencies. We maintain frequent, consistent contact, and with our on-call line, we’re available 24-7 every day of the year.

Christian Heritage is here to help become a licensed foster parent. But we’re here for so much more than that. We want to equip you to be a safe, loving, connection for vulnerable children for as long as God calls you to foster care.

Do foster children ever become available for adoption?

Yes. Our ultimate goal is for children to return to their homes. But sometimes, that’s not possible, in which case the court may order an adoption. As a foster parent, you would be a consideration for a child in your home who needs a permanent family.

Ready to help?

I want to be a foster parent