Foster care systems are often overcrowded, with too many children in the care of too few foster families. The overcrowding can lead to a lack of resources, such as inadequate housing, food, and medical care for the children in the system, according to CNN.  Children in foster care often experience instability and lack of continuity in their lives, as they may be moved from one foster home to another, or placed with multiple families over time. 

Moving from home to home can lead to emotional trauma and difficulty forming stable relationships. In addition to the challenges of finding a child a foster home, foster families may not receive adequate support, training, or resources to care for the children in their care. A lack of resources can lead to foster parent burnout, stress, and difficulty providing appropriate care for the children placed in their homes.

According to the Annie E. Casey Foundation, more than a third of foster children and youth experience more than two placements each year, mean-ing their liv-ing arrangements change at least twice a year. At the state lev-el in 2020, this figure ranged from 24% to 49%.

Priority Family Services is a local, non-profit, religious-based organization in Bellevue that provides training and support to foster families. Jay Odom is the foster care supervisor at Priority. 

“The foster care system we use here puts parents trying to be foster parents through a rigorous training program, to ensure they are qualified,” Odum said.

Priority uses a system they call parent time, which allows children to see parents and other siblings.

“Parent time is a course of sorts we offer where the time that children spend in the care of one of their parents, whether or not the child is physically with that parent,” Odum said.

Madisyn Rogert is the administrator at Priority, and she overseas how the program is run.

“The foster care system provides temporary care for children who cannot live with their biological parents for various reasons, such as abuse, neglect, or abandonment. While foster care can be a necessary and beneficial solution for children in need,” Rogert said.

Foster families are often in need of many resources, from clothing, to food, and other items often taken for granted, like toys.

“We have a drive where we get gifts for youth, we get things for Christmas and other holidays, and the younger children especially really like it,” Rogert said.

Former foster child Aadam Kumar has been in the foster care system for his entire life, experiencing moves from one home to another.

“I’ve been in multiple households throughout my life, some good, some bad, and I’ve had many experiences with more negligent parents and more caring parents,” Kumar said.

Because of inadequate resources, not enough money, or changes in the foster family since they were last checked on, the experience a child has in each home can be different. 

“I’ve been with some families with too many kids, some families haven’t cared about me, some haven’t had the food and resources to help me, as well as families who, at the time of me entering, were fine, but went downhill, but this wasn’t always the case,” Kumar said.

According to the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services, there are three types of foster homes: a relative foster home, a kinship foster home, and a licensed foster home. A relative foster home is when the foster parent is related to the foster child by blood marriage or adoption. A kinship foster home is when the foster parent has a significant pre-existing relationship with the child for whom they care for, such as being a former teacher, coach, neighbor, etc. A licensed foster home is when the foster parent has not known the foster child previously. 

To become a foster parent, the state of Nebraska requires background checks, home studies, references, a completed licensing application, and training. 

The background checks are to ensure that all adults in the home are safe to care for the foster children.

 “Background checks are required for all members of the household that are 18 years old and older.  A national criminal history check including fingerprinting will also be conducted,” DHHS stated. 

Home studies are require to ensure that all homes are safe environments for children. 

“A home study is … conducted by either DHHS or a contracted foster care agency. Home studies vary in duration due to factors inside the home,” DHHS stated.

In addition to the background checks and home studies, foster parents who want to care for foster children must have references that speak to the character of the applicant.

“Three positive reference checks are required for each adult household member who will provide care to children,” DHHS stated. 

Part of the application for licensing also requires the involvement of a health care provider. 

“A completed foster care licensing application and a health information report is required for each adult household member providing care, signed by a health practitioner,” DHHS said. 

DHHS will provide the forms and training, but anyone who wants to foster children can contact the Nebraska Foster and Adoptive Parent Association at 1-800-7PARENT (1-800-772-7368).