Release Offers Foster Parent Training to Address 70+ Omaha Kids in Need of a Home
Local nonprofit Release (www.releaseinc.org) recognizes that Omaha consistently has a long waiting list of children in need of foster families to care for them until they can be reunited with their families. In fact, more than 70 children will need a home in the coming weeks. Unfortunately, Omaha has a dire shortage of foster parents ready to care for them. This is why Release is working to address this need by providing training and ongoing support for those who wish to make a profound difference in the life of a child.
Registration is now open for Release’s Foster Parent Training which will begin on January 11, 2022, and meet weekly for 10 weeks. In addition to the initial session, Release provides ongoing training and 24/7 support to foster families. Foster parents also receive a monthly stipend from the state for the children placed in their home.
Release is particularly looking for families who are willing to work with the child’s biological family and support the goal of helping the child safely return home when the time and circumstances are right. The average length of time in foster care is one year, but this can vary widely from just a few days to several years. Also, there is a great need for families who are willing to care for teens or sibling groups, as many of the 70+ kids needing homes are in these categories.
Release provides foster care, mentoring, mental health care, and in-home services for youth and families in Omaha. Founded in 1994, Release is a faith-based nonprofit organization committed to helping families become safe, together, healthy, and free. For more information or to register for Release’s Foster Parent Training, go to www.releaseinc.org or call Janece Ferris at (402) 525-6470.