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On any given day in Nebraska, over 200 children in the foster care system are waiting for adoptive families. Adoption Links Worldwide is the local partner for Wendy’s Wonderful Kids, a national signature program of the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption.* This groundbreaking program utilizes child focused recruitment techniques to help children in foster care find permanent, loving adoptive homes. Adoption Links Worldwide received this grant beginning in 2005 and has had great success finding permanent homes for Nebraska’s waiting children. For more information on Wendy’s Wonderful Kids please visit www.wendyswonderfulkids.org. Brenna Poindexter and Lisa Kelly, Wendy’s Wonderful Kids Adoptive Family Recruiters, work with and receive referrals from the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services System to help facilitate matches for the waiting foster care children and potential adoptive parents. Brenna and Lisa use child focused recruitment techniques to find permanent homes for these children. Child focused recruitment includes: |
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Researching a child's case record to identify individuals important to the child |
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Meeting with the child to identify his or her wants and needs in a forever family |
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Forming a team of adults important in the child's life to brainstorm possible permanency options for the child |
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Utilizing the media to profile each child and their need for a family |
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Execute target recruitment in churches, community events, and featuring children in newspapers and on adoption websites. |
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| Who Can Adopt? |
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May be married or single. Families with or without other children may adopt. |
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Must be willing to complete training and become a licensed foster home. |
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Must love children, be flexible and resourceful, and have room in your home and heart for a child. |
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| Who are the Waiting Children? |
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| Children may be teenagers; African American or multiracial children; sibling groups; those age eight or older; those who have emotional or behavior issues; and those who are physically, mentally or developmentally challenged. |
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| This program's focus is on recruiting adoptive families for children in Nebraska's foster care system. These children are legally free for adoption and have a variety of special needs. Many of Nebraska's waiting children have had multiple placements within the foster care system while others have had a single, long-term placement. Many have experienced neglect and/or abuse which can leave children with emotional and behavioral problems they will need to work through with the help of knowledgeable professionals. |
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| How Long Is the Process? |
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| The entire process can take anywhere from 6 months to one year. |
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| What Is the Process & Fee Structure? |
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| Please contact us for information about how to get the process started.
There are no fees for this program. A child with special needs from this program may be eligible to receive an adoption subsidy. The subsidy is intended to help with the cost of the often-expensive services the child may require. While in the foster care system, children are eligible for Medicaid. Once adopted, you will have the option of adding your child to your insurance. Special needs children may retain their Medicaid eligibility up to age 19. |
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| Meet the Kids•Frequently Asked Questions |
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AdoptUSKids |
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Dave Thomas Foundation* |
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Nebraska Adoption Exchange |
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Nebraska Foster & Adoptive Parent Association |
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| * | ©2007 Oldemark LLC. The Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption name and design is a registered trademark of Oldemark LLC and is licensed to the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption. The Wendy's name is a registered trademark of Oldemark LLC and is licensed to Wendy's International, Inc. |
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