On any given day in Nebraska, approximately 212 children in the foster care system are waiting for adoptive families.
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The Adoption Partnership was created in 1999 as a collaboration between Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services System and Adoption Links Worldwide, Child Saving Institute, and Lutheran Family Services. These agencies contract with the Nebraska Health and Human Services System to find permanent adoptive homes for children legally free for adoption.
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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.
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'll 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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| Attend an Orientation/Information Meeting |
$0 |
| Register and Attend PRIDE Training Classes |
$0 |
| Special Needs Adoption Home Study |
$0 |
| Placement |
$0 |
| Post Placement |
$0 |
Total
(All costs are paid for by Health and Human Services) |
$0 |
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| Adoption Links Worldwide is the local adoption partner for Wendy's Wonderful Kids, a national program of the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption.
This groundbreaking initiative funds recruiters across the country dedicated to finding adoptive families for waiting foster care children. Wendy's Wonderful Kids will place up to 10,000 children in loving, adoptive homes in five years. For more information, visit www.WendysWonderfulKids.org or call us at (402) 556-2367.
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Brenna Poindexter, Wendy's Wonderful Kids Recruiter, will be working with and receiving referrals from the Adoption Partnership to help facilitate matches for the waiting foster care children and potential adoptive parents. The adoption family recruiter will be using child focused recruitment techniques to find a forever family for these children.
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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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Frequently Asked Questions • Getting Started • Meet the Kids
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| Foster Child Adoption: Helpful Links |
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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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Nebraska Heart Gallery
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