How to Become a Foster Parent in Omaha
- 1). Contact a foster care caseworker in your area. For Omaha, the nearest office is the Douglas County Department of Human Services. The caseworker can explain the basic qualifications necessary to become a foster parent, which include being at least 19 years of age, as well as the ability to demonstrate that you are in good health and financially stable.
- 2). Complete background requirements. In order to satisfy federal and state requirements for prospective foster parents, you and members of your household must pass criminal background and child-abuse registry checks. You must also submit three favorable references.
- 3). Complete a 27-hour training course known as PRIDE. The course covers child development; building supportive, nurturing relationships with foster children and their families; and addressing developmental delays.
- 4). Make sure your home meets certain standards, such as water safety and a separate bed for each foster child. Depending on the number of children you care for, you may also be required to comply with fire-safety codes and receive a visit from a state sanitarian, according to the Department of Health and Human Services.
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