Foster care is a protective service to children and their families when families can no longer care for their children. There are many reasons and circumstances that make it difficult for biological families to meet the needs of their children—including poverty, substance abuse, mental illness, homelessness, teen pregnancy, loss of a job, or lack of support from extended family. Unlike birth parents, foster parents receive training before they welcome children into their home, and support from social workers and other professionals throughout the process. Foster parents often also have access to respite care programs, and find support through local organizations, such as churches, and online support groups.

Traditionally, the foster parent’s role was seen as a temporary one—and even today more than half of children who enter foster care are reunified with their birth parents. Foster parents are frequently asked to support these reunification efforts—including facilitating visitations and attending court appearances—and must always be prepared to accept the loss of a child who returns to birth parents or is placed with another relative when that is found to be in the child’s best interest.

In Nebraska, foster care is regulated by the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS). The state recognizes foster care as a temporary arrangement for children who cannot live with their biological families due to various challenges such as poverty, substance abuse, mental illness, and other factors. Prospective foster parents in Nebraska are required to undergo training and receive licensure before they can care for children. They are supported by social workers and have access to resources like respite care and support groups. Foster parents play a crucial role in supporting the goal of reunification with biological families, which is a primary objective in many cases. They are expected to facilitate visitations, attend court hearings, and assist in the transition process when children are reunified with their birth parents or placed with other relatives. Nebraska law emphasizes the best interest of the child in all foster care decisions, and foster parents must be prepared for the possibility of a child leaving their care when it is deemed beneficial for the child's well-being.