Bellevue Adoption & Foster Care Resources

Those considering adoption often wonder where to find local adoption agencies, home study providers, and other resources in their area. Whether you are making an adoption plan as hopeful parents or as a woman facing an unplanned pregnancy, the following information includes Bellevue adoption agencies, foster care resources and home study professionals to help you get started. For more information about state adoption laws, qualifications and processes, visit our Adoption in Nebraska page.

Adoption Agencies and Professionals in Bellevue

Whether you are a pregnant mother or a family hoping to adopt, your first step in the adoption process will be choosing a professional. If you are ready to start the process and looking for the right professional, you can start your search by visiting the pages of the following local agencies and professionals:

• Bethany Christian Services

Bellevue Foster Care Resources

To be a foster parent in Bellevue, couples and individuals must meet the requirements of the state and their chosen agency. For prospective foster parents in Nebraska, that means you must complete a 27-hour PRIDE training program. This orientation will prepare you for everything you need to become a foster parent. If you are interested in becoming a foster family, contact a local foster care organization:

• Lutheran Family Services of Nebraska, Inc.
• Nebraska Children’s Home Society

Home Study Providers

The home study signifies that you are officially ready to adopt a child. During this assessment, a social worker will conduct a background check, visit your home, and interview the members of your household to make sure your home is safe for a baby. The home study can take up to a few months, so it is recommended that you begin as soon as possible. See the sections below for information on Nebraska-licensed home study providers:

• Jewish Family Service 402-330-2024 Located in Omaha, this agency will conduct your home study and post-placement assessments regardless of your religious affiliation.

• Holt International 402-934-5031 Holt International works all across the country and has a branch that provides home studies specifically in Nebraska, Iowa, and South Dakota.

• Adoption Consultants 308-340-6242 Adoption Consultants has licensed social workers located in every area of Nebraska, with over 50 years of combined experience between them. See their website for more contact information.

Visit 1800HomeStudy.com to learn more about Nebraska home study providers.

Hospitals near Bellevue

One of the most emotional parts of the adoption process, both for birth parents and adoptive families, is the time spent in the hospital when the baby is born. It is entirely up to the birth mother to decide how she would like her hospital stay to go. If you are making an adoption plan for your baby, you will work with your adoption professional and your delivery hospital to ensure everything happens exactly as you want it to. When you are ready to begin creating your hospital plan, here are some Bellevue area hospitals that may be able to assist you:

• Nebraska Medicine Bellevue 2500 Bellevue Medical Center Drive Bellevue, NE 68123 877-763-3001

• CHI Health Creighton University Medical Center - Bergan Mercy 7500 Mercy Road Omaha, NE 68124 402-398-6060

Nebraska Adoption Laws and Requirements

All adoptions taking place in Bellevue must comply with Nebraska adoption laws. State adoption laws regulate many steps in the adoption process, and it is important to work with your adoption professional or adoption attorney to ensure your adoption is legally valid. To learn more about Nebraska adoption laws, visit our Nebraska adoption page. For an overview of the legal processes that impact birth parents and adoptive families, read the following sections. Birth Parents: To protect your rights throughout the adoption process, there are several Nebraska laws in place regulating adoption consent, relinquishment, paternity establishment, and more. Find this information, along with other Nebraska adoption laws, in our state adoption information or at the Child Welfare Information Gateway. Adoptive Families: As you begin considering adoption in the Bellevue area, you should become familiar with Nebraska adoption requirements. Nebraska laws regulate who is eligible to adopt, how much money can be spent on an adoption, how advertising may be used in connection with adoption, and more.  For specific information, you can speak to your adoption professional.

County Court Information

Approximately six months after taking their baby home, an adoptive family must legally finalize their adoption in court. If you are waiting to finalize your adoption, your adoption specialist or attorney will provide you with more information before you appear in court. For more information on court proceedings in your area, you can visit the Sarpy County Court.

Things to Do in Bellevue

Throughout the adoption process, you may find yourself spending some time in Bellevue, either visiting prospective birth parents or waiting for ICPC clearances. Here are some local sights to enjoy during your time in the area:

• Fontenelle Forest
• Sarpy County Museum
• Bellevue Berry & Pumpkin Ranch