Lincoln Adoption & Foster Care Resources

If you are in the Lincoln, Nebraska area and looking to start your adoption journey, you may be unsure of where and how to start. The following resources will help guide you through each stage of adopting in Lincoln; read on to find information about adoption agencies, foster care professionals, home study providers, and more.

Adoption Agencies and Professionals in Lincoln

There are multiple kinds of adoption professionals you can consult if you are considering adoption, including facilitators, law firms, and law centers. Adoption agencies, whether they are national or local, are beneficial to expecting mothers and adoptive families because they provide all of the services you need in one place.
If you would like to find an adoption agency or other professional in Lincoln, follow some of the links below:

• Lutheran Family Services of Nebraska, Inc.
• Nebraska Children’s Home Society
• Stephanie Flynn Law Office, P.C., LLO
• Kelly Tollefsen Law Offices, P.C., LLO
• Kotik & McClure Attorneys at Law, LLC

Lincoln Foster Care Resources

Parents looking to pursue foster care in Lincoln should become familiar with the requirements in Nebraska, which includes completing the state’s 27-hour PRIDE training. The program will prepare you for what you will need to become a Nebraska foster parent.
To learn more about foster parenting in Lincoln or to inquire about available children, contact one of your nearby foster care professionals:

• Nebraska Foster and Adoptive Parent Association
• CEDARS Home for Children
• The Foster Care Closet
• Christian Heritage

Home Study Providers

Consisting of personal interviews, background checks, a home evaluation and more, the Nebraska home study is one of the most important parts of every adoption and foster care process.
It is important to choose the right professional to complete your adoption home study and ensure it complies with all state laws and requirements. To get started, contact a home study provider in your area:

• 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.
• Lutheran Family Services of Nebraska, Inc.
  402-342-7038
  LFS works with contracted home study providers to help you complete your Nebraska home study, whether or not you choose to work with their agency.

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

Hospitals near Lincoln

If you are a pregnant mother and pursuing adoption, you will want to work with your adoption specialist and healthcare provider to plan your hospital stay. By creating a hospital plan, you can let those involved in your adoption know how you want the big day to proceed and who you want to be there with you.
To get started or find more information, you can contact a nearby hospital:

• Bryan Medical Center
  1500 South 48th Street
  Lincoln, NE 68506
  402-481-7444
• CHI Health St. Elizabeth
  555 South 70th Street
  Lincoln, NE 68510
  402-219-8000

Nebraska Adoption Laws and Requirements

Expectant and adopting parents in Lincoln must abide by Nebraska law when they are pursuing their adoption plans. To learn more about the process and legal procedures, visit our page on How to Adopt in Nebraska. For a brief overview of laws pertaining to birth parents and adoptive families, read the sections below.
Birth Parents:
In order for a child to be adopted, the birth mother and father must both give consent or have their parental rights otherwise terminated. In Nebraska, you must wait until 48 hours after the baby is born before you may legally consent to the adoption.
In some cases, the explicit consent of the birth father is not needed. If the father of the child is not present, cannot be contacted, or does not consent to the adoption for another reason, speak to your adoption professional about what measures you need to take.
For more information on consent laws and your parental rights, visit the Child Welfare Information Gateway.
Adoptive Families:
Each state has a unique set of basic requirements that families must meet before they can pursue adoption. According to Nebraska laws, any adult or husband-and-wife couple may adopt. Married couples must adopt jointly except in a stepparent adoption.
Additionally, you must meet the requirements put in place by your adoption professional. Adoption agencies and other professionals may have more stringent eligibility criteria, so make sure to take this into account when choosing who to work with in your adoption.

County Court Information

Adoptions are finalized in court after a number of post-placement visits by a social worker. Your adoption specialist will inform you of what you need to do when it is time to finalize your adoption. If you would like information on the courts near you, you can visit the Lancaster County Court.

Things to Do in Lincoln

If you are adopting a child from the Lincoln area, you may find yourself spending some time in the city, either visiting prospective birth parents or waiting for ICPC clearances. Here are some fun local attractions to visit if you are looking for ways to spend your time in Lincoln:

• Sunken Gardens
• Nebraska State Capitol
• Lincoln Children’s Zoo
• University of Nebraska State Museum