Emergency Foster Care
Definition?  
Residential Safety Services are for children who have recently been removed from their previous living environment and are in need of immediate placement.  In most cases the needs of children entering Emergency Foster Care have not been determined, thus a structured level of care has not been identified. Payment is through Nebraska Health and Human Services (NHHS) or the Integrated Care Coordination Unit (ICCU) and the youth must be under the age of nineteen (19) and a current Ward of the State.  

A Foster Care specialist will work with the child and foster parent on identified goals a minimum of one hour every week. 
A Foster Care supervisor will meet with the foster care family each week to assess the child, monitor the placement, coordinate services, support the family, problem solve, and ensure the service plan is being implemented.  The supervisor will also have weekly phone contact with the foster parent and the NHHS case manager throughout the month.  
 
How do I access services? 
Referrals will be accepted through NHHS and or the ICCU.  Referrals will be made through the Residential Safety Services phone and designated Visinet, Inc. staff.  Visinet, Inc. staff must accept or decline a referral within one hour of receipt.  Follow up information on the child will be obtained in a timely manner as made available to NHHS and the ICCU.  A referral will be made by the appropriate NHHS/ICCU placement staff member.

What are the criteria?
A child must be in need of immediate placement as determined by his/her NHHS/ICCU case manager using the Foster Care Checklist.   

Payment?
Residential Safety Services is funded through NHHS.  Payment is furnished through an authorization from the income maintenance worker/case manager with NHHS/ICCU.

Who do I call?
Contact the Foster Care Coordinator in the Omaha office at (402) 898-8881, in Lincoln at (402) 464-8866 for further information.