How Foster Care Works

Wherever you live in Nebraska, Guardian Light is here to guide, train, and support you on your foster care journey—every step of the way.

Apply Now
Foster care support and family services

Comprehensive Training & Guidance

We provide all the training you need to feel confident and prepared, with expert guidance and resources tailored for new foster parents.

24/7 Local Support

Our dedicated caseworkers are available day and night, so you’re never alone—help is always just a call away, no matter where you are.

Statewide Community

With five offices across Nebraska, you’ll find a welcoming community and local support wherever you call home.

Guardian Light team member with foster families

Financial Assistance

Receive monthly reimbursements and help with expenses, so you can focus on providing a safe, loving environment for children in need.

What Does It Take 
To Become a Foster Parent?

Applying to become a Foster parent or family can be a long process, but we're here with you every step of the way.
Set Up A Call
We'd love to get to know you and share more about being a foster family and answer any questions you may have.
Fill Out
The GLFS Application
After we chat, you'll fill out the application to get the process underway. We'll be available to you if you have any questions that come up as you fill out the application.
Background
Checks
To ensure kids end up in the best situations possible, this process will have you consent to some pretty extensive background checks. We promise to treat your information with the utmost safety and security.
Health
Information
To be approved as a foster family, you'll need to provide up-to-date health information from a licensed medical-provider.
DHHS
Application
At this step you'll complete the full application with the DHHS and become approved by the State of Nebraska.
Ready To Get Started?
Get Started

Foster Parent Requirements

To become a foster parent in Nebraska, you'll need to meet these basic requirements:

✓ Be at least 21 years old

✓ Complete background checks

✓ Have adequate living space

Foster family support event in Nebraska
Happy family spending quality time together

Types of Foster Care

Guardian Light offers various foster care options to match your family's capacity and the needs of children in care.

• Traditional Foster Care

Temporary care while families work toward reunification

• Emergency Foster Care

Short-term placements for children needing immediate care and safety.

• Therapeutic / Treatment Foster Care

For children with behavioral, emotional, or medical needs requiring specialized support

• Kinship / Relative Care

When relatives become licensed to care for family members

Support Every
Step of the Way

Guardian Light provides comprehensive support to ensure your success as a foster parent:

•24/7 Caseworker Availability

Our experienced team is available around the clock for guidance and support.

•Full Nebraska Coverage

We proudly serve all 93 counties in Nebraska so no matter where you call home, we've got your back.

•Experience & Service

Our team has been serving families in Nebraska for a long time and we're here to put that experience to work for you.

Children participating in Guardian Light community event

Why Choose Guardian Light Family Services?

Targeted Help for Nebraska Families
Family Support workers partner with parents and caregivers to enhance protective factors within their households using evidence-based practices — aiming for safety, permanency and well-being.
Comprehensive Service Offerings
Services include parenting-time/supervised visits, drug-testing services and broad family-support outreach across Nebraska, helping families navigate multiple needs in one place.
Trusted Public-Sector Partnership
The program works under contract with the Nebraska Department of Health & Human Services (DHHS) for referred clients, which reinforces credibility and regulatory alignment.
Local Access and Statewide Coverage
While based in North Platte, GLFS's Family Support services reach families throughout Nebraska — providing accessible support whether you're urban or rural.
Holistic Support, Not Just Crisis Intervention
Rather than only reacting to issues, the program supports parents and guardians proactively with coaching, resources and education to strengthen the overall family system.
Mission-Driven Impact and Measurable Reach
The agency reports having served hundreds of families in recent years, showcasing both experience and community commitment.
Every case is different — don't judge a book by its cover. I'm here to make a difference in our children's lives.
Jennifer Pieper
Family Support Worker
Guardian Light team member with foster families
Working for families is an infinite blessing for me. I believe that if more people took an interest in family support work, communities would be more livable.
Hounlete Atchade
Family Support Worker
Guardian Light team member with foster families
I do this work for the children I serve who deserve better than what they've had. I always want to be a positive person in a child's life and hope they view me as a safe space.
Elyse Peterson
Foster Care Specialist / Family Support Worker
Guardian Light team member with foster families
Every family deserves the opportunity to become the best version of themselves. We get the honor of helping families do just that — reach their goals when it comes to safe and healthy parenting.
Melissa Misegadis
Foster Care Director
Guardian Light team member with foster families
It takes a village to raise a child — and I enjoy being part of the village.
Haley Tilson
Family Support Worker
Guardian Light team member with foster families
I don't just offer resources; I offer the empathy of someone who has walked the path. My mission is to ensure every family has the guidance and love they need to break their own cycles and thrive.
Savannah Godina
Family Support Worker
Guardian Light team member with foster families
I believe one person can make a difference. I am striving to be that one person for my clients — and to give back what was given to me when services were provided for me as a youth.
David Heim
Family Support Worker
Guardian Light team member with foster families
Most families involved in services truly love their kids — what they need is support, not judgment.
Amiya Puterbaugh
Family Support Worker
Guardian Light team member with foster families
Children deserve to have people who fight for their wellbeing — since they cannot do it for themselves. I would want someone to fight for me if I were in their shoes.
Natalie Minchow
Foster Care Supervisor
Guardian Light team member with foster families
Foster care allows children to heal, while also being loved and cared for by adults they may not have known before.
Janelle Thomson
Foster Care Specialist
Guardian Light team member with foster families
I believe every person is capable of positive change when they are given support, guidance, and the opportunity to succeed. Families can heal, grow, and thrive together.
Maddy Koch
Family Support Worker
Guardian Light team member with foster families
There is nothing more rewarding than witnessing a family push through the most difficult moments of their lives and come out stronger on the other side.
Kersten Cook
Family Support Worker
Guardian Light team member with foster families
My heart is in this work because I understand how much a safe, caring adult can change a child's life. As a child, I didn't always have a voice — now I have the honor of being one.
Shelby Weber
Family Support Worker
Guardian Light team member with foster families
No one wants to take your babies. We want them to come home to their family — and for everyone to be safe and loved.
Jessica Goodall
Family Support Worker
Guardian Light team member with foster families
After becoming an empty nester, I felt I had more to contribute to the community. I've personally seen families improve, do the work to reunify, and thrive — and that keeps me going.
Susanne Shald
Family Support Supervisor
Guardian Light team member with foster families
I do this work because I want to give back to the community and help those in need.
Jenna Wirth
Family Support Worker
Guardian Light team member with foster families
If I can help one child feel safe, it is worth more than a million words. I believe we cross paths with others for a reason — and someone will always learn something.
Tina Mulei
Family Support Worker
Guardian Light team member with foster families
My husband and I did foster care to provide a safe home for children — but it didn't seem like enough. I ventured to the other side of the fence to help parents make changes so they never have to be in this situation again.
Amantha Moseley
FSW / Mentor
Guardian Light team member with foster families
No matter the circumstance, I want every child to know that they matter and are worth it.
Madison Bukowski
Foster Care Mentor / Family Support Worker
Guardian Light team member with foster families
Helping families overcome obstacles and build better lives is what drives me every day. Being able to support a family through their struggles and watch them grow is what makes this work so meaningful.
Star Trevino
Family Support Worker
Guardian Light team member with foster families
Foster Parenting

How do families access GLFS family support services?

Family support services through Guardian Light are typically referred by DHHS or ordered by a court as part of a family's case plan. If you are a biological parent whose case plan includes Guardian Light services, your caseworker will coordinate the referral. If you are a referral source or judge, contact your nearest Guardian Light office directly to discuss service availability.

Can GLFS provide multiple services for the same family?

Yes. Guardian Light can coordinate multiple services for the same family under one agency. A family may receive supervised visitation, drug testing, and parenting classes simultaneously through GLFS, which simplifies coordination for DHHS, judges, and the family itself.

What is the difference between IHSV and OHSV?

GLFS provides two types of supervised visitation: In-Home Supervised Visitation (IHSV), where a Guardian Light worker supervises visits in the family's home, and On-Site/Office-Based Supervised Visitation (OHSV), where visits take place at one of our visitation centers. The type ordered depends on the specifics of the court or DHHS arrangement.
Foster care essentials
Training & ongoing support
Nebraska-wide Service

Serving All 93 Nebraska Counties.

We are Nebraska's only family support and foster care organization that is 100% distributed.

We work all across Nebraska so we can serve families all over Nebraska.

image of pet adoption paperwork
Impact across Nebraska
Hundreds of youth and families find hope and support through our caring foster network, building brighter futures for Nebraskans together.
Statewide Service
We're a distributed team, which means we have caring and supportive team members all over the state to  provide service to all 93 of Nebraska's counties.
5 Visitation Centers
With Visitation Centers in North Platte, Kearney, Sidney, Scottsbluff, and Omaha we're here to support your families no matter where you live.
See Our Locations

Become A Child's Hero

Your decision to become a foster parent can change a child's life forever. Guardian Light is here to support you every step of the way.

Apply To Become
A Foster Family