Serves families interested in adopting a legally free child.

Allows birth parents and adoptive parents to design an adoption plan that is in the best interest of the child, and recognizes the importance of the adoptive parents and birth parents developing an on-going relationship. Services include:

-- Counseling young women who are pregnant.

-- Adoption orientations.

-- Adoption home studies for domestic and international adoptions, as well as for special needs adoptions.

-- Post-placement supervision.

-- Finalization services.

-- Ongoing support groups.

-- Adoption searches.

Provides accurate information on adoption, and lifelong support, so the family is successful in meeting the child's best interest by offering the following services and resources:

Provides free and confidential pregnancy counseling for families, every step of the way; before, during, and after the birth of the child.

Assistance with making an adoption plan or parenting plan.

Parenting education.

Support and education for baby's father on request.

Home studies for prospective adoptive parents.

Newborn care home for baby as a safe haven.

Services are designed to support and strengthen the lives of adoptive parents, adult adopted persons, and birth parents by providing compassionate profiles, searches, and intermediary services.

Services include:

-- Individual and Family Counseling by request from anyone involved in an adoption plan made through Catholic Charities at any time.

-- Mutual consent registry.

-- Background histories and non-identifying profiles.

-- Post adoption search and intermediary service in the form of indirect and direct contact between interested parties.

Serves all Nebraska adoptive families - international, domestic infant, private, step-parent and foster adoptive families. Advocates for the special interests of adoptive families and connects families to one another. Six core services include Permanency Support Services, Respite Care Connections, Parent2Parent Network, Mental Health Connections, Training, and Support Groups and Family Activities.

Case management available for up to 180 days. Individualized family plan designed and implemented with the family's input.

Assists post adoptive and guardianship families in locating formal and informal respite providers and can provide financial assistance for respite services (limited). All families who receive financial respite assistance through the program will be asked to attend a training.

Mentoring in partnership with Nebraska Foster and Adoptive Parent Association (NFAPA) to assist in providing peer mentoring services to post adoptive and guardianship families.

Mental health services - locates and refers families to professional post adoption and guardianship providers.

Training opportunities that can support skill building on issues related to adoption.

Support groups and networks for families and youth where social networks can be created and peer support can be achieved.

Provides a list of referrals for adoption agencies in the area.

Offers expectant parent advocacy that includes help and support for anyone who is pregnant, domestic adoptions and post-adoption services that includes counseling for children who have experienced trauma.

Adoption services include recruitment, screening, assessing, and case management provided to persons choosing to adopt an infant. Counseling and support are provided to birth mothers/fathers choosing to place a child for adoption, as well as post-adoptive services for those who are adopted, adoptive parents, and birth parents. This includes international and private adoptions.

Adoptive home assessments provide guidance to prospective adoptive parents and/or adoptive parents in Iowa and Illinois.

Provides accurate information on adoption, and lifelong support, so the family is successful in meeting the child's best interest by offering the following services and resources:

Provides free and confidential pregnancy counseling for families, every step of the way; before, during, and after the birth of the child.

Assistance with making an adoption plan or parenting plan.

Parenting education.

Support and education for baby's father on request.

Home studies for prospective adoptive parents.

Newborn care home for baby as a safe haven.

Assists adoptive families with the process of adoption. Adoption specialists available to provide support and guidance before, during, and after adoptions.

Adoption programs:

-- Domestic Identified Adoption: Prospective adoptive families and birth parents connect with each other directly or through an intermediary. LCFS can provide guidance to the prospective adoptive families.

-- Interstate Adoption: LCFS can assist prospective adoptive families in Illinois who identify prospective birth parents in another state. LCFS can also assist prospective adoptive families living outside of Illinois who have located expectant parents living in Illinois who are considering an adoption plan.

-- Adopting Children in Care: LCFS can assist prospective adoptive parents who are interested in adopting youth in care who are waiting for adoptive families.

-- International (Home Study Only) Adoption: LCFS can complete a home study for Illinois prospective adoptive parents who are working with a Hague-accredited placing agency.