Nebraska is one of just seven states in the country that saw an increase in foster children this year, according to the Adoption and Foster Care Analysis and Reporting System.
Nebraska's numbers increased by six percent this year compared to last. Executive Director of the Foster Care Review Office Monika Gross said Lincoln County, home to North Platte, has more kids in foster care than Sarpy County in the Omaha metro area.
"The question I'm asking and I don't necessarily have the answer to this, is why does a county with less than 9,000 children have more children in foster care than a county that has over 55,000 children," she said.
The Foster Care Review Office's December 2021 Quarterly Report shows one in four children in foster care had five or more caseworkers, some even had 10 or more. Gross said that decreases their chances of finding a permanent home.