OMNI Behavioral Healthcare prides it’s self on their excellent support to their foster homes. OMNI has a saying that all employees take pride in and that saying is “we do whatever it takes”. OMNI is in the process of rebuilding their foster care program in the Lincoln area
Jerry Taylor currently is a single foster father with OMNI. Jerry works with teen age boys who need a good, strong male role model in their lives. He has had the privilege of having 14 foster youth stay in his home over the past twelve years until they are either ready for independent living, return home or age out of the system. Jerry has had many years of experience with parenting as he has successfully raised his own three sons and is active in his daughter’s life.
Jerry Taylor came from rural Mississippi where he experienced close knit family community to Omaha, Ne. Growing up among many families that experienced the absence of a positive male role model unlike him whose dad was present in the home. Most of his friends and peers that he grew up around lacked a positive role model in their lives. In his adult years Jerry has made the decision to impact the lives of youth in his community. Jerry has been strongly led by his Christian values which he openly shares with others.
“Fostering a child is an opportunity to positively impact the life of a youth who may have experienced a challenging childhood” states Jerry Taylor who has been with OMNI for the past 5 years. Jerry also known as JT, is very active in the Lincoln community. He prides himself as a strong male advocate for the at risk youth in the community. Jerry is employee full time working with a very diverse population of youth in the Lincoln community as well as is the founder of the Lincoln Monarch Youth Sports and Enrichment Program.
Knowing what type of child best fits in one’s home is very important when being a foster parent. With the high demand of foster homes needed each licensed home must really take into consideration what characteristics they feel they can work with. Jerry is a wonderful example of this. He requires each youth that may be successful in his home to do a pre-placement visit. At which time JT will discuss with the youth his house rules, what a day in the Taylor home is like and what is expected out of the youth. He will also ask the youth what they want out of foster care and what their goals are. Education and self-motivation are high on the list for Jerry.
Jerry feels that there should be more families that are willing to open their hearts and homes to the youth in need that are within the foster care system. OMNI Behavioral Health is currently holding classes for pre-service training for potential foster families. The minimal requirements are to be 21 years of age, married or single, undergo a background check and have a bed for each individual child placed in one’s home.
We are looking for a diverse population of foster parents. If you would like more information on becoming a foster parent please contact Kerry Washington foster care director at 402-309-3642.
Additional information can be found at www.omnibehavioralhealth.com.