Our Approach

Heart of Release
Needs We Serve
A Holistic Response
What Clients Say

Our Approach

Relationships are the heart of everything we do

When it comes to people, we don't give up. We know lasting change is hard and holy work.

Release was born in response to the needs of the kids in the Douglas County Youth Center. Since then, we've grown organically to connect youth with mentors, take social work directly into the homes of families, offer mental health services, and help kids find homes through foster care. Today, we stand on the shoulders of hundreds of volunteers and staff members who devoted their time and energy to make our Omaha community a better place to live.

Relationships are the heart of everything we do

When it comes to people, we don't give up. We know lasting change is hard and holy work.

Release was born in response to the needs of the kids in the Douglas County Youth Center. Since then, we've grown organically to connect youth with mentors, take social work directly into the homes of families, offer mental health services, and help kids find homes through foster care. Today, we stand on the shoulders of hundreds of volunteers and staff members who devoted their time and energy to make our Omaha community a better place to live.

Relationships are the heart of everything we do

When it comes to people, we don't give up. We know lasting change is hard and holy work.

Release was born in response to the needs of the kids in the Douglas County Youth Center. Since then, we've grown organically to connect youth with mentors, take social work directly into the homes of families, offer mental health services, and help kids find homes through foster care. Today, we stand on the shoulders of hundreds of volunteers and staff members who devoted their time and energy to make our Omaha community a better place to live.

Needs We Serve

There are significant needs within our community that can easily be overlooked or forgotten. Behind every number is a person who matters and deserves to be treated with human dignity. When such dignity is consistently carried into our difficulties, hope is born– taking that next step isn't impossible anymore.

Douglas and
Sarpy County

0

Average age
of Child

0

Average Number
of Placements

0

Average Number
of Case Workers

0

Median Days in Care

0

Kids in the
Child Welfare System

Parent mental health

8%

Parental incarceration

8%

Physical abuse

12%

Domestic violence

15.5%

Housing substandard - unsafe

19.6%

Parent meth use

20.6%

Parent drug use

31.2%

Neglect

56.2%

Additional reasons: No fault adjudication 10%, Parent alcohol use 9%, What happened to sibling 8%, and Child's behavior 7%. Data source: December 2022 Quarterly Report by the Nebraska Foster Care Review Office.

A Holistic Approach

We take a holistic approach when serving families and young people, strategically assisting in areas of identified need: mental health challenges, addiction issues, trauma, poverty, and family instability.

We combine effective, evidenced-based practices with a relational approach built on kindness and respect. Using God’s unconditional love as our example, we strive to create an environment where our clients can feel heard, seen, and accepted.

We work within the welfare system and its dynamically interconnected challenges. Each component is complex and can’t be addressed in isolation. A good physician treats a person with multiple health concerns by considering each symptom. They recognize the conditions exist in the same body. We understand all the components of our work are also interconnected and require holistic solutions.

Relationships matter to us. We walk with people toward a positive future, make sure that they get treatment help, stay by their side when they’re scared, and advocate for them to get the resources people need.

Over the last 30 years, we have grown in our ability to serve families who are struggling. Our daily intention is to reach each person in the spirit of God’s love and compassion.

A Holistic Approach

We take a holistic approach when serving families and young people, strategically assisting in areas of identified need: mental health challenges, addiction issues, trauma, poverty, and family instability.

We combine effective, evidenced-based practices with a relational approach built on kindness and respect. Using God’s unconditional love as our example, we strive to create an environment where our clients can feel heard, seen, and accepted.

We work within the welfare system and its dynamically interconnected challenges. Each component is complex and can’t be addressed in isolation. A good physician treats a person with multiple health concerns by considering each symptom. They recognize the conditions exist in the same body. We understand all the components of our work are also interconnected and require holistic solutions.

Relationships matter to us. We walk with people toward a positive future, make sure that they get treatment help, stay by their side when they’re scared, and advocate for them to get the resources people need.

Over the last 30 years, we have grown in our ability to serve families who are struggling. Our daily intention is to reach each person in the spirit of God’s love and compassion.

[Mentoring] has been as formative and instructive as a learning experience as much for me as much as the kids I have worked with. I love my mentee as much as I love my own children. I’m grateful to God he brought us together.
Scott S.
Mentor
There's more peace at home. I still feel anxious about things, but now I've got more tools I can use to manage that and stay in the moment. [My child] has never made more progress with any other professionals than he has since we've been working with Release.
Anonymous
Client
Release is the first agency that listened and asked to hear my story instead of just telling me what I needed to do to get my kids back.
Anonymous
Social Work Client
Our Foster Care Specialist is always there for us and is very understanding of the situation and able to help let us know what resources and is always to willing help us no matter if it’s after hours.
Anonymous
Foster Care Client
Release has been a breath of fresh air with respect to foster care. I have experienced numerous agencies over the past 15 years and can confidently say, I have never felt more supported or appreciated as I have by Release.
Anonymous
Foster Care Client
I’ve been so grateful for Release and the way they work together, are a part of the community, and always looking for ways to do good around them.
Anonymous
Foster Care Client
Local dollars that get donated stay local so you can see that benefit– generationally, how things have been improved over the last 25 years. If you want to just know your money is going to impact the lives of those less fortunate, Release is the best place to donate that money.
Dave R.
Donor
I feel like I take others into consideration now. Like before, I was being stubborn about everything. [My mentor] kinda talked me through everything. I feel like I have a whole different mind frame than what I had starting out.
Xalaya
Mentee