May 11, 7:00 PM at Ruth Sokolof Theater – 1340 Mike Fahey Street
OMAHA, Neb. (May 09, 2017) – On May 11, Lutheran Family Services of Nebraska (LFS) is hosting a free screening of ReMoved at Film Streams at the Ruth Sokolof Theater to raise awareness about foster care and adoption in Nebraska.
ReMoved is the story of Zoe Locke and her separation from her home, mother and younger brother. The film takes a close look at the life of a foster care child who feels helpless and alone in a world where she has done nothing to deserve this fate. It is told from Zoe’s point of view, which allows the audience to experience the pain of losing a home from a perspective that is still developing and learning how the world works. The film is directed by Nathanael Matanick and written by Christina Matanick, a couple who were enrolled in foster care parent training at the time of the film’s production.
As of February 1, 2017, there were 4,836 children in out-of-home care in Nebraska. This is a 6% increase since July 2016. A little over 75% of these children were placed in a family-like setting because of the availability of foster homes.
LFS is hosting the screening screening during National Foster Care Month to help to highlight the ongoing need for foster care parents that are committed to providing stability and love to children who, as Zoe puts it, believes that they are “unseen, unheard and unwanted.” National Foster Care Month is a time for discussing the trials that foster care children undergo and how, as a society, we can support these children more effectively.
After the film, there will be a panel discussion that will delve into the perspectives of the foster care children and specialists, giving the audience extra information regarding the system. Panel members include:
- Erin Bader, LFS Director of Permanency and Well-Being Programs
- Bryan Spoon, Adoptee and Former Foster Youth
- Michelle Moline, Director of Foster Care and Pathways to Permanency for Nebraska Children’s Home Society
- Jannette Taylor, LFS Statewide Administrator for Children Services, will moderate the panel.
Agenda
7:00 p.m. Introduction
7:10 p.m. Film part I (13:00)
7:23 p.m. Short discussion
7:38 p.m. Film part II (23:00)
8:01 p.m. Panel discussion & Question and Answer Session
8:40 p.m. How to become a foster parent
8:45 p.m. Closing
