"It was scary for me cause I thought at first, I'm going to have to be a single mom of four and just figure it out."

Angelyne Mutchler's family is one of thousands affected by the closure of Visinet -- a private Omaha-based youth services agency that coordinates care for foster kids.

When the company announced last week, that it would close it's doors -- the single mom wondered how she'd keep hers open to her two foster children.

"Being a foster parent and a single mom, we did not plan for that so that was pretty scary, not knowing where our income was going to come from for the next couple weeks," said Mutchler.

The company's bankruptcy filing effects more than 2,000 children.
The state Department of Health and Human Services has stepped in, taking over the cases for now but foster families like Mutchler's are concerned about the change of hands.

"My foster children were worried they were going to get pulled from my home because they didn't know if it was going to affect them in that way," said Mutchler.

But, Todd Reckling, director of Children and Family Services with the Dept. of Health and Human Services says the goal is to keep children in their homes.

Reckling said a handful of children recently had to be removed from a Visinet shelter "because there was no other option" but that, he says, is an exception.

"Our primary focus is to keep the foster parents that we have and lets keep the kids that they have in their home and that's what we're trying to do - to not disrupt placements," said Reckling.

To avoid disruptions, the state is working closely with it's only contractor left in the southeast part of the state; KVC Behavioral Health Care.

KVC will absorb many of Visinet's foster cases beginning in July.

"By the end of July, our cases will triple in terms of the number of children and family that we serve," said Tami Soper, director of public affairs for KVC.

KVC currently serves about 850 kids in southeast Nebraska - the area covers 17 counties including Lancaster County - and more than 1,000 children in Douglas and Sarpy County.

If the transition goes as planned, families will work with much of the same staff they're used to.

"To the extent possible as we bring on staff from those agencies were trying to transfer their cases with them so that there's no disruption there and they're working with a person that's familiar to them," said Soper.

Reckling said DHHS will work during the next two months with its three remaining contractors, looking at what's worked during the transition and what needs improvements.

Mutchler says the change won't be easy but she's holding onto hope.

Her foster children will be staying with her as she makes the transition to working with KVC.

"Transition for anything is pretty hard for us but they made it seem like they're really into it and they're all working really hard."

Foster parents with questions about their situations are encourages to call the Dept. of Health and Human Services.