NEWS RELEASE Advocates Renew Call to Protect Youth in Custody For Immediate Release April 3, 2020 1 P.M. CDT LINCOLN, Neb. – Friday, following news yesterday that a YRTC-Kearney staff member tested positive for COVID-19, Nebraska advocacy organizations and individuals sent a second cosigned letter to Nebraska Supreme Court Chief…...
NEWS RELEASE: Advocates Urge Action to Protect Youth in Custody
For Immediate ReleaseMarch 19, 2020 1 P.M. CDT LINCOLN, Neb. – Thursday, Nebraska advocacy organizations and individuals sent a cosigned letter to Nebraska Supreme Court Chief Justice Michael Heavican and Court Administrator Corey Steele, urging planning and action to protect youth who are incarcerated and youth in congregate care group…...
Stand up for Kids in 2020!
The legislative session is well underway, and the Voices for Children team has been busy reviewing bills and working to ensure that state lawmakers have what they need to make decisions that best support all Nebraska kids. Over 400 bills were introduced this year, and dozens of carryover bills from…...
Statement on Ongoing Crisis Situation at YRTC-Geneva
Omaha, NE – Juliet Summers, Policy Coordinator for Child Welfare & Juvenile Justice at Voices for Children in Nebraska, and Christine Henningsen, Director of Nebraska Youth Advocates, and Scout Richters, legal and policy counsel at the ACLU of Nebraska, issued the following statements today regarding the news that the entire…...
The Cost of Juvenile Justice: A Case Scenario Study
The juvenile justice system works to protect public safety, hold youth appropriately accountable for their crimes, and empower youth to become productive, law-abiding citizens. Best practice in juvenile justice recognizes that incarceration is contrary to the best interests and well-being of youth and emphasizes the need for effective and appropriate…...
Statement on Proposed Douglas County Juvenile Justice Center
Children deserve the best we have to offer them, and investments aimed at improving our juvenile justice system to better meet their needs will reap dividends in the long run. Douglas County is considering a new children and family court structure and detention center. Our current juvenile court is too…...
New DHHS Business Plan Neglects Safety Concerns
This week, the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) released the agency’s business plan for 2018-2019. While we are pleased with several elements of the plan including working to improve maternal-child health and implement a system of care, Voices for Children is gravely concerned about the ongoing disregard…...
Kids in the 2018 Nebraska Legislature
Last week, the Nebraska Legislature adjourned sine die, marking the end of this year’s legislative session. Each year, Voices for Children works to set legislative priorities, driven by data and research, to make Nebraska the best place to be a kid. Here’s a recap of how kids fared this session.…...
