Though millions of dollars have been invested and countless initiatives have been developed to “fix” children and youth in the child welfare system, maybe Desiderius Erasmus said it best and “prevention is better than [a] cure.” If so, then efforts have been made at the wrong end of the system.…...
The sequester’s impact in Nebraska, Part 2: Head Start
The first post in this series examined what exactly the sequester is, and a brief introduction to the anticipated impacts on Nebraska’s kids. The second part of this multi-part series will focus on Head Start and Early Head Start. Head Start is a federal program that promotes the school readiness…...
Searching for Justice
This past June, the United States Supreme Court ruled in Miller v. Alabama that the mandatory sentencing of children and youth to life without parole is cruel and unusual punishment, because it ignores the very fact that children are children. Youth are both less culpable for their actions and more…...
By-the-numbers: Juvenile life without parole
Currently in Nebraska, judges are required to sentence youth who commit murder to life without parole, and cannot consider any relating factors such as the child’s age or life circumstances. LB 44, which advanced to Select File today, would allow judges to consider the child’s circumstances when imposing a sentence.…...
Ending juvenile life without parole – Support LB 44
All children deserve and need society’s protection to grow into healthy, productive adults. Even children who commit serious crimes are still children. We should respond to youth crime in a thoughtful and effective way that preserves community safety, contributes to Nebraska’s future prosperity, and gives children the protection they need.…...
Encouraging placement of children with relatives and family friends – Support for LB 265
All children deserve to be raised by responsible adults with whom the child feels a bond. When children cannot safely remain with their parents, the best choice is usually for them to live with extended family members, family friends, or other trusted adults. This practice is commonly referred to as…...
Providing permanency for youth in care
Safety, permanency and well-being are goals for all children and youth, especially those in foster care, but what does permanency mean and what is being done in Nebraska to ensure that children and youth in foster care achieve permanency? In short, permanency refers to the need of all children and…...
