My name is Rob Wisler and I have been interning at Voices For Children for three weeks. In that time I have worked on multiple projects, each one giving me a look at issues that children in Nebraska face. These issues include lack of health insurance, juvenile justice, and the…...
2016 KIDS COUNT Data Book: Education
Last month, the Annie E. Casey Foundation released the 2016 KIDS COUNT Data Book – an annual ranking of states on 16 key indicators of child well-being in the areas of Economic Well-being, Education, Health, and Family and Community. In this year’s Data Book, Nebraska received an overall ranking of…...
2016 KIDS COUNT Data Book: Economic Well-being
Last week, the Annie E. Casey Foundation released the 2016 KIDS COUNT Data Book – an annual ranking of states on 16 key indicators of child well-being in the areas of Economic Well-being, Education, Health, and Family and Community. In this year’s Data Book, Nebraska received an overall ranking of…...
The Opportunity Gap and “Our Kids”
The opportunity gap — the gap in resources necessary for academic success — remains among the critical challenges facing kids in Nebraska and nationwide. Recently, some Voices for Children staff attended a seminar in Omaha entitled “The Impact of Widening Opportunity Gaps,” featuring Dr. Robert D. Putnam. Highlighting themes from…...
Voices for Children Releases 2016 Legislative Scorecard
Since 2012, Voices for Children has produced a scorecard at the end of each legislative biennium, tracking every senator’s votes on a broad range of issues related to kids. Nebraska’s 104th Legislature adjourned in April after the second session of its biennium, and over the course of those two years,…...
Urge your Member of Congress to put Nebraska’s families first!
Last week, the Family First Prevention Services Act (H.R. 5456) advanced from the House Ways and Means Committee unanimously and its Senate companion bill (S. 3065) was introduced days later. The bipartisan and bicameral proposal would reform federal child welfare funding mechanisms to support prevention efforts and to reduce congregate…...
The National KIDS COUNT Data Book release is right around the corner!
If you follow Voices for Children in Nebraska, you undoubtedly hear a lot about the Kids Count in Nebraska Report. However, you may not know much about its national counterpart, published by the Annie E. Casey Foundation. Next week will mark the release of the 27th edition of the National KIDS COUNT…...
Scottsbluff Juvenile Detention Center Closing Temporarily
Last week, Voices for Children staff members traversed the state to get a clear picture of what it looks like to grow up in different parts of Nebraska. Though we greatly enjoyed meeting community members, discussing Kids Count data, visiting facilities, and sharing the work that we do, one aspect…...
