Each year at our Spotlight Gala, Voices for Children highlights individuals and organizations who find unique ways to reach out, serve and advocate for the best interests of children. We are proud to honor Former State Senator Jeremy Nordquist as the 2015 Champion for Children award recipient. Elected to…...
Medicaid at 50
Fifty years ago today, President Lyndon B. Johnson signed into law the act that created the Medicaid program. Today, Medicaid serves as a critical health safety net for low-income elderly people, people with disabilities, children, and some very low-income parents — all of whom face challenges in accessing insurance through…...
2015 National KIDS COUNT Data Book: Economic Well-being
Last week the Annie E. Casey Foundation released the 2015 Kids Count Data Book highlighting state trends in child well-being and providing state rankings. Typically, Nebraska fares quite well in the report, with rankings near the top every year. This year our state ranked number 10, meaning that children in Nebraska have higher…...
2015 Spotlight Gala Youth Award — Circle C Market
Everyday there are individuals and organizations who find unique ways to reach out, serve and advocate for the best interests of children. Each year, Voices for Children chooses to highlight four such individuals and organizations at our annual Spotlight Gala. We are proud to announce the Circle C Market as our…...
The Sexual Abuse to Prison Pipeline: The Girls’ Story
Last week, the New York Times highlighted a newly-released Georgetown University Law Center report on the “sexual abuse to prison pipeline.” The report focuses on girls who become involved with the juvenile justice system after being charged with prostitution, although they are victims of sex trafficking. The researchers estimate that approximately…...
Data Snapshot: Nebraska’s Youth Rehabilitation and Treatment Centers
Nationwide, states are reexamining their use of youth prisons to “treat” juvenile offenders. A mounting body of evidence shows that correctional models are costly and ineffective at best, and dangerous at worst, when it comes to reducing recidivism and producing positive outcomes for juveniles.[1] Nebraska operates two large-scale “deep end”…...
2015 Spotlight Gala Individual Award – Liz Hruska
Everyday there are individuals and organizations who find unique ways to reach out, serve and advocate for the best interests of children. Each year, Voices for Children chooses to highlight four such individuals and organizations at our annual Spotlight Gala. We are proud to announce Elizabeth “Liz” Hruska our…...
