If you’re a kid in Nebraska and you break the law, does where you live impact what happens to you? In an ideal world, the answer to this question would be a resounding no. Kids across our state, rural, urban, and suburban, would be held accountable in similar ways and…...
National School Breakfast Week
This week is National School Breakfast Week, and this year’s theme is “Take Time for School Breakfast.” For many students, there isn’t always time for breakfast—we’ve recently highlighted how our state can better ensure that schoolchildren reap the many benefits that a nutritious breakfast has to offer, starting with alternative models of…...
New Poll Shows Majority of Nebraskans Support Minimum Wage Increase
Voices for Children released a new poll today showing that 55% of Nebraskans support increasing the minimum wage with only 33% in opposition and the remaining undecided. The poll surveyed a weighted sample of 600 Nebraskans from across the state late last month. The poll found particularly strong support for increasing…...
Minimum Wage Increase, Access to Juvenile Justice Services Among Top Legislative Priorities
With the hearings season wrapping up in the Nebraska Legislature, a number of important pieces of legislation are set for full floor debate. Voices for Children submitted written testimony on more than 30 pieces of legislation this session. Among them is LB 943 to increase the minimum wage to $9…...
Accessing Juvenile Services
When children and youth break the law, our state needs to respond in a way that holds the young person accountable for their actions, protects public safety, and puts them on a better path toward a productive, successful adulthood. Last year, Nebraska took an important step toward making this vision…...
Leveraging The School Breakfast Program
Nationally, Nebraska is falling behind almost every other state in leveraging the school breakfast program to help students succeed. Nebraska was most recently ranked 49 out of 51 on the number of free and reduced price-eligible students participating in the school breakfast program. Only 39 of every 100 eligible students participating…...
The Whole Story on Youth Crime in Nebraska
In the past few days, Nebraska’s media has been full of stories of children and youth committing crimes. While the papers are busy covering individual incidents, they’ve been missing a more significant story when it comes to the behavior of our children and youth. Contrary to what news coverage might…...
Earned Income Tax Credit Offers Significant Relief for Children and Families
The Nebraska Legislature is currently considering LB 956, a bill which would provide targeted tax cuts to low-income working families. Voices for Children supports this expansion of the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) because it is good for children and families. In 2007, Nebraska expanded the EITC to 10% of…...
Anti-Hunger Advocacy Day
Tomorrow, Voices for Children, along with Hunger Free Heartland, the Food Bank of the Heartland, the Food Bank of Lincoln, and others who care about ending hunger in Nebraska are hosting an Anti-Hunger Advocacy Day. This event will allow people to learn about hunger in Nebraska, important programs that help…...
