If you spend much time at Voices for Children you will hear us talk a lot about early childhood — those critical years from 0 to 8. Research has shown that investments in these years pay dividends in the future by helping to create more productive and successful adults. In…...
Following up on Children’s Behavioral Health (LB 603)
On October 30, 2012, The Children’s Behavioral Health Committee discussed the progress in the implementation of LB603. LB603’s intention is to address the lack of support for families with children dealing with a behavioral health crisis. Support systems have been created, however barriers and gaps continue to exist within the…...
Cutting Our Future: Behavioral Health Services
In 2008 during our state’s Safe Haven crisis, parents relinquished custody of 36 children to the state of Nebraska. Most of these children were struggling with behavioral health challenges that had left their families feeling helpless. The message was clear: Nebraska’s families and children weren’t getting the help they…...
Child’s View “Summer” 2012
Our latest issue of Child’ View is available online (and should be arriving in mailboxes shortly). In this issue: KIDS COUNT National Data Book Letter From the Executive Director 25 Years, 25 Milestones Spotlight Gala Celebrates 25th Anniversary Issue Brief: Children’s Behavioral Health Voices Welcomes New Staff [issuu width=420 height=272 embedBackground=%23000000 backgroundColor=%23222222 documentId=121029153104-b5a5e6f9040b413bb2a314b71aa207d1 name=cv_summer_2012-web__1_…...
Cutting Our Future: Prenatal Care for Low-Income Mothers
As you might remember, during the last legislative session, a bill was passed to restore prenatal care coverage under Medicaid for all low-income mothers regardless of immigration status or other issues of the mother. A large and diverse coalition of groups came together to support the restoration of this care. …...
Cutting Our Future: The Need for Juvenile Justice Reinvestment
Nebraska’s juvenile justice system may just be on the verge of a dramatic transformation. It’s not only the reform initiatives that are underway in certain parts of the state that signal change being around the corner. Buried on pages 419-429 of the recent Health and Human Services preliminary budget, is…...
Early Education Supports Military Readiness
Last week, two retired generals from Nebraska called on policymakers to support high-quality early childhood education. At first glance, it seems an odd topic for generals to be speaking out on, but it’s part of a growing recognition about the wide-ranging importance of early childhood education. Lately, it seems everyone from…...
The Real Issues on Sesame Street
If you’ve been following the presidential election lately, it’s hard to miss the talk lately about subsidies for public television and the popular children’s television show, Sesame Street. What’s missing from this conversation (and in many campaigns so far), is how we really are failing Sesame Street by failing its viewers — kids....
