Child policy issues often receive little discussion within campaigns and elections. This is not because candidates and the public do not care about the issues. They do. But child policy issues often do not lend themselves to simple sound bites. They are not considered “hot button” issues that shape many…...
Proposed Update to Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act
The Office of Justice Programs (OJP) has proposed a long overdue update to the federal regulations under the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act (JJDPA), last reauthorized in 2002. The JJDPA sets four core requirements for state juvenile justice systems in order to ensure safety and equal treatment for youth. The core…...
2016 KIDS COUNT Data Book: Family and Community
In June, 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…...
Detained: Nebraska’s Problem with Juvenile Incarceration
An effective juvenile justice system holds young people accountable for their actions in age-appropriate ways that best promote community safety. Our children and citizens alike are entitled to a system that will offer the best return on investment, by providing the right package of accountability and supports to change anti-social…...
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…...
Voices Releases “Juvenile Injustice” Issue Brief
When children get in trouble with the law, our system should ensure they are held accountable for their actions in an age-appropriate, fair and just way. No one should face trial and punishment without understanding their rights, the possible consequences, and the reasons why; this is particularly true for young…...
Thank you!
Every year, Voices for Children proudly joins many other Omaha-area nonprofits in Omaha Gives! This year’s 24-hour online giving campaign raised over $8 million and demonstrated our community’s strong commitment to the important work of our local nonprofits. This year, our participation in Omaha Gives raised over $5000 (before matching…...
Legislative Session Wrap-Up: 5 Victories for Kids
Wednesday will mark the final day of this year’s legislative session. Voices for Children will post our full legislative sine die in the next couple weeks, but for now, we’d like to take a moment and highlight five victories for Nebraska’s kids: Schools in high-poverty neighborhoods can take advantage of…...
