Safety, permanency and well-being are goals for all children and youth, especially those in foster care, but what does permanency mean and what is being done in Nebraska to ensure that children and youth in foster care achieve permanency? In short, permanency refers to the need of all children and…...
Why juvenile justice reform can’t wait
Today marks the 50th of 90 days in this year’s legislative session, and the start of day-long floor debate. In the midst of furiously reading bills and amendments, analyzing fiscal notes, and making sense of negotiations and compromises, it’s sometimes easy to get caught up in the process and forget…...
An alternative response in child welfare
March 15, 2013 To: Members of the Judiciary Committee From: Sarah Forrest, Policy Coordinator- Child Welfare and Juvenile Justice Re: Support for LB 503 – Implementing an Alternative Response Pilot Project We all want children to grow up protected, safe, and loved. Our child welfare system in Nebraska…...
Choosing the right path: Diverting youth from the Juvenile Justice System
When a young person breaks the law, we have to respond carefully to ensure that each youth is both held accountable for their actions and put on a path towards a bright, productive adulthood. Unfortunately, involvement in the formal juvenile justice system often unnecessarily puts low-risk youth deeper into the…...
Create rules for use of seclusion in Nebraska’s youth facilities – LB 562
Children in our juvenile justice system deserve services that give them a true chance to succeed. This means both keeping youth in the least-restrictive setting possible, close to home and family, and for those youth who need secure care, ensuring conditions, policies, and practices that give them a real chance…...
