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Safety

Providing permanency for youth in care

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…...

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Youth treated as adults

Our juvenile justice system in Nebraska is out of balance in a number of ways.  When we dig into the data a bit we find two surprising statistics that demonstrate that fact: 1.) Of the 13,144 Nebraska youth arrested in 2011, only 1.5% were for violent crimes, yet 31.7% (or…...

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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…...

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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…...

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Foster Care Fairness – Support LB 385

March 14, 2013 To: Members of the Judiciary Committee From: Sarah Forrest, Policy Coordinator- Child Welfare and Juvenile Justice...

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Second Parent Adoptions – Support for LB 380

March 14, 2013 To: Members of the Judiciary Committee From: Sarah Forrest, Policy Coordinator- Child Welfare and Juvenile Justice Re: Support for LB 380—Second Parent Adoptions...

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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…...

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Ensuring the right services for the juvenile justice system – Support for LB 561

Children need our care and protection to grow, thrive, and become productive members of our society. When a young person breaks the law, we must respond in a thoughtful way that gives children their best possible chance at success, while still ensuring the safety of our communities....

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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…...

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Make juvenile court the court of origin for all children and youth – Support LB 464

Children need our care and protection to grow, thrive, and become productive members of our society. When a young person breaks the law, we must respond in a thoughtful way that gives children their best possible chance at success, while still ensuring the safety of our communities....

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