Every field of specialization has its own vocabulary, and the Nebraska juvenile code is no different. As a new legislative session begins and hundreds of bills are offered up for consideration, we here at Voices thought a quick (non-exclusive) list of definitions and commonly used acronyms might be helpful to…...
Race Matters in Juvenile Justice
In the wake of a violent fall, with the highly publicized deaths of Michael Brown, Eric Garner, and Tamir Rice, among others, disproportionate minority contact with the law has become a front page issue. Though we are grateful that Nebraska has not suffered through a tragedy of this nature, information…...
Supporting Informal Kinship Families in Nebraska
Children thrive in a stable and loving home with a family that offers support in a safe environment. Research tells us that the relationships that children have with the adults in their lives are an extremely important component of successful development. Without these relationships, children have an increased risk of lasting health, behavioral, and…...
Race Matters in Nebraska’s Child Welfare System
It is an all-too-common fact that children of color are overrepresented when looking at child welfare data, particularly in measures that we know to be extremely traumatic for children. We kept this in mind as we convened at the Race Matters conference last week. A quick look at the child welfare…...
Four Stars for Nebraska’s Policies on Confidentiality
Anyone who has lived with a teenager won’t be surprised to learn that adolescent brain development is linked with risky decision-making, impulsivity, and novelty-seeking behavior. Research has shown that experimentation is a key way the adolescent develops an independent sense of self. [1] Further, brain imaging of teenagers in recent years…...
Ferguson on our Minds
The decision of the grand jury in Ferguson and the resulting state of unrest throughout surrounding communities are much on our minds today at Voices for Children. As concerned citizens, we hope and strive toward a society in which the rule of law protects the innocent, holds the guilty accountable,…...
New Policy Coordinator for Child Welfare and Juvenile Justice
As Executive Director of Voices for Children in Nebraska, I would like to extend my formal welcome to Juliet Summers, our new Policy Coordinator for Child Welfare and Juvenile Justice. Juliet will be responsible for overseeing our policy research, analysis, and advocacy efforts on behalf of children involved in…...
