(402) 597-3100
voices@voicesforchildren.com

child welfare

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…...

Read more

A better response to child maltreatment in Nebraska

The first goal of any child welfare system is simple—protecting children from abuse and neglect. But how states respond to reports of child maltreatment is changing significantly. Fewer states are relying solely on traditional investigations of abuse and neglect, and are instead opting for a variety of approaches that allow…...

Read more

A Different Approach to Child Safety: The impact on child welfare systems, children and families

  In recent years, many states have been exploring new ways to address child maltreatment. Differential response, an approach that allows child protective services more than one way to respond to these reports, has seen promising outcomes. As Nebraska considers what child welfare reform looks like, please join us as…...

Read more

$3.2 million fine may cause more obstacles

  If you’re a follower of child welfare news, you probably saw coverage of the $3.2 million federal fine that DHHS will have to repay for improperly claimed foster care and administrative dollars. This fine is just for 2010 – more fines are likely coming for 2011 and possibly 2012…...

Read more

25 for 25: Lessons Learned from Safe Haven

We are commemorating our 25th Anniversary with 25 posts about our history and accomplishments between now and the Spotlight Gala on September 15.  Join us for a celebration of Voices for Children and all of the organizations, lawmakers, and individuals who have supported our work on behalf of children.  For details, visit voicesforchildren.com/spotlight-gala.…...

Read more

25 for 25: Safety, Permanency, and Well-Being for Foster Children

We are commemorating our 25th Anniversary with 25 posts about our history and accomplishments between now and the Spotlight Gala on September 15.  Join us for a celebration of Voices for Children and all of the organizations, lawmakers, and individuals who have supported our work on behalf of children.  For details, visit voicesforchildren.com/spotlight-gala.…...

Read more

Penny Wise and Pound Foolish

  The Children’s Commission’s first meeting had only just begun yesterday afternoon when Governor Heineman mentioned his concern over how much child welfare services were costing the state. He talked about the need for reform within existing resources and also mentioned that the dollars Nebraska spends on child welfare are…...

Read more

Support for kin families, by the numbers

Yesterday, Sarah wrote about the Annie E. Casey Foundation’s new report, Stepping Up for Kids: What Government and Communities Should Do to Support Kinship Families. The report tells of the growing number of children who live with relatives or other closely-connected families as an alternative to traditional foster care. About…...

Read more

Stepping up for Kids: What Should Nebraska Do to Support Kinship Families?

  Today, the Annie E. Casey Foundation released a new policy report on kinship care, Stepping up for Kids: What Governments and Communities Should Do to Support Kinship Families. Kinship care is the age-old tradition of relatives and close family friends caring for children when their parents are unable to do…...

Read more

There’s still work to do on foster care

With the end of legislative session, the frenetic pace of work at Voices for Children has slowed just enough to us all some time for reflection on the work we’ve accomplished for Nebraska’s kids and the work that remains. And despite 25 years of Voices’ victories, there’s a lot of…...

Read more