These are Nebraska Appleseed’s guiding principles, and have been since our non-profit, non-partisan law project started “sowing the seeds of justice” in 1996. Nebraska Appleseed focuses on advancing policies and practices that promote self-sufficiency for Nebraska’s working poor families, promote the integration and participation of immigrant populations in communities across Nebraska, provide safe and adequate child welfare services to children who need protection, increase low-income people’s access to the legal system and support democracy by removing barriers to low-income people’s participation in the electoral and public policy decision-making processes.

Save the Date: 10/14/2010 - Building Nebraska's Future Workforce Forum

Register Now! | See the Agenda

Nebraska Appleseed Files Lawsuit to Restore Access to Prenatal Care

Pregnancy Today Nebraska Appleseed filed a class action lawsuit in Lancaster County District Court representing more than 1,500 low-income pregnant women and unborn children who were denied access to prenatal care last March. The suit challenges a decision by the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services to end a program that had been in place for over 30 years and provided access to prenatal care services to unborn children.

"All babies should have a chance for a healthy start in life. That has long been a top priority in this state and that policy remains the law in Nebraska today," said James Goddard, Staff Attorney at Nebraska Appleseed. "The Department of Health and Human Services did not have the authority to change that policy on its own."

Read the Press Release | Read the Petition | Contribute to the Legal Fund

Nebraska Supreme Court Rules In Favor Of Low-Income Parents Dropped from Medicaid

Nebraska Appleseed, through a successful class action lawsuit, helped to restore Medicaid benefits to hundreds of low-income parents unlawfully dropped from the program by the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Today, the Nebraska Supreme Court found that HHS “unlawfully enlarged upon authorizing statutes and violated the principles of separation of powers,” when it stripped poor families of vital Medicaid coverage by approving a policy that allows HHS to impose a harsher sanction than specified by state law.

Read the NE Supreme Court Decision | Read the Press Release

Will You Stand Up to Anti-Immigrant Sentiment In Our State?

DiAnna Schimek You’ve seen how over the past few months a few members of our state and communities have pursued misguided and harmful public policy designed to create fear and division and turn neighbor against neighbor:

Governor Heineman’s administration eliminated pre-natal care for children of undocumented women
Fremont voters passed a divisive and unconstitutional anti-immigrant ordinance, creating a climate of fear and distrust
And now State Senator Charlie Janssen of Fremont has announced plans to introduce an Arizona-style anti-immigrant bill in the coming legislative session

This simply can’t continue.

Will you donate $25, $50, $100 or more to help Nebraska Appleseed:

Restore prenatal care to all pregnant women in Nebraska
Ensure no other communities follow in the steps of Fremont
Stop an Arizona-style copycat bill from passing in Nebraska

Read Former State Senator DiAnna Schimek's Full Appeal | Read about Appleseed’s work on these issues

Medicaid Coverage of Prenatal Care for Pregnant Women Questions & Answers

For many years Nebraska’s Medicaid program covered prenatal care for the unborn children of pregnant women regardless of a woman’s immigration status. Unfortunately, on March 1, 2010 many unborn children of pregnant women lost prenatal care Medicaid coverage. The “Questions & Answers” below address some of the important issues relating to Medicaid access for pregnant women.

Read the Full Q&A: English | Español

	We work to have a system of laws, policies, and practices that make sure all families can meet their basic needs, find opportunity, and become active and treasured members of society.
	We seek policies and practices that promote the integration and participation of new immigrant populations in Nebraska and Great Plains communities.
	We enforce constitutional, federal, and state statutory requirements for providing adequate child welfare protection services in the State of Nebraska.
	Seeking laws and policies that ensure all Nebraskans have access to quality affordable health care.
	We protect and promote this fundamental right with the use of technology and grassroots efforts.
	We break down barriers to voting, and encourage low-income, minority, new immigrant, and struggling communities throughout Nebraska to register, vote, and participate in the political process.