***For Immediate Release***
Friday, March 20, 2020
Contact:
Magdalena Cazarez
Communications Director, Nebraska Appleseed
C: (402) 504-0074
mcazarez@neappleseed.org
Nebraska Advocates Urge Action to Protect the Health and Safety of all Nebraskans
Our state leaders must take immediate steps in this time of uncertainty
Lincoln, NE—On Friday, Nebraska advocacy organizations and leaders sent a letter to Nebraska Governor Pete Ricketts outlining critical policy and administrative recommendations to keep Nebraskans healthy and safe during the COVID-19 crisis. We’ve heard from Nebraskans who have long experienced significant barriers to opportunity, even in the best economic conditions. Our state can and must act immediately to support every Nebraskan, in this time of uncertainty and in the long-term.
Among our recommendations, we urge Governor Ricketts to take swift action on:
- Maximizing existing nutrition assistance programs, including the new options passed by Congress this week, to ensure all children and families in Nebraska have the meals they need through SNAP, WIC, and school feeding programs.
- Immediately expanding the Medicaid program to 90,000 Nebraskans in the coverage gap and minimizing the potential loss of health insurance coverage for low-income Nebraskans.
- Making immediate changes to Nebraska’s child care subsidy program to ensure hardworking parents can access quality and affordable child care.
- Ensuring children and families navigating the child welfare system receive additional critical services and care that ensures, whenever possible, families get the support they need to stay together.
- Reducing the spread of the Coronavirus in enclosed spaces such as prisons and juvenile justice centers by creating an emergency release plan that ensures access to proper treatment and services.
Read our full letter and list of recommendations to Governor Ricketts here.
Nebraska Appleseed Executive Director Becky Gould issued the following statement:
“We applaud the critical work Governor Ricketts and the Department of Health and Human Services are doing to provide information and assistance during this difficult time for Nebraskans.
Now more than ever, we need to work together to advance positive systemic change and take every action to ensure that all Nebraskans, particularly those paid low wages, those who are unemployed and those in the care of the state, have the assistance and support they need to reduce lasting economic hardship during the COVID-19 pandemic and in the future.”
Voices for Children in Nebraska Executive Director Aubrey Mancuso issued the following statement:
“We are thankful for the leadership of Governor Ricketts in protecting the health and safety of all Nebraskans. Low-income children and families will experience the worst of the effects of this crisis, and our state must act quickly to provide relief to families and to protect vulnerable children and youth in the care of our state.”
Nebraska advocacy organizations who signed this letter include:
- The Arc of Nebraska Asian Community & Cultural Center
- Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Nebraska
- Coalition for a Strong Nebraska
- College Possible Community Action of Nebraska
- Completely KIDS
- Disability Rights Nebraska
- Heartland Workers Center
- Inclusive Communities
- inCOMMON Community Development
- KVC Nebraska
- Nebraskans Against Gun Violence
- Nebraska AIDS Project
- Nebraska Appleseed
- Nebraska Association of Homes and Services for Children
- Nebraska Civic Engagement Table
- New Life Family Alliance
- No More Empty Pots
- Nonprofit Association of the Midlands
- Planned Parenthood North Central States – Nebraska
- Release Inc
- RISE
- Voices for Children in Nebraska
- Women’s Fund of Omaha
- YWCA of Grand Island