Rebecca L. Gould, Executive Director of the Nebraska Appleseed Center for Law in the Public Interest, issued the following statement today in response to the passage of a package of legislation to reform the state’s child welfare system:
“Today, the Nebraska Legislature gave final approval to the remainder of the package of five bills designed to put into place much needed accountability, transparency and oversight of the state’s child welfare system. This is a critically important milestone and, we hope, a turning point in addressing persistent failures of the system. These bills begin to address a number of long-standing issues, and create a structure for involving stakeholders and all three branches of government in developing a comprehensive strategic plan for true reform of the system. We commend the Health and Human Services Committee, under Senator Kathy Campbell’s leadership, and the Legislative Body for prioritizing this issue and taking this important step forward to improve the system.
After two years of turmoil for children and families, a de-stabilized caseworker workforce, a weakened service infrastructure, state child welfare costs that have increase 27 percent with little to no improvements in outcomes, and mismanagement of taxpayer dollars intended for the state’s most vulnerable children, it is time to make the tough choices necessary to truly reform Nebraska’s child welfare system.
We are particularly pleased that this package of legislation includes provisions to reduce caseworker caseloads to national best practice standards and to require that case management responsibilities – the ultimate legal responsibility for decisions affecting children in state custody – be retained by the state rather than private agencies. We continue to be concerned, however, that 43% of the cases in the state will be carved out of this requirement and remain under the existing privatized structure as part of a “pilot project.” We will continue to closely monitor the “pilot project,” which will be reviewed by the Legislature in April 2013, and advocate for a unified rather than fragmented system that uses resources in the most effective way to serve Nebraska children and families.
While much important work has been accomplished this session, more work remains to be done. Now is the time for all three branches of government and system stakeholders to roll up our sleeves and commit to going the distance to turn around Nebraska’s child welfare system.”