On Friday, the Nebraska Supreme Court issued a decision that, unfortunately, limits who can raise the issue of a child’s right to grow up with their siblings when a child has been removed from their home due to abuse or neglect. The decision, which dismissed an appeal of siblings challenging a juvenile court’s denial of […]
On Thursday, the Nebraska Legislature passed LB 177 on a vote of 47-0-2. LB 177 places key provisions of the federal Fostering Connections to Success and Increasing Adoptions Act (“Fostering Connections Act”) into state statute. Specifically, LB 177 provides increased oversight and strengthens local implementation of provisions to prioritize placement of foster children with their
State Fostering Connections Bill Passes Legislature! Read More »
Yesterday, following a letter from the Governor agreeing to hold off on contracting with a new lead agency to provide child welfare services in the rural areas of the state until June 2012, the Legislature voted to delay consideration of LB 95. (As a reminder, LB 95 would have placed the moratorium the Governor promised
Moratorium Agreement Reached in Child Welfare Reform, But Oversight Legislation Delayed Read More »
Yesterday, the Legislature voted 40-0 to give first round approval to LB 177, a bill that would place key provisions of the federal Fostering Connections to Success and Increasing Adoptions Act into state statute. This bill would strengthen the enforcement and local implementation of requirements to prioritize placement of children in foster care with their
State Fostering Connections Bill Advances Read More »
Yesterday, the Nebraska Supreme Court heard arguments in an appeal of a juvenile court’s order holding HHS in contempt for failure to provide counseling services as ordered for a child in an out-of-home placement. In this case, HHS also questioned the authority of juvenile courts to hold HHS responsible for payments by HHS’s lead contractor
Enforcing Court Orders in the Best Interests of Children Read More »
At Appleseed we have long worked on programs that help people work. Often called “work supports,” these are the things in our lives that make it possible for us to go to work and maintain our jobs. One clear example is child care. Having a safe place for our children to go while we work
Maintaining a Family’s Health and Stability Read More »
Today’s blog post focuses on how young adults benefit from reforms in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA), which was signed into law one year ago this week. As of September 2010, the ACA required all health plans that provide dependent coverage for children to allow parents to keep their adult children who
Health Reform Protects the “Young Invincibles” Read More »
One year ago on Wednesday, President Obama signed into law a historic package of health reforms that has already begun to improve the state of health care in Nebraska and all over the United States. In honor of this momentous achievement, we will be blogging on some of the most notable aspects of the Patient
Health Reform Helping Small Businesses Read More »
On Tuesday, the HHS Committee voted 7-0 to advance LB 95, a bill to require accreditation of lead contractors, with an amendment calling for a moratorium on returning to privatization in the central, northern and western service areas of the state until June 2012. Essentially, this would prevent the state from contracting with a new
Proposed Legislative Moratorium on Child Welfare Privatization Read More »
At Nebraska Appleseed, we pride ourselves in our robust internship and clerkship program. When our former interns and clerks check in with us to let us know what they are doing, we like to share their amazing stories. Our latest comes from Katie Hile, who interned with Nebraska Appleseed in 2006-2007. Loving every moment of
Half-A-World-Away: My Dream of Living and Working in Africa has Arrived! Read More »