May is National Foster Care Month. In 1988, President Ronald Reagan issued the first Presidential proclamation that established May as National Foster Care Month. This month, Nebraska Appleseed will be publishing a series of blogs on the work we do, alongside young adult advocates, to improve Nebraska’s foster care system. Nebraska Appleseed works with government […]
Foster Care Month is here! Read More »
Last week was a busy week! The Affordable Care Act was maintained by Congress, thanks to the advocacy of people all over the country. Debates also continued in the Nebraska Legislature on voting rights, mandatory minimums, human trafficking and much more. Something we don’t want you to miss, however, was the advancement of a number
Nebraska Legislature considers child welfare reforms Read More »
This month, the federal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program turned 20, which makes now a good time to look at how the program is working to help fight poverty for working families. TANF is the only federal program that provides cash assistance to low-income families with children, and recently, new information has been
TANF funding for poverty and child welfare Read More »
This summer, 12 young adults who were formerly in foster care, as a part of congressional internships though Foster Youth Internship Program, released policy recommendations on how to improve the foster care system. Twenty-two year old Kristopher Wannquist made recommendations surrounding extended foster care, a program that was established in Nebraska in 2014 called Bridge
Extended foster care helps smooth transition to adulthood Read More »
After much anticipation in the child welfare community, the Family First Prevention Services Act of 2016 (HR 5456) was finally introduced with bipartisan support on June 13, 2016. The bill quickly passed in the House on June 22nd and is waiting to be voted on in the Senate. The FFPSA makes a number of changes
The Family First Prevention Services Act Read More »
Monday, Governor Ricketts signed into law LB 746, the Nebraska Strengthening Families Act (NSFA). This is a victory for Nebraska’s child welfare system, as the SFA promotes normalcy and permanency for youth growing up in foster care. The NSFA will allow kids to be kids by removing unnecessary barriers that prevent children in foster care
The Nebraska Strengthening Families Act Becomes Law Read More »
A report released this week by the federal Administration for Children and Families (ACF) found that more than half of youth who are homeless become homeless when they are kicked out of their homes by a parent or caregiver. These young people then turn to homeless shelters that are often full. Researches from the University
New report highlights connection between foster care and homelessness Read More »
On January 21, the Health and Human Services Committee of the Nebraska Legislature held a hearing on LB 746, the Nebraska Strengthening Families Act (NSFA), a bill that allows “kids to be kids” by removing unnecessary barriers that prevent children in foster care from participating in developmentally appropriate activities like sports, sleepovers, and extracurricular activities.
LB 746: The Nebraska Strengthening Families Act Read More »
December has been a big month in the federal government for education policy reform to help support young people with foster care experience as well as other at-risk youth. The passage of the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) and the introduction of the Higher Education Access and Success for Homeless and Foster Youth Act will
Recent Education Reforms Protect Youth in Foster Care Read More »
Important work is underway in Nebraska and nationally to improve “normalcy” for children and youth in foster care. In September 2014, Congress passed and President Obama signed the Preventing Sex Trafficking and Strengthening Families Act (also known as the Strengthening Families Act or SFA). Last week, a group of Nebraska child welfare stakeholders released a
Letting Kids Be Kids: The Implementation of the Strengthening Families Act in Nebraska Read More »