Nebraska Children's Commission

Bethany Allen, Policy Analyst, 521 South 14th Street, Suite 401, Lincoln, NE 68508, (402) 525-5611

The Commission is the only body of its kind in Nebraska to bring together all three branches of government, along with public and private stakeholders, to strategically coordinate and improve child welfare and juvenile justice programs and services in Nebraska. The Commission is a permanent forum for collaboration among state, local, community, public, and private stakeholders in child welfare and juvenile justice programs and services.

Not Applicable

Not Applicable

2012

2012

June 30, 2019

Nebraska Revised Statutes Section 43-4202

The Commission is an independent body under the umbrella of the Foster Care Review Office.

Total Members 28 (18 are voting members and 10 are ex-officio, non voting members)

Governor appoints seventeen voting members, Court Administrator appoints three non-voting ex-officio members, one voting member is statutory by position, and six non-voting, ex offico members are statutory by position.

No

Voting Member designated by statute: The executive director of the Foster Care Review OfficeVoting members appointed by the Governor represent the child welfare and juvenile justice systems and shall include: (i) A director of a child advocacy center(ii) an administrator of a behavioral health region established pursuant to section 71-807; (iii) a community representative from each of the service areas designated pursuant to section 81-3116. In the eastern service area designated pursuant to such section, the representative may be from a lead agency of a pilot project established under section 68-1212 or a collaborative member; (iv) a prosecuting attorney who practices in juvenile court; (v) a guardian ad litem; (vi) a biological parent currently or previously involved in the child welfare system or juvenile justice system; (vii) a foster parent; (viii) a court appointed special advocate volunteer; (ix) a member of a local foster care review board; (x) a child welfare service agency that directly provides a wide range of child welfare services and is not a member of a lead agency collaborative; (xi) a young adult previously in foster care; (xii) a representative of a child advocacy organization that deals with legal and policy issues that include child welfare; and (xiii) a representative of a federally recognized Indian tribe residing within the State of Nebraska and appointed within thirty days after June 5, 2013, from a list of three nominees submitted by the Commission on Indian Affairs.Non-voting ex-offico members include(a) The chairperson of the Health and Human Services Committee of the Legislature or a committee member designated by the chairperson; (b) the chairperson of the Judiciary Committee of the Legislature or a committee member designated by the chairperson; (c) the chairperson of the Appropriations Committee of the Legislature or a committee member designated by the chairperson; (d) three persons appointed by the State Court Administrator; (e) the chief executive officer of the Department of Health and Human Services or his or her designee; (f) the Director of Children and Family Services of the Division of Children and Family Services of the Department of Health and Human Services or his or her designee; (g) the Commissioner of Education or his or her designee; and (h) the Inspector General of Nebraska Child Welfare.

No

Yes

Term length set by governor. Current term lasts until the Commission sunsets, June 30, 2016.

All Expire

4

12

4

9

4

6

The Commission has two support staff, an Administrative Assistant and a Policy Analyst. The Policy Analyst is statutory position as per Nebraska Revised Statute 43-4202 (5)

The Commission is housed under the Foster Care Review Board. For efficiency, the FCRO provides accounting and human resources management. The Commission staff are not shared, and work for the Commission, not the FCRO.

244,083.00

193,938.83

250,587.24

None

Yes

Since July 1, 2012:The Commission is the umbrella organization for The Nebraska Children's Commission ("Commission") is the umbrella agency for five statutory committees, the Bridge to Independence Advisory Committee, the Foster Care Reimbursement Rate Committee, the Juvenile Services Committee, the Normalcy Taskforce, and the Psychotropic Medications Committee. All together, including the Commission, its statutory groups, workgroups and subgroups, the Commission oversees 24 subgroups who all work diligently toward child welfare and juvenile justice improvement. The Commission has expanded from a small group of under thirty members to a network of over 215 stakeholders.1.Strategic Plan: The Commission created its Phase 1 Strategic Plan in 2012, and revised and updated it in 2013 and 2016. Its Strategic plan guides the work of the Commission and provides structure and goals for child welfare and juvenile justice systems, as well as satisfying the Commissions statutory duty to create a Strategic Plan. 2.Juvenile Services Committee Neb. Rev. Stat. 43-4203(2)(b): Since 2012 the Juvenile Services Committee has met regularly to improve juvenile justice systems and services. This Committee has released the following reports:a.LR196 Nebraska Juvenile Services Master Plan Update: this report updated the original overview of LR196 report that was issued in 2007. This document was used in creating the Juvenile Services (OJS) Committee recommendations issued in December of 2013. b.Juvenile Services (OJS) Committee Phase I Strategic Recommendations Report (December 13, 2013): this report provides recommendations about the use of the Youth Rehabilitation and Treatment Centers and provides design information for juvenile justice system reform efforts.c.Juvenile Services Committee Annual Report (December 2015): This report updated the Phase I Strategic Plan, reaffirmed the goals of the Committee, and reviewed the achievements of the Committee through a legislative review.3.Psychotropic Medications Committee Neb. Rev. Stat. 43-4203(2)(a): This Committee has been active and has created recommendations for oversight for the use of psychotropic medications in state wards. 4.Consider Potential of Contracting with a Lead Agency Neb. Rev. Stat. 43-4204(1)(a): Lead Agency Taskforce Final Recommendations Report (July 2015) this report was created to satisfy the statutory task to consider and create recommendations related to the potential for contracting with a not for profit entity as a lead agency. It outlined the components of the ideal child welfare system, a seamless system of care, and considered the potential of contracting with a not for profit entity as a lead agency. 5.Commission Annual Report Neb. Rev. Stat. 43-4207: Nebraska Childrens Commission Annual Report (December 2015) This annual report updated the Legislature and Governors Office on the activities of the Commission and provided recommendations on a variety of timely child welfare and juvenile justice issues. This report was submitted pursuant to Neb. Rev. Stat. 43-4207. 6.Foster Care Reimbursement Rate Committee Neb. Rev. Stat. 43-4217: This group has met regularly and created recommendations on a variety of subjects:a.Group Home Rate Sub-Committee Report (September 2015): This report was created to develop a methodology for unbundling group home rates at the request of the Department of Health and human services, and at the request of the Childrens Commission, calculate the actual costs of providing group home services using the methodology established to unbundle the rates. b.Foster Care Reimbursement Rate Committee Report (March 2016): This report makes recommendations about the implementation of the foster care reimbursement rates, reviews the appropriateness of the foster care reimbursement rates and agency rates, the statewide standardized assessment tool, and data from a survey of foster parents regarding their experiences. This report was submitted pursuant to Neb. Rev. Stat. 43-4217(4).c.Foster Care Reimbursement Rate Committee Report (May 2014): This report sets forth the rates for foster care Reimbursement and the tool to assess the responsibilities of foster parents to determine the rate. 7.The Bridge to Independence Advisory Committee Neb. Rev. Stat. 43-4513(1): This Committee has monitored the Bridge to Independence Program and advocated for improvements to the program, some of which have been implemented by law.a.Bridge to Independence Advisory Committee Report (December 2014) This report make recommendations about the initial implementation of the Bridge to Independence Program, provides data and information about the program, and a status of the recommendations presented in November of 2013. This report was submitted pursuant to Neb. Rev. Stat. 43-4513(1). b.Bridge to Independence Advisory Committee Report (November 2015) This report makes recommendations about the initial implementation period of the Bridge to Independence program, provides a wealth of data about enrollment and the youth who are participating in the program, and recommendations for expanding extended supports to transition age youth involved in the juvenile justice system. This report was submitted pursuant to Neb. Rev. Stat. 43-4513(1).8.Normalcy Taskforce: This taskforce was created by the legislature under the umbrella of the Commission to oversee and make recommendations related to the implementation of the Federal Preventing Trafficking and Strengthening Families Act9.Alternative Response: The Commission has been closely involved with the Alternative Response Pilot Project and has created recommendations and feedback to improve the program.a.Alternative Response Model Feedback Report this report provides information from the Commission on the Alternative Response Model that was being proposed by DHHS.b.Alternative Response Implementation Report Feedback to DHHS This report was submitted pursuant to Neb. Rev. Stat. 28-712(2), which required the Nebraska Childrens Commission to provide feedback to the Department of Health and Human Services regarding a report of an evaluation on the status of Alternative Response Implementation. 10.Child Welfare Financing Primer: This document was released by the Commission, and was a product of national consultants and Nebraska child welfare stakeholders. It provides information for a basic and comprehensive understanding of the child welfare system. 11.Recommendations for Change: The reports noted above provide just some of the work that has been done by the Nebraska Childrens Commission in creating a statewide strategic plan and reformingtransforming the child welfare and juvenile justice systems. Many of the reports have included recommendations for legislative changes to begin the process of improving programs and services for children and families in Nebraska. Because reform efforts take time to realize the true nature of the changes being made, it will be some time before key stakeholders can document final outcomes. 12.Legislative Testimony: The Nebraska Childrens Commission is asked to provide testimony for relevant Legislative Bills by the Chair or member of a Committee of the Legislature. The Commission provides testimony at the legislature on bills that will influence the child welfare and juvenile justice reform efforts. Testimony usually includes updates on efforts of the Commission to educate stakeholders and facilitate collaboration on program design and implementation.13.Contributions to Legislative Resolutions: The Nebraska Childrens Commission is asked to provide information, testimony, andor research to Legislative Resolutions by Senators, or the Chair or member of a Committee of the Legislature. The Commission provides information, testimony, andor research on legislative resolutions that influence the child welfare and juvenile justice reform efforts. 14.Each year the Commission delivers the following services:a.Services to the Publici.Issue reports on child welfare and juvenile justice reform efforts to guide and influence program implementation that will be most beneficial to the state of Nebraska.ii.Provide training and panel presentations at open meetings to inform the public on issues related to improving child safety and well-being, especially for children in out-of-home care.iii.Maintaining a website containing pertinent information regarding reform initiatives. iv.Answering questions received from the public, including calls seeking opportunities to provide input or participate in collaborative efforts.v.Maintaining the Community and Family Voice Subcommittee of the Normalcy Taskforce to provide a forum for community and family input on the implementation of the Strengthening Families Act.vi.Providing information and awareness about child welfare and juvenile justice reforms, including public awareness of the Administrative Office of Probationb.Services Provided to DHHSi.Collaborating with DHHS to provide input on developing policies and initiatives.ii.Providing guidance on issues to consider as programs are developed. iii.Creating recommendations and reports upon DHHS request.c.Services Provided to the Legislaturei.Answering questions posed to the Nebraska Childrens Commission concerning child welfare and juvenile justice systems issues, proposed andor pending legislation, and other issues concerning child welfare and juvenile justice system reform.ii.Providing education about child welfare and juvenile justice system programs and services to legislators to promote a thorough and nuanced understanding of the systems that affect Nebraskas children and families to support creation of effective policy and law. iii.Providing reports and testimony on pending legislation or legislative studies that concern the work of the Nebraska Childrens Commission.iv.Coordinate input from stakeholders to identify implementation issues the legislature may want to consider.v.Make recommendations for changes to legislation that would seek to improve outcomes for children and families involved with the child welfare and juvenile justice systems.vi.Make recommendations for changes to legislation and policy that would strengthen prevention and early intervention to improve safety and well-being for all children and families in Nebraska.d.Services provided to the Courtsi.Collaborating with the Courts to provide input on developing policies and initiatives.ii.Providing guidance on issues to consider as programs are developed. iii.Providing relevant research, reports, and industry information.e.Services provided to the Administrative Office of Probationi.Collaborating with the Administrative Office of Probation to provide input on developing policies and initiatives.ii.Providing guidance on issues to consider as programs are developed. iii.Providing relevant research, reports, and industry information.f.Services to Other Entitiesi.Provide a permanent forum for collaboration among state, local, community, public, and private stakeholders in child welfare and juvenile justice programs and services.ii.Disseminate information on stakeholder trainings, developing industry initiatives, reports, and research findings.