Announcements
- We are now accepting applications for scholarships to attend NACC's 35th National Child Welfare, Juvenile and Family Law Conference in Chicago, Illinois on August 14-16, 2012. Applications can be submitted from any Nebraska juvenile law attorney who has demonstrated a dedication to juvenile law. Read for more information
- The Foster Parent and Relative Caregiver Information form allows foster parents and relative caregivers to submit information to the court. The form should be submitted to the court hearing the child's case two weeks prior to the next hearing.
- Congratulations to Judge Carlton Clark and his Dawson County team who were recently commended by Chief Justice Heavican in his State of the Judiciary Address on January 19th. Watch the address or read the Chief Justice's speech. Read the coverage of the address by the Lincoln Journal Star.
- Project Safe Start - Nebraska is currently operating in the Lancaster and Douglas County Family Drug Courts. Funded through the Nebraska Administrative Office of the Courts with a 4-year $1.3 million SAMHSA grant, and managed by the Nebraska Court Improvement Project, Project Safe Start - Nebraska focuses on the needs of infants and toddlers in the child welfare court system whose families have been affected by methamphetamine and other drugs. Infants and toddlers can have profound social-emotional and other developmental impacts due to neglect, as discussed by Dr. Joy Osofsky in a 2009 training for Nebraska mental health therapists. This grant program was recently highlighted in a Lincoln Journal Star article. For more information on Project Safe Start Nebraska or mental health and trauma related services for children ages zero to five, please contact Jennie Cole-Mossman at 402-472-9807 or jcmossman@ccfl.unl.edu.
- Studies of Representation of Children and Youth in Nebraska Pursuant to LB 961 (2008), a study of Nebraska's guardian ad litem practices, was undertaken by the National Association of Counsel for Children (Denver, CO), and a study of Nebraska's juvenile indigent defense system in delinquency cases was undertaken by the National Juvenile Defender Center (Washington, DC). Read the GAL report. Read the juvenile defense report.
A Letter From the Chief Justice
Chief Justice Michael Heavican
A look back at five years and what we have accomplished
August 2011
This fall marks the fifth anniversary of the Through the Eyes of the Child Initiative. The Initiative was launched in Nebraska City in September, 2006, when 200 Nebraska professionals gathered together to learn, talk, and plan about how we could do better as a court system in our work with children in our child welfare system. Those present at that first Children's Summit chose the name "Through the Eyes of the Child" to remind us that the child's perspective, needs, and developmental timeline should be front and center considerations as local multidisciplinary teams began their collaborative work in bringing best court and legal practices to their communities.
Upcoming Events
| Time | Event Title |
|---|---|
| May 18th | 2012 Lecture Series - The Use of Medication - Omaha |
| May 18th | 7th District team meeting |
| May 23rd | Omaha Team Meeting |
| Jun 6th | 10th District - Fillmore County Team Meeting |
| Jun 11th | 10th District - Adams County Team Meeting |
| more … |
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Priorities
- Reduce the time to reunification
- Improve systems effectiveness with parents with substance abuse issues
- Improve the use of parenting time to improve permanency
Spotlight Issue
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Collaboration: A Unique Perspective toward Advocacy for Children
By Jennifer Chrystal-Clark, Deputy Douglas County Attorney
Juvenile Court is an entity unique from any other Court and one’s experience in Juvenile Court can be stressful. For a prosecutor, not only are they burdened with proving the facts in a case but they also must deal with numerous entities involved in the Juvenile Court system. There are the police who may have removed the children; child protective services who conduct an initial assessment for the family; medical personal who examine the children for any physical signs of abuse; and mental health professionals who provide therapeutic needs for the family.
Spotlight Team
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Seven Nebraska courts celebrate National Adoption Day
On November 19 and 20, 2010, seven courts across Nebraska celebrated National Adoption Day. Judges in Scottsbluff, Norfolk, Hastings, Kearney, Grand Island, Lincoln and Omaha opened their courthouses to finalize adoption and celebrate the creation of permanent relationships of children in foster care to their caregivers. In Norfolk, Judge Ross Stoffer led a celebration that included swimming, laser tag, face painting, gifts and door prizes. An online photo album of the adoptions of eight children in Grand Island which was led by Judge Mac Martin is available here. The Omaha courts celebrated their 11th National Adoption Day where 29 children were adopted.
Latest Caselaw Updates
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In re Interest of Delana S. and Mark G.
Filed on April 10, 2012 Not designated for permanent publication, A-11-699, A-11-700 SUMMARY: Termination of parental rights was proper where evidence of the mother’s unfitness supporting termination included a history of homelessness and inappropriate housing, her choice not to live close to the children, her minimal contact with the children over three years and her use of [...]
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In re Interest of Marcus C. et al.
Filed on April 3, 2012 Not designated for permanent publication, A-11-565 SUMMARY: The change of permanency objective by the court from reunification to adoption/ guardianship was proper because although the mother/guardian had participated in services, she has demonstrated unwillingness over 2 years to make the necessary changes. Debra is the mother of Marcus C., DOB 8/92, and Cameron, [...]
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In re Interest of Deziree K. et al.
Filed on March 27, 2012 Not designated for permanent publication, A-11-751 SUMMARY: Termination of parental rights was proper where the parents had an extensive drug history, involvement in Satanic worship, chronic unemployment and lack of housing, inability to progress past supervised visitation, and inability to understand the baby’s high level medical needs. N.R.S. 43-292.03, which outlines [...]
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In re Interest of Zylena R. & Adrionna R.
Filed on March 27, 2012 Not designated for permanent publication, A-11-659, A-11-660 SUMMARY: There was good cause to deny transfer of the case to tribal court for being at an advanced stage where the motion was made one week after the petition to terminate parental rights was filed and two years after the children were placed with [...]
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In re Interest of Karlie D.
Filed on March 23, 2012 283 Neb. 581, ____ N.W.2d ____ SUMMARY: An order approving a transition plan of the child from the foster parents to the grandparent and proposed guardian is final and appealable. Legislative changes to 43-285(2) shifted the burden of proof in showing the case plan is in the child’s best interests from [...]
