Through the Eyes of the Child Initiative

Legislators have advanced five bills intended to address problems with the state child welfare system, but a legislative leader says more work must be done. Health and Human Services Chairwoman Kathy Campbell of Lincoln says she’s pleased all five bills have advanced, but she is quick to add this is just a first step toward addressing problems in child welfare. “All these pieces are now into place, but we need to carry them out,” Campbell tells Nebraska Radio Network. The Unicameral has advanced LB 821, which would [...]
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The state Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) would be required to apply for a federal waiver for a foster care demonstration project under a bill given first-round approval Feb. 28. The bill was amended to provide rate increases for foster parents starting July 1. Lincoln Sen. Kathy Campbell said LB820, introduced by the Health and Human Services Committee, could improve permanency for children in the foster care system and allow the department to fund an array of community-based services for children and their families. Title IV-E is the adoption assistance and foster care program funded by the federal government. Campbell said a waiver would provide flexibility in the use of Title IV-E funds to reduce the number of children in out-of-home care in Nebraska. “Our goal has always been to get more children served in their home,” she said. [...]
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LINCOLN — Nebraska moved forward Wednesday on several fronts to reshape the state's child welfare system. The Nebraska Legislature endorsed the idea of letting the state's last private contractor continue managing child welfare cases in the Omaha area. A legislative committee gave tentative approval to the governor's request to pump millions of dollars more into the system, in part to significantly reduce caseloads for overburdened workers. And officials with the Department of Health and Human Services announced progress on taking over the child welfare cases that had been managed by the Kansas-based firm KVC. Kerry Winterer, the department CEO, said the state was ready to assume responsibility Thursday for the former KVC cases in southeast Nebraska, including Lincoln. [...]
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State lawmakers have advanced a number of bills designed to fix problems with Nebraska’s troubled child welfare system, during the first of two legislative days devoted to the issue. The urgency of the issue was evident in the rhetoric on Tuesday. “This house of cards called child welfare reform has fallen down around our heads and it’s the children and the foster parents who are buried beneath this rubble,” Sen. Annette Dubas of Fullerton stated during floor debate, expressing the frustration of many. That frustration has turned into action as the Unicameral considers legislation growing out of a 400-page plus report delivered it by the Health and Human Services Committee as well as one piece of legislation suggested by the Performance Audit Committee. [...]
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The Legislature focused Tuesday on repairing the state's child welfare system. Lincoln Sen. Kathy Campbell set the tone for two days of debate on a set of five bills to overhaul child welfare reform. "Today, we begin the process of building a stable foundation and a bridge to the future for the benefit of the children and families of the state of Nebraska," she said. The Legislature proceeded to advance four of the bills -- with no senator voting against them -- and then, late in the day, started debate on a bill that would return all child welfare case management to the state. That last bill (LB961) could prove to be one of the toughest. Speaker Mike Flood of Norfolk said the case management question is one with which the Legislature has to be very careful. [...]
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LINCOLN — Nebraska will pay $6 million to the Kansas-based KVC even after the contractor stops managing child welfare cases for the state. State officials said Thursday the money is to ensure the state can have continued access to case files and data. It's also to make certain KVC pays all of its subcontractors, said Scot Adams, interim children and family services director for the Department of Health and Human Services. The money would come from about $20 million worth of unused funds within the HHS budget, which officials hope to shift into child welfare. HHS provided more information to state lawmakers Thursday about the sources and potential uses of those funds. Along with additional money for KVC, the department plans a $6.7 million increase for the state's remaining private child welfare contractor through June 30. [...]
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LINCOLN — Gov. Dave Heineman said Wednesday his plan to put more money into the child welfare system would not jeopardize his tax cut proposal. "We need tax relief. It's still the highest priority," he said. At the same time, his administration will ask for a $19 million increase in child welfare funding next year to address problems in the system. State officials also said they will seek legislative approval to tap nearly $20 million of unused funds in other programs for the child welfare system this year. Heineman declined to comment about the funding increase Wednesday, referring questions to Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services officials. In the past, the governor has contrasted his plan for what he calls "tax relief for hardworking middle-class Nebraska taxpayers" with "more spending for special interest groups." [...]
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Little Rylee Munns got two bouncy seats for Christmas. But her mom wasn't sure exactly how they should be set up. So Mom -- Heather Bell -- got some expert advice from visiting nurse Lindsey Cassler, who knows about babies' developmental issues and bouncy seats. Initially, Bell set up the seats so the baby's feet wouldn't touch the floor, because little Rylee's legs weren't strong enough to be putting pressure on them. But now that Rylee is almost 6 months old, the seats have been lowered and she's pushing off the floor like a big girl. [...]
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LINCOLN — Top Nebraska officials plan to change course on child welfare after the state's experiment in privatization suffered a major blow Tuesday. The Kansas-based KVC announced that the company will stop managing child welfare cases as of Feb. 29. The announcement leaves the state with only one private contractor, meaning that state workers will once again be responsible for ensuring the safety and well-being of the majority of abused and neglected Nebraska children. But, in a key difference from past practice, State Department of Health and Human Services officials plan to hire enough workers to keep caseloads at manageable levels. [...]
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The state is moving forward on child welfare reform without lead contractor KVC. On March 1, KVC no longer will provide case management and related child welfare services for state wards and other children, and the state will take over its caseload, said Department of Health and Human Services CEO Kerry Winterer on Tuesday. KVC, however, will continue to provide child placement services. And its contract with the state will continue until June 30 so KVC can help with the transition, said Scot Adams, interim director of the division of children and family services. [...]
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