Did you know...


that according to a recent case file review conducted in Nebraska 85% of parents who had Substance Abuse identified in the case file also had a mental health problem identified.

Partnering4Students is Nebraska's web-based Tool Kit of information and resources designed to assist educators and staff of the primary systems involved in education of children and youth in out-of-home care.  Developed through a multi-disciplinary collaboration, the Systems Tool Kit includes FAQs, sample processes and forms, contact listings, interactive maps and links to related documents and websites. These resources are designed to promote a common understanding, greater awareness and collaborative knowledge about the following topics:

A Letter from the Chief Justice:
A look back at five years and what we have accomplished

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. Read more.

 

Register now for the 2011 Regional Conference

Online registration is available for the annual fall regional conferences.  This year’s dates/locations are:

  • September 8: Sidney
  • September 9: Lexington
  • September 22: Norfolk
  • September 23: Ashland (Omaha/Lincoln)

Registration will close one week prior to the event date or when capacities are reached.

Topics include legal updates, substance-abusing parents, implementing Fostering Connections, domestic violence, and children’s sexual behavior. 

Click here for the agenda. 

Teams will have the opportunity to meet and work on action plans throughout the day.  The regional conferences are directed toward members of the local teams, but anyone with involvement in the child welfare court system is invited to attend.  For more information, click here or contact Melissa Townsend at mtownsend3@unl.edu.

Spotlight Issue: A Meaningful Defense for a Juvenile Defendant

by Brittani Lewit, J.D.

Defendants in criminal proceedings have a due process right to present a meaningful defense. They have the right to see and hear the State’s witnesses, to have those witnesses cross-examined by their attorney, to present witnesses of their own, and to testify in their own defense. Juvenile defendants have these same rights in law violation proceedings. However, extra efforts need to be made to ensure that a juvenile’s right to present a meaningful defense is preserved.

Read more …

Caselaw Summaries

Trying to find an abuse/neglect case but can’t remember the case name?  Use our search engine for abuse/neglect cases since 2006.  Cases can be searched by keyword.  To begin a search, click here.

In re Interest of Meridian H. (281 Neb. 465, ____ N.W.2d ____, May 06, 2011)  Siblings of a child under the custody of the state child welfare system have no standing to appeal denial of the child’s placement in their home. Full Opinion

In re Interest of Nature B. (unpublished opinion, June 28, 2011) There was sufficient evidence that the child comes within the meaning of 43-247(3)(a) based on the child’s testimony of inappropriate discipline, failure to care for injuries and her fear of her mother and step-father, but the DHHS recommendation for continued placement in the father’s home was shown not to be in the child’s best interest based on the father’s past criminal history and history of domestic violence and the child’s unhappiness with the placement. Full Opinion

News

Nebraska:

National:

2011 Lecture Series Videos available for MCLE Credit

Videos of our 2011 Lecture Series presentations are now available on the Through the Eyes of the Child website with supplemental links and instructions for attorneys seeking MCLE credit. 

The 2011 Lecture Series presentations are:

Click here for a complete list of On Demand MCLE trainings sponsored by the Through the Eyes of the Child Initiative.