Pre-Hearing Conference Study
Across Nebraska, many counties are implementing pre-hearing conferences as a strategy to facilitate early information-sharing and problem-solving among parties. It is believed that this medium for discussion and collaboration will speed the process of achieving safe and timely permanency. This evaluation is particularly important at this time because the state is considering statewide implementation of pre-hearing conferences. Additionally, the outcome of the evaluation may be informational for other jurisdictions considering similar “front-loading” processes.
The goal of the present study, being carried out by the University of Nebraska’s (Lincoln) Center on Children, Families, and the Law (CCFL), is to document the attributes of pre-hearing conferences across Nebraska and to determine if pre-hearing conferences are successfully improving the process. Thanks to the cooperation of a number judges and court staff across the state, CCFL has been able to collect case progression information from the following counties: Adams, Clay, Dawson, Fillmore, Madison, Nuckolls, Seward, Webster, and Scotts Bluff. CCFL will continue to follow up on these cases to track their progression through to permanency.
For more information regarding the Pre-Hearing Conferences Study please contact or
To learn more about Pre-Hearing Conferences visit our Pre-Hearing Conference Protocol and Training page.
