Nebraska is one of the best place to lift a household. We have now protected, supportive communities. We have now nice colleges. We have now world-class zoos, implausible kids’s museums, and exquisite state and native parks. And youngsters in Nebraska profit from our state’s robust tradition of neighborhood involvement and mentorship.
I could also be biased since I grew up in Nebraska, however you don’t need to take my phrase about our state being an incredible place for teenagers. Nebraska repeatedly ranks close to the highest on measures of kid welfare. Every year, the Annie E. Casey Basis releases its Youngsters Rely information e-book that evaluates youngster welfare in all 50 states. Nebraska has been within the high 10 for 3 consecutive years—coming in #8 in 2022. This 12 months, we have been #1 within the nation for kids’s financial wellbeing. General, we’re ranked larger than each neighboring state.
Nonetheless, we all know the pandemic affected youngsters. As a result of coronavirus, they frolicked out of the classroom and disconnected from mates. We’ve labored onerous in Nebraska to mitigate its destructive impacts.
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Analysis has clearly proven college students study higher within the classroom. We additionally know that children within the classroom, on common, had higher bodily and psychological well being. Right here in Nebraska, colleges did an incredible job of serving to kids return to high school. Nebraska was the sixth finest state for getting youngsters again in school rooms after the outbreak of the coronavirus. Politico gave our state high marks within the nation for our pandemic response, together with rating us fourth finest for a way we dealt with schooling.
Comparatively talking, we had little studying loss in comparison with different states. Our educators performed a key position on this achievement. There have been instances when many academics have been working double to arrange classes for each in-person and distant learners. Thanks to educators in Nebraska for all you’ve carried out because the spring of 2020 to assist our children succeed.
The pandemic was additionally onerous on households. We noticed an almost 30% improve in youngster welfare instances from July 2019 by October 2021. Our crew on the Nebraska Division of Well being and Human Providers (DHHS) has carried out nice work to fulfill the rising want for youngster welfare providers. We’ve devoted extra state assets to deal with the rise in instances.
For instance, we directed $20 million of carryover funds from 2021 into this 12 months to deal with wants. And we devoted $10 million of federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds to have the ability to serve the elevated variety of youngsters within the youngster welfare system.
We additionally know the pandemic affected kids’s psychological well-being. That’s why the state prioritized utilizing ARPA funds to put money into pediatric psychological healthcare services. This consists of:
$10 million to develop psychological well being pressing care facilities throughout Nebraska
$10 million for a public-private partnership to construct a behavioral well being heart for youth
$10 million for an adolescent psychological well being growth day college to serve youth impacted by the pandemic
Over the previous eight years, the standard of kid welfare in Nebraska has benefited significantly from robust public-private partnerships that concentrate on prevention. Underneath the Carry Up Nebraska Initiative, we’ve been in a position to serve 1000’s of kids and households in communities throughout the state. This proactive mindset is vital to stopping abuse and neglect and strengthening Nebraska’s households. Efficient Oct. 1, DHHS is launching new packages to proceed our different response method.
Household-Centered Remedy: a 4-6 month home-based trauma remedy program that works to establish the core points dealing with the household inside the residence by growing constructive parenting expertise and offering therapeutic providers to deal with psychological well being wants and substance use.
Wholesome Households America: a house visiting program for brand new and anticipating households with kids who’re in danger for maltreatment.
Trauma Targeted Cognitive Behavioral Remedy: a therapeutic program for kids and adolescents who’ve signs related to trauma publicity.
Familias Unidas: a family-centered intervention that works to forestall substance use and dangerous sexual habits amongst Hispanic adolescents and empowers mother and father by enhancing communication and enhancing parenting expertise.
Nebraskans working in youngster welfare present nice service to youngsters in our state. Their compassionate care is an enormous purpose why Nebraska continues to rank among the many high states in America for youngster welfare. Thanks to state teammates and the various different companions throughout Nebraska who’re investing within the well-being of our kids.
If in case you have questions on our method to youngster welfare in Nebraska, please attain out to me at pete.ricketts@nebraska.gov or 402-471-2244.