Family finding pilot project advanced

A bill advanced from general file April 10 that would create a pilot project to establish family connections for wards of the state.

Lincoln Sen. Kate Bolz, sponsor of LB243, said research shows that children have better outcomes in kinship placements. Nebraska needs to do a better job of searching for family and engaging them in the decision-making process for state wards, she said.

“Extended families are a solution to many of the challenges that we see in our child welfare system,” Bolz said. “In other words, when families step up, children benefit.”

As introduced, LB243 would create a four-year statewide pilot program to provide family finding services in each service area. The state Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) would contract with providers to carry out the program and would provide oversight.

The department also would be required to establish a data collection system and contract with an academic institution to complete an independent evaluation of the pilot project’s effectiveness.

A Health and Human Services Committee amendment, adopted 26-0, limits the pilot project to two or more service areas.

Lincoln Sen. Kathy Campbell, chairperson of the committee, said the change would reduce the bill’s fiscal impact from $3 million to $1.5 million. She said a current pilot program being conducted in the southeast service area has been successful, but that a larger pilot should be implemented before taking the program statewide.

“I believe that once we have the program and it shows its worth, the department will make it part of what they do,” Campbell said.

Sen. Colby Coash of Lincoln said the bill might be seen as the Legislature “micromanaging” DHHS. He questioned why the department had not asked for funds to provide family finding services if the program is considered a best practice.

“This body has taken on the task of picking and choosing programs and I think that’s a dangerous road that we are heading down,” Coash said.

Campbell said she is confident that new leadership at DHHS will improve relations between the Legislature and the department.

“But, we still need to protect our kids and find them a home with a relative, or good friend or neighbor that’s willing to step in. That’s how we got to this bill,” she said.

Bellevue Sen. Sue Crawford agreed, saying DHHS has expressed interest in the program and that the Legislature needs to provide funding to keep the pilot project going until new leadership is established.

“I agree that in this transition over the next two years or so we’re going to have an important new negotiation on roles,” Crawford said. “However, this is still a critical transition year.”

Sen. Beau McCoy of Omaha expressed concern with the bill’s inclusion of the terms “domestic partner” and “fictive kin,” saying they are ambiguous and open to differing interpretations.

“I think we’re opening ourselves up to a great deal of speculation,” he said.

Bolz said she would work on an amendment before select file debate to address McCoy’s concerns. LB243 advanced from general file on a 26-0 vote.