Return of child welfare case management to DHHS approved

The state Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) is required to provide case management for most of Nebraska’s child welfare system under a bill passed by the Legislature April 3.

LB961, introduced by the Health and Human Services Committee, returns case management to DHHS by April 1, 2012, except in the eastern service area, in which the department will be allowed to contract for lead agency case management as a pilot project.

Monitoring and evaluation of the pilot project will mirror requirements for DHHS case management outlined in the bill. The department is required to review the pilot project before April 1, 2013, and make recommendations to the Legislature regarding alteration and continuation of the project.

The bill also addresses the issue of caseload size.

Under LB961, both the department and the pilot project lead agency are required to reduce caseload size to between 12 and 17 cases per worker by Sept. 1, 2012. If children in a family receive services in the home, all children will be considered one case. If any child is placed out of the home, each child will be considered one case.

The bill passed 48-0.