Child welfare training, stipends added to foster care bill

A bill that would update a program to provide foster care transition services and authorize a pilot program for alternative response in certain Nebraska child welfare cases was amended March 19 to include a bill related to child welfare case management.

LB853, introduced by Lincoln Sen. Amanda McGill, would rename, amend and update the Young Adult Voluntary Services and Support Act that was passed by the Legislature in 2013. The measure was intended to ease the transition for young people aging out of the foster care system.

Omaha Sen. Sara Howard offered an amendment during select file debate, adopted 32-0, that would incorporate provisions of LB790, a bill she introduced. The amendment would require the same initial training for all child welfare case managers, whether employed by the state Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) or an organization under contract with the department.

The amendment also would require DHHS to collaborate with social work programs at Nebraska public colleges and universities to establish a program to provide stipends for undergraduate and graduate students who are committed to working in the child welfare services field. The stipends would be funded with federal Title IV-E dollars.

Howard said the amendment would help Nebraska develop a high-quality, consistently trained child welfare workforce.

LB853 also was amended on general file to require DHHS, in consultation with the Nebraska Children’s Commission, to develop an alternative response implementation pilot program. Implementation would include the provision of concrete supports and voluntary services, including mental health and substance abuse services and assistance with child care, food, clothing, housing and transportation.

When the plan has been developed, DHHS would begin using alternative response in up to five project locations designated by the department. DHHS would provide a report on evaluation of the status of the pilot program by Dec. 15, 2015, and could begin using alternative response in up to five additional locations after Jan. 1, 2016, and another five after Jan. 1, 2017.

Continuation of the pilot program beyond that date would require legislative approval.

Following adoption of a technical amendment, senators advanced LB853 to final reading by voice vote.