Suicide prevention training for child welfare staff clears first round

A bill that would require suicide awareness and prevention training for staff who provide direct services within the state’s child welfare system was given first-round approval May 9.

LB217, introduced by Omaha Sen. John Fredrickson, would require the state Department of Health and Human Services to develop suicide awareness and prevention training for child welfare staff, foster care providers and child-placing agency employees.

The training would include evidence-based practices to identify early warning signs and appropriate and effective responses to behavioral and mental health concerns among youth in the state’s child welfare system. All qualified staff would be required to complete at least 90 minutes of such training prior to any independent contact with youth and families and annually thereafter.

Fredrickson offered an amendment to remove the time requirement and instead require the training to adhere to current best practices.

He said the requirements outlined in LB217 stem from recommendations in a 2023 report from the Nebraska Office of the Inspector General for Child Welfare, which stated that youth involved in the child welfare system have a higher risk for death by suicide than their peers.

“Simply put, this is an at-risk population that needs special attention,” Fredrickson said. “The more touch points that we have in place with children who might be at risk for suicide, the liklier it is that we can prevent someone from making an impulsive decision to self-harm or engage in suicidal behavior.”

Following the 33-0 adoption of Fredrickson’s amendment, senators voted 36-0 to advance LB217 to select file.