Juvenile support pilot program clears final round

A bill intended to provide support services to at-risk Omaha youth and their families was given final approval May 30.

LB48, sponsored by Omaha Sen. Terrell McKinney, creates the five-year Family Resource and Juvenile Assessment Center Pilot Program to provide culturally relevant services to family and youth involved in or at risk of entering the juvenile justice system.

The bill requires the state Department of Health and Human Services to designate two centers within a metropolitan class city to provide 24/7 support services, including youth counseling, parenting support, job training, conflict resolution and substance abuse treatment. Omaha is the state’s only metropolitan class city.

The department also must establish a designation process for the centers, who are required to implement a data collection system to assess program effectiveness, track youth and family outcomes and incorporate feedback directly from those served.

The bill appropriates $500,000 annually for each center from the Medicaid Managed Care Excess Profit Fund. No more than $50,000 may be used for administration expenses.

LB48 passed on a vote of 27-21.