Last Wednesday, Governor Dave Heineman announced several child protection measures, which will be observed by welfare workers in order to boost Nebraska's
child welfare system. The steps, which were handed to Health and Human Services System, are aimed at lessening the caseloads of the employees thus leaving them more time to focus on kids who are most at risk. The announcement was finally made after a series of weekly meetings with the HHSS staff and supervisors.
According to Mr. Heineman, he wanted to continue the progress made by his predecessor
Mike Johanns. The former governor of the state organized a special task force, which gave important recommendations in order to further improve the child welfare system. Currently, Nebraska holds one of the country's highest rates on out-of-home-placement. Mr. Heineman stressed that money was not always the solution to boost the system. According to him, the more important thing was the cooperation of the people in looking for creative and effective solutions to the current problems faced by Nebraska's child welfare system. He further said that there were plenty of other resources, which the state could use in developing its welfare program. The governor is optimistic for more future improvements.
