KHGI-TV/KWNB-TV/KHGI-CD-Grand Island, Kearney, HastingsSolving Child Welfare 'Crisis'

Solving Child Welfare 'Crisis'

By Steve White swhite@nebraska.tv

A showdown looms, with time running out to address concerns over the state's foster care system. 

Many lawmakers say it's still at the top of the agenda, as they hash out what exactly they can accomplish this year.

A 60-day session doesn't give state senators much time to act on child welfare, especially as they debate tax cuts, school funding, and university expansion plans.

Behind the scenes, lawmakers are hammering out a proposal they think would address some of the biggest concerns arising from the decision to privatize child welfare.

Sen. Annette Dubas said, "This is such a multifaceted issue. There's no way we'll deal with everything that needs to be dealt with this session but we'll take beginning steps to get things in place."

Sen. Mike Gloor said there are no easy answers on "how to get out of the child welfare crisis we're in."

Gloor said a 400 page report that took a year to compile was just the beginning.

"All of that ended up finding its way into our discussion, bills that we individually or collectively put in place that we think provide some degree of relief."

Lawmakers package the best ideas together, hoping to make changes. The legislature's Health and Human Services Committee is guiding the discussion.

"My foster care bill is something there will be changes to it and it'll be rolled into a committee bill," Dubas explained.

Several private agencies contracted to manage the foster care system dropped out and left subcontractors unpaid.

Foster parents say they're caught in the middle. Some say the state needs to resume direct case management.

"This will be ongoing for several years I think," Dubas said.

Gloor said, "It may take several years of bills to get there but I'm optimistic. it's still a challenge but I see light at the end of the tunnel."

It's been designated a priority issue for lawmakers, who now have just 30 days in session to take action.