Coordination, 2014
- Uses for coordination
- Does not use for coordination
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Data sharing
Facilitated through the use of statewide information systems allowing for consistent data sharing between systems.
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Committees or advisory groups
Multidisciplinary groups that often have regularly scheduled meetings to brainstorm ways to improve systems integration.
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Formal interagency MOUs
Collaborative agreements to guide systems integration efforts
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Informal interagency agreements
Commonly based on historical practice, mutual trust, and recognition of the need to collaborate in order to serve dual-status youth.
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Statute and/or rules
Rules that mandate systems integration efforts
Summary
In Nebraska, most child welfare services are provided by the Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Children and Family Services. Juvenile justice services are mainly provided by the Juvenile Services Division under the State Court Administrator's Office. Delinquency and dependency cases are heard in separate juvenile courts in Douglas, Lancaster, and Sarpy Counties. In the rest of the state, delinquency and dependency cases are heard in county courts.
State statutes are driving juvenile justice reform and coordination for dual status youth at the state level which supports coordination at the local level. Formal and informal inter-agency collaborative statements exist at the local level which guide data sharing and case coordination for dual status youth. There are several examples of case management and court coordination for dual status youth in Douglas County (Omaha) where youth services are consolidated into a single agency, the Department of Health and Human Services. Additionally, Douglas County participates in Georgetown University's Crossover Youth Practice Model. This initiative supports coordination activities in Douglas County including identification of dual status cases at intake, sharing of case planning information between systems, inter-agency planning meetings, and joint case-level management meetings. The County's Juvenile Detention Alternatives Initiative (JDAI) group also holds pre-detention hearings to prepare potential alternatives for case management and to identify cross-over youth. These cases are then set aside for a team meeting between the youth, family members, educators, and mental health staff. Finally, in Douglas County a network of organizations called the Nebraska Families Collaborative is working to improve case management for dual status youth.
There are examples of coordination activities in the Juvenile Courts in Nebraska as well. Juvenile Courts in Douglas, Lancaster, and Sarpy Counties consolidate delinquency and dependency matters with one judge per family. Additionally, specialized training in dual status cases is provided to attorneys, judges, and guardians ad litem.
