Nebraska Foster Care Census Up 5.1% With Substance Abuse A Factor in Over Half Of Cases

The average daily number of Nebraska youth in custody of the child welfare system and placed in out-of-home care or on a trial home visit increased 5.1% between June 2016 (3,923) and June 2017 (4,123). The rates varied across the state’s five service areas, with two areas experiencing increases much higher than the statewide average, at 22.5% and 12%. Of the remaining three areas, one had an increase of 3.9%, and two experienced a decrease of 1% or less. During fiscal year 2016, 7,923 individual (non-duplicated) Nebraska children or youth . . .