Storms damaged Beaver Lake and Omaha in Nebraska and Neola, Iowa
Nebraska could save money and keep the state’s most troubled youth closer to home and their families, by creating a state-run adolescent psychiatric facility, new analysis has found.
The analysis was presented to the Legislative Assembly’s Special Youth Rehabilitation and Treatment Oversight Committee on Friday, along with a second study looking at the cost of replacing problematic barracks-style housing at a Kearney facility for young delinquents.
The Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services recommended completing both studies earlier this year, as part of a five-year strategic plan for its juvenile offender treatment centers. Larry Kahl, the department’s chief operating officer, told the committee that the HHS is not taking a position on the study’s recommendations.
Although the state has higher than expected tax revenues and over $ 1 billion from the latest federal coronavirus relief program, Governor Pete Ricketts has opposed new programs that will create ongoing costs to the state.
HHS currently operates a facility in Kearney for boys, one in Hastings for girls, and one in Lincoln for offenders with more serious behavioral and mental health issues, as well as programs in Lincoln for boys with a history of delinquency. sexual and, separately, with drug addiction. abuse issues.
The first analysis looked at the potential for starting an inpatient treatment center on the Lincoln Regional Center campus. The facility is said to be intended to treat adolescents who are now sent out of state for treatment.
Karen Chinn, a consultant who worked on the study, said young people in Nebraska are going to other states because the state’s private treatment programs will not accept them.
These young people tend to be adolescents with aggressive and violent behavior who have experienced trauma and have been placed outside the home from an early age. Most have serious mental health and addiction issues. Some have a history of sexual delinquency. Some have developmental disabilities.
She said Nebraska sent between 39 and 74 such young people to other states each year from 2015 to this year. About two-thirds were on juvenile probation, while the rest were in the child welfare system. They were sent as far as Tennessee and South Carolina and typically spent four to six months at these out-of-state facilities.
Chinn said the state paid $ 9.1 million for the care of these teens in 2019.
His analysis showed that the state could operate a 24-bed residential psychiatric treatment facility at an estimated cost of $ 3.8 million per year. The idea would be to have a âno rejection, no ejectionâ facility that could keep adolescents closer to home, where their families could participate in treatment.
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The study estimated that such a facility could be built on the Lincoln State Psychiatric Hospital campus for $ 12.7 million.
However, Chinn told the committee that the state could serve the same young people by working to expand the capacity of private treatment programs to deal with more difficult young people. She pointed to Missouri, which treats similar teens in small regional facilities scattered around the state.
Architect Al Povondra presented the second study, which examined the building needs of the Kearney Youth Rehabilitation and Treatment Center. He said the campus had a problem with accommodation for residents, particularly in two buildings with barrack-style sleeping areas where young people have little privacy and might find themselves two beds away from someone from a rival gang.
âBasically you are storing children,â he said.
The study estimated the cost of replacing older housing units at around $ 13.2 million, which would create a pair of new housing units. Each new building would have 24 rooms, separated into two zones. One bedroom in each area would be large enough to accommodate two young people, if required.
See the laws of Nebraska that came into effect at the end of August
August 28: Social security
Update
Older Nebraska residents, including retirees, will benefit from a bill (LB64) that phased out state income tax on Social Security benefits, with future lawmakers having the built-in option to review the tax exemption along the way.
August 28: retired soldier
Update
A bill (LB387) to eliminate state income tax on military pension benefits has been approved.
August 28: Activity parks
Update
The approval of a plan (LB40) to appropriate $ 50 million over the next decade to create business parks near railroads in non-metropolitan areas has been promulgated.
August 28: Police reform
Update
Omaha Senator Steve Lathrop’s LB51 included a series of police reforms, ranging from requiring new recruits to undergo psychological exams, additional annual training, and a ban on strangulations and carotid restrictions. It will also require law enforcement agencies to adopt policies on an officer’s duty to intervene when excessive force is used.
August 28: hair discrimination
Update
Nebraska laws prohibiting racial discrimination in employment will now include hairstyles, especially those of African Americans who wear their hair in natural textures or protective styles. Omaha Sen’s Bill (LB451). Terrell McKinney allows employers to require hairstyle changes for safety reasons if they can be applied the same way, and exempts law enforcement and the Nebraska National Guard, which set their own standards for dress code and grooming.
August 28: Property taxes on school bonds
Update
LB2 provides for lower valuations on rural property in an effort to repay school bond issues. It was introduced by Senator Tom Briese, with an effective date of January 1, 2022.
August 28: Cryptocurrency
Update
LB649, introduced by Senator Mike Flood, creates a state regulatory system for cryptocurrencies such as bitcoin.
August 28: School program
Update
LB452, introduced by Senator Terrell McKinney, anticipates that schools will begin requiring students to take a course in personal finance or financial literacy before graduating.
August 28: From farm to school
Update
A bill creating a “farm to school” program for farmers and producers in Nebraska to provide school breakfasts and lunches under the provisions of LB396, introduced by Senator Tom Brandt.
August 28: Tenants’ rights
Update
A requirement that landlords must provide 24-hour written notice before they can enter a tenant’s residence under the provisions of LB320, introduced by Senator John Cavanaugh.
In force: rural broadband
Update
Increased access to high-speed Internet service will be provided with a commitment of $ 40 million to expand infrastructure in rural areas under the provisions of LB388.
Applicable: Alcohol to take away
Update
One of the most popular policies to come out of the pandemic – an emergency order from Governor Pete Ricketts allowing bars and restaurants to offer take-out alcohol – will remain in place. Bill from Lincoln Sen. Suzanne Geist (LB72) legalizing the practice and promulgating certain regulations has been amended into a set of promulgated bills.
In force: Pyrotechnic sales
Update
Nebraskans were able to purchase more types of fireworks after an invoice (LB152) came into effect from Senator Julie Slama of Peru. The law expanded the sale of fireworks to include any device permitted by federal law and allows the state fire marshal to judge fireworks dangerous in response to complaints.
In force: Crisis hotline
Update
Safe2HelpNE began as a pilot program in Douglas County for K-12 students and teachers to seek help for themselves or for others with thoughts of suicide. A bill (LB322) from Sen. Matt Williams of Gothenburg extended this hotline, which connects callers to crisis counselors trained in de-escalation techniques, at all public and private schools in the state.