Foster Care Review Office

June is . Creating safe environments for children and youth is a shared responsibility. 💛

If you are concerned about the safety or wellbeing of a child, there are resources available to help.

📞📣 Concerns about child abuse or neglect should be reported through the Nebraska Child Abuse & Neglect Hotline at 1-800-652-1999.

📱🎒🍎 Did you know? Safe2Help Nebraska provides students and school communities with a way to anonymously report safety concerns and access support 24/7 through the app, website, or by calling 833-980-SAFE (7233). Learn more at safe2helpne.org.

Today we celebrate all the different kinds of fathers, including birth fathers, adoptive fathers, foster fathers, stepdads, and chosen fathers.

Fathers play an essential role in a child’s life, and their involvement can be transformative. This Father’s Day, we honor every dad working to show up for their family, and for the system-involved fathers making strides toward reunification.

serves as an important reminder of the ongoing work to build systems and communities rooted in equity, dignity, opportunity, and belonging for all children and families.

In observance of the state holiday, the Foster Care Review Office will be closed on June 19.

Our March quarterly report showed there were 80 youth ages 11-14 that were Probation-only involved.

📈 A significant number of young adolescents are Probation-involved, underscoring the importance of early intervention services, family support, and age-appropriate programming to prevent deeper system involvement during critical developmental years. 📣

Read the full report to learn more:

fcro.nebraska.gov

We often reflect on our collective "why" and invite our volunteer review board members to share the impact of their important work.

📣 Our latest prompt: Why do you believe it’s important to hold the child welfare system accountable, and how does the FCRO and its volunteer review board members contribute to that?

Here’s today’s response.

👉We're seeking a diverse pool of Nebraskans from all walks of life who have a vested interest in child and family wellbeing to join our volunteer review boards.

Fill out this quick form for more info! https://tinyurl.com/JoinFCROBoard

Everyone learns differently! is an opportunity to recognize the importance of creating supportive environments where every young person can learn, grow, and succeed. 💛

In our latest annual report, we recommended that educational programming at Nebraska’s Youth Rehabilitation and Treatment Centers continue evolving to better support youth with:
📣 Developmental disabilities
📣 Learning disabilities
📣 Behavioral health challenges

Youth involved in the juvenile justice and child welfare systems often have complex educational, behavioral, and mental health needs that require individualized support and understanding.

We’re seeking a diverse group of Nebraskans in your area—especially those with lived experience or a vested interest in child welfare and family well-being—to join one of our review boards.

As a volunteer board member, you’ll:
📣 Gain personal and professional growth
📣 Build meaningful connections through networking
📣 Play a key role in shaping the future of child welfare and juvenile justice in Nebraska

Fill out this quick form and we’ll reach out with details! https://tinyurl.com/JoinFCROBoard

Join Our Volunteer Review Board! Our all-volunteer Foster Care Review Board members bring a wealth o...

Our team attended the Together for Indigenous Families Conference in Lincoln on June 4. This year's theme was “Stronger Together: Centering Culture, Building Community."

The event highlighted the importance of collaboration among tribes, families, and communities to protect Indigenous children, support youth well-being, honor tribal sovereignty, and strengthen cultural and community connections.

It's time for an FCRO Spotlight! Today we are excited to highlight volunteer review board member Gabby Catterson.

Q) How long have you been a volunteer?
⭐A) Since 2022.

Q) What are your personal hobbies?
⭐A) In my free time I love to read, travel, cook new recipes, try new restaurants and spend as much time as I can with friends and family.

Q) What is your all time favorite movie, band/musician, or TV series?
⭐A) My all time favorite movie is Pride and Prejudice (2005 version obviously!). I enjoy so many different musical artists, but my go-to artist has to be Hozier hands down.

Q) Tell us about your family!
⭐A) I have loving parents and a sister who I adore. I have an amazing group of friends and a giant great dane who always keeps me entertained!

Q) Why do you feel the FCRO's mission is important?
⭐A) This mission matters because the work directly shapes the safety, stability, and long-term outcomes for children and their families. By bringing together board members with a wealth of knowledge from both their personal and professional backgrounds, along with case professionals, family members, and foster parents, we can collaboratively find solutions that ensure all voices are heard and that children and families are supported as best we can.

Q) What do you consider the most rewarding part of your work?
⭐A) The most rewarding part of my work is the opportunity to truly learn from families and care professionals so we can better understand their experiences, identify gaps in support, and work to overcome any barriers. As a result, I feel like we walk away with a clearer path forward and with recommendations for the courts that are thoughtful and well-rounded. Knowing that this process can contribute to stronger outcomes for children and families is what I find most meaningful.

Our March quarterly report showed under half of dually involved youth were in family-like settings.

📈 Less than half of dually involved youth are in family-like placements, suggesting an opportunity to expand community-based alternatives and strengthen coordination between systems to better support youth in the least restrictive environments possible. 📣

Read the full report to learn more:

fcro.nebraska.gov