By Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services
LINCOLN, Neb. – The Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) is proud to announce that the Division of Children and Family Services (CFS) Child and Family Services Review (CFSR) Program Improvement Plan (PIP) has been officially approved by the Administration for Children and Families (ACF). This milestone reflects the state’s continued commitment to strengthening outcomes for youth, families and communities.
This PIP serves as Nebraska’s framework under the ACF’s “A Home for Every Child” initiative. Nebraska was the eighth state to join in this federal initiative, further reinforcing the state’s commitment to ensuring every child has a safe, stable and permanent home.
“The safety and well-being of Nebraska kids is a top priority,” said Governor Pillen. “By joining this initiative, we are strengthening our commitment to supporting families, preventing unnecessary system involvement and ensuring every child has access to a safe, stable home.”
As part of this effort, DHHS has clearly outlined its priorities, creating an easy-to-follow roadmap that guides the work ahead. The plan, concisely outlined on one page, is organized around three core pillars, each designed to drive meaningful and measurable improvements across the system.
1. Support at home first – prevent unnecessary entry into foster care by strengthening prevention supports and services for families.
2. Relative/kin first placement when needed – prioritize placement with relatives or kin to maintain family connections and stability.
3. Safe permanency, without delay – reach safe, timely permanency for children when out-of-home care is necessary.
Together, these principles guide targeted strategies to enhance safety, permanency and well-being for children and families across Nebraska.
“This approval represents important progress and reinforces the work already underway across our system as we focus on ‘Right Home, Right Time’,” said CFS Director Dr. Alyssa Bish. “We are laser-focused on the priorities that move the needle to ensure we are supporting families, strengthening connections and ensuring timely permanency for the children we serve.”
The PIP reaffirms and strengthens the efforts and priorities that the department has been working on. DHHS will continue to monitor outcomes and make data-informed decisions in the best interests of Nebraska’s children. Data metrics will be shared on a public dashboard for transparency across our system.
DHHS remains committed to continuous improvement as it works to strengthen the child welfare system and support positive outcomes for those it serves.
For ongoing updates and more information, please visit: https://dhhs.ne.gov/Pages/Right-Home-Right-Time.aspx