Foster Care Reform Legal Resource Center

Thank you for visiting the Foster Care Reform Legal Resource Center (LRC). The resources provided on this website are intended to assist you in your juvenile court practice and encourage systemic change within Nebraska’s child welfare system. If you have not already, we encourage you to join our listserv and receive such valuable information as the regularly released Foster Care Reform Update. The LRC also provides access to sample legal documents focused on child welfare issues. We also invite you to review our resources page which includes our continuing series of policy briefs, publications highlighting child welfare issues, and other relevant resources geared toward the child welfare community.

Important Note: The mission of Nebraska Appleseed is to address policies and systemic issues facing low-income Nebraskans. Therefore, the Foster Care Reform Legal Resource Center is only able to provide assistance on cases that involve systemic issues in the child welfare system that are within our expertise and resources to address. For example, we are unfortunately unable to help with everyday issues and basic procedural questions. Whereas, we may be able to provide research and information related to the rights of non-English speaking families in the child welfare system.

Foster Care Reform Legal Resource Center

01/28/2010

  • Policy Spotlight: NEW Policy Briefs and Sample Documents
  • Court Opinions: In re Interest of Marcella B. & Juan S., In re Interest of T.T., In re Adoption of Corbin J., In re Interest of Chance J., In re Interest of Damon H. and Alexandria J., In re Interest of Manuel C.
  • Legislative Update: 2010 Child Welfare Bills; 2009 Carryover Bills; Federal Health Care Reforms
  • Announcements: Recently released reports; Upcoming Trainings; Appleseed Blog

11/16/2009

  • Policy Spotlight: No Policy Spotlight this issue
  • Court Opinions: In re Interest of Jade S. et al.; In re Interest of Ethan M.; In re Interest of Allen G. et al.; In re Interest of Nylang M. et al.; In re Interest of Hope L. et al.
  • Legislative Update: Child Welfare Interim Studies
  • Announcements: Appleseed Blog

09/16/2009

  • Policy Spotlight: Update on ICWA in Nebraska
  • Court Opinions: In re Interest of Louis S., In re Interest of Josiah T.
  • Legislative Update: No legislative report this issue
  • Announcements: Upcoming Events and NEW Appleseed Blog

08/25/2009

  • Policy Spotlight: Child Welfare Attorneys Need to Know About the Fostering Connections to Success and Increasing Adoptions Act
  • Court Opinions: In re Interest of Leslie S. et al.
  • Legislative Update: Child Welfare Interim Studies
  • Announcements: NEW Appleseed Blog and Upcoming Conferences

07/29/2009

  • Policy Spotlight: Implications of In re Interest of Angelica L. & Daniel L.
  • Court Opinions: In re Interest of Elias L., In re Guardianship of Elizabeth H., In re Interest of Carlos R. et al., In re Interest of Sylvester L., In re Interest of Chance J.
  • Legislative Update: 101st Legislative Session Recap
  • Announcements: NEW Appleseed Blog and Upcoming Conferences

06/29/2009

  • Policy Spotlight: Reviewing Nebraska’s Child Welfare System - The CFSR Final Report
  • Court Opinions: In re Interest of Dannie H.; In re Interest of N.R. et al.; In re Interest of Kenna S.; In re Interest of Tayla R.
  • Legislative Update: 2009 Child Welfare Interim Studies; 2009 Child Welfare Bills - Final Actions
  • Announcements

05/07/2009

  • Policy Spotlight: The Legal Resource Center Juvenile Document Bank
  • Court Opinions: In re Interest of Shayla H., et al.; In re Interest of Dannon C. et al.; In re Interest of Dakota L. et al.; In re Interest of Enrique G.; Omni Behavioral Health v. Nebraska Foster Care Review Board, et al.
  • Legislative Update: 2009 Child Welfare Bills
  • Announcements

Foster Care Reform Update Archive...

Foster Care Reform Legal Resource Center

As one of the resources available through the Foster Care Reform Legal Resource Center, listserv members have access to example legal documents, including samples of motions and pleadings that can be used to raise systemic issues in child welfare cases. The Juvenile Document Bank also contains our series of Policy Briefs, which outline the statutory and case law on distinct systemic issues that arise in child welfare cases and are intended to assist practitioners in addressing these issues in their individual cases. Access to these documents is restricted to members of the Nebraska Child Welfare Listserv and requires a password. If you have questions about accessing the documents, please contact Eric Wickizer. If you have questions about the documents themselves, please contact Sarah Helvey.

Legal Resource Center Juvenile Document Bank

Child Welfare System Accountability

The LRC offers numerous resources to assist child welfare practitioners. Our continuously expanding policy brief series is a resource that seeks to provide practical information to child welfare attorneys on issues that may arise in their practices. We also invite you to review our publications section which includes articles authored by Nebraska Appleseed and others, juvenile law presentations, and other resources including links to local and national resources regarding child welfare matters.

Child Welfare Resources

Listserv

The purpose of the Foster Care Reform Legal Resource Center Listserv is to provide a forum for information and dialogue among attorneys to influence legal precedent in the juvenile courts in a positive way. Listserv members also receive a regular electronic newsletter, the "Foster Care Reform Update," which includes child welfare case law summaries, legislative developments, and a "policy spotlight" on an issue affecting Nebraska juvenile court practice.

Note: Due to the confidential nature of legal discussions, the listserv is restricted to guardians ad litem and counsel representing biological or foster parents only.

Subscribe to the Foster Care Reform Legal Resource Center Listserv