Foster Care Review Office

The Nebraska Children's Commission is hiring a Child Welfare Policy Analyst. 📣

🗓️ Applications are open through June 15. Learn more and apply: https://tinyurl.com/NCCAnalystJune26

The Commission is seeking someone who is:
✔ A strong communicator and facilitator
✔ Compassionate, thoughtful, and self-motivated
✔ Skilled in research, policy analysis, and relationship-building
✔ Ready to help shape policies that impact children and youth statewide
✔ Bachelor’s degree in a related field and at least 3 years of experience in child welfare and/or juvenile justice policy work

The role offers:
✔ Flexible and supportive work environment
✔ Comprehensive state benefits
✔ Professional development opportunities
✔ Eligibility for Public Service Loan Forgiveness

If you want to be a part of improving outcomes for children and families, influencing meaningful systems change, and collaborating with stakeholders across the child welfare and juvenile justice systems, this is an incredible opportunity!

Child Welfare Policy Analyst The work we do matters! Hiring Agency: Foster Care Review Office - Agency 70 Location: Lincoln, NE Hiring Rate: $30.412 Job Posting: JR2026-00026277 Child Welfare Policy Analyst (Open) Applications No Longer Accepted On (If no date is displayed, job is posted as open until closed): 06-15-2026 Job De...

Our March quarterly report shows that DHHS/CFS reports 96.9% of current relative homes and 91.9% of kinship homes are approved rather than fully licensed.

📈 While approval allows youth to remain connected to family, the high percentage of approved rather than licensed homes may signal barriers to full licensure. Reducing those barriers could strengthen caregiver support and expand access to resources. 📣

Read the full report to learn more:

fcro.nebraska.gov

While there are fewer children in out-of-home care, the number of youth being placed into congregate care facilities, or institutionalized group care, has seen a significant increase.

KETV NewsWatch 7 spoke with our Executive Director, Monika Gross, who said, “I think a 41% increase in children being placed in facilities is a crisis-level situation.”

Learn more:

Nebraska oversight finds increase in institutionalized care for kids who need a home The report said the growing number of children in congregate care, or institutionalized, group care.

We have released our Quarterly Report. This graphic highlights some key insights.

Read the full report for additional context, which also includes a special study on out-of-home students involved in special education: 🔗 https://tinyurl.com/FCROReportJun26

You can also drill down on the data via the Data Dashboards found at 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

Happy Pride! 🌈 In our latest annual report, one of our recommendations to multiple agencies was the continued exploration of ways Nebraska’s systems and communities can better support LGBTQ+ youth.

Creating environments where youth feel seen, respected, and supported can help build stronger outcomes and brighter futures for Nebraska’s children and families.

June is , a time to recognize the importance of keeping families connected whenever safely possible. 💛

In Nebraska and across the country, fewer children are returning home from foster care, while more youth are aging out of care without permanent family connections.

Our annual report highlights the need for stronger support systems that help families heal, stabilize, and reunify safely. Removing barriers to reunification can help create better outcomes for children across Nebraska.

Our March quarterly report showed of the children placed in family-like settings (not including trial home visits), 53.3% were in a relative or kinship placement.

📈 More than half of youth in family-like settings are placed with relatives or kin, which research consistently shows can improve stability and well-being. Continued support for kinship caregivers is essential to sustaining these placements. 📣

Read the full report to learn more:

fcro.nebraska.gov

It's National , and today we're spotlighting the role of stability and foster parent recruitment.

Frequent placement changes can disrupt education, relationships, and emotional well-being. That’s why recruiting and supporting foster families is critical, especially those equipped to care for youth with higher needs.

“A home for every child” depends on individuals willing to step forward. Could that be you? Learn more: NFAPA.org