Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Nebraska child welfare sees increase in out-of-home care

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A state oversight agency report says Nebraska's child welfare system showed little progress in keeping children in their homes.

The Lincoln Journal Star (http://bit.ly/1QZ9NSX ) reports the Nebraska Foster Care Review Office said Thursday that the number of children in out-of-home care increased during the year that ended June 30, compared with the year before.

The annual report said there were 3,145 abused and neglected children in foster homes, group homes, emergency shelters and other out-of-home placements on June 30 this year. That is a 4 percent increase from the previous year, and represented the first increase in nearly three years.

Kim Hawekotte, executive director for the review office, called the data "disappointing."

The Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services said it had not seen the report, but the agency appreciates the work of the review office.

___

Information from: Lincoln Journal Star, http://www.journalstar.com

Copyright 2015 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.