LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) – Nebraska lawmakers says the state is failing to keep track of important case information about children who are in state custody due to abuse, neglect, and other problems.
Some blame the problem on an outmoded computer system as well as high turnover and overwhelming caseloads. They say it has complicated their efforts to overhaul the state’s child welfare system in the wake of a report that found substantial problems with a privatization effort that began in 2009.
On Thursday, the Health and Human Services Committee will hold a public hearing on a bill that would return many case management duties to state employees.
A Department of Health and Human Services spokesman said agency officials believe the computer tracking system is adequate.