The 2025 KIDS COUNT® Data Book shows how Nebraska is doing on child and family well-being across four domains – education, health, economic well-being, and family and community. Download the full report at bit.ly/25DataBook-BS @annieecaseyfdn.bsky.social

It's a busy day at the Nebraska legislature and there are a lot of important bills for kids and families moving. Several priority bills are up for debate throughout the day, and your Nebraska state senator needs to hear from you!

🚨 Proposed SNAP Cuts Threaten Nebraska Families 🚨

Thank you to Rep. Don Bacon for recognizing the importance of not shifting costs for SNAP to the states.

✅LB319, which would end Nebraska’s lifetime SNAP ban for certain drug felony convictions, advanced to Final Reading in the #NELeg 🎉 Let’s encourage our lawmakers to End the SNAP Ban this year! Our communities can’t wait! See how your senator voted here: nebraskalegislature.gov/bills/view_v...

📣 URGENT: ACT NOW to protect Nebraska kids! 📣 LB 530 has been amended to include harmful provisions from LB 556 and is scheduled for debate THIS AFTERNOON!

This past week, LB 192—a critical bill to maintain SNAP eligibility and reduce the harmful benefits cliff—advanced to Final Reading!

We had a great time at our 2025 Youth Policy Camp a few weeks ago, with a record-high 25 participants!

At Voices for Children, we believe Nebraska workers should be able to earn and use paid sick leave to care for themselves and their families. Contact your Senators now to let them know you oppose ❌ AM 545 to LB 415! #VoicesForChildrenNE #NEleg #ChildWelfare #EconomicStability #PolicyAdvocacy

Join us next week for community conversations around LB 556, a harmful bill that would lower the age to charge children in adult court to 12 years old, reduce the minimum age for detention to 11 years old, and allow youth to be held in detention during a mental health crisis.

✅LB319 helps Nebraskans get the food they need by eliminating the lifetime ban on SNAP benefits for people with past drug convictions. This ban harms individuals, families, and our communities statewide by denying people food when they're getting back on their feet.

Join us, @aclune.bsky.social, and RISE in the next few weeks for important community conversations about the potentially harmful ramifications of LB 556 and their effect on young Nebraskans.

Our policy coordinator Anahí joined with many other advocates to oppose LB 258 which would create a sub-minimum wage for young people. All labor should be valued and treated with dignity and respect. That includes hardworking young people supporting themselves and their families.

We are testifying in OPPOSITION to two bills in the Health and Human Services Committee this Thursday that would cause harm to Nebraska's lowest-income families. Please submit online comments as an OPPONENT of ❌ LB 379 and ❌ LB 656 before the 8 a.m. deadline on Thursday, February 27.

LB 14, known as the Hunger-Free Schools Act, is scheduled to be heard by the Education Committee tomorrow, Tuesday, Feb. 25. This bill states that every student deserves access to healthy food during the school day and seeks to provide each student with the best opportunity for educational success.

We’re grateful Rep. Don Bacon (NE-2) is raising concerns about the detrimental impact that cutting Medicaid funding would have on nearly 151,000 Nebraska children.

🎉LB192, which maintains our state’s SNAP income eligibility to protect food access for 10,000 Nebraskans, was voted out of committee and will now go to the floor for debate in the full #NEleg.

The Voices for Children staff are testifying in SUPPORT of three bills this Wednesday.

At Voices for Children in Nebraska, we honor the rich legacy and contributions of Black leaders, past and present, who have paved the way for a brighter future.

Some important hearings will be taking place at the State Capitol this Friday!

Our staff will be busy testifying on a handful of priority bills at the Nebraska State Legislature this week, including a several in the Health and Human Services Committee related to family economic stability.

Head over to voicesforchildren.com/policy/state... to learn about our priority bills related to juvenile justice, child welfare, economic stability, and health. #VoicesForChildrenNE #NebraskaLegislature #YouthAdvocacy #JuvenileJustice #ChildWelfare #EconomicStability #ChildHealth #PolicyAdvocacy

A statement from our executive director on the recent immigration directives:

If you’re a young person wanting to get involved in the legislative process, join us this Sunday from 1-3PM at Urban Abbey for a Youth Testimony Workshop! You’ll learn the ins-and-outs of how to testify and learn about proposed bills affecting young people. #youthadvocacy #nebraskalegislature

This afternoon, we’ll be in Lincoln alongside our friends from @finesandfeesjc.bsky.social testifying in support of LB 65, which would eliminate court fees for Nebraskans under 19 going through the juvenile court system.

This morning, we stood united with the @aclune.bsky.social, RISE, and other advocates for youth to oppose LB 556, which would roll back essential protections for Nebraska’s youth. #ProtectNebraskaYouth #YouthJustice #VoicesForChildrenNE #JuvenileJustice

#ACTIONALERT Join us in the Capitol rotunda tomorrow morning to amplify our opposition to LB 556, a bill that poses a threat to Nebraska’s kids.

We have ONE more day of bill introduction. Here are our highlights from day 9 #nebraskalegislature #nebleg #youthadvocacy

We are honored to be the January community nonprofit partner at @urbanabbey.bsky.social, where we will receive 10% of all coffee bar sales this month. You can stop by, grab your favorite drink, and help us advocate for brighter futures for kids across our state—one cup at a time.

We are nearly one week in to the first session of the 109th Nebraska Legislature! We have seen new senators sworn in, committee chairs elected, and the introduction of bills for this session. #nebleg #nebraskalegislature #policyadvocacy #kidscount

Hello, #bluesky! We're happy to be here to share our work using data and research to help policy makers and communities make informed decisions on issues impacting our next generation in the areas of health, child welfare, economic stability, and juvenile justice in Nebraska!