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engaging youth during Independent Living Workshops around goals
family team conferencing
permanency planning meetings prior to court
youth activities and bi-weekly discussions
engaging in youth council activities and having these discussions

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Statewide youth advisory board (that also serves as the Citizen Review Panel giving recommendations back to DHHS).

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Nebraska's Youth Advisory Board members are emerging young leaders that advocate for change in Nebraska's child welfare system. Members stay informed about issues impacting Nebraska's transition-aged youth and young adults, collaborate with systems partners and other agencies, organize and host youth leadership events, and plan and lead statewide activities to improve the lives of individuals currently in or transitioning from the child welfare system and those impacted by the child welfare system.

Applications for membership are accepted biannually in early March and September.

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Connected Youth Initiative : About Us : Meet the Youth Advisory Board

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Nebraska's Youth Advisory Board members are emerging young leaders that advocate for change in Nebraska's child welfare system. Members stay informed about issues impacting Nebraska's transition-aged youth and young adults, collaborate with systems partners and other agencies, organize and host youth leadership events, and plan and lead statewide activities to improve the lives of individuals currently in or transitioning from the child welfare system and those impacted by the child welfare system.

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Leadership Luncheons bring together young people with involvement in our CWS and high-level leaders in CWS. With the intentions of sharing food, committing to action, and deepening relationships on a regular basis. 

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Leadership Luncheons bring together young people with involvement in our CWS and high-level leaders in CWS. With the intentions of sharing food, committing to action, and deepening relationships on a regular basis. 

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Youth may attend court beginning at age 14

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Youth may attend court beginning at age 14

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Young and emerging leaders can apply for paid internships/fellowships to consult on and inform policy/practice decisions.

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Judges Bench Card and related presentation

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Judges Bench Card and related presentation

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As part of DCS's 2020 Youth Engagement Strategic Plan, young people were tasked with creating a training tool on authentic youth engagement for juvenile judges across the state of Indiana. Members of the Indiana Youth Advisory Board (IYAB) Leadership Team bravely provided feedback on their experiences in court during their time in the child welfare system. This feedback was used to create a bench card that Indiana judges may have on their bench when hearing cases for older youth in Indiana's foster care system. On one side of the Bench Card, includes tips of authentic youth engagement and information about Older Youth Services. The other side includes feedback from IYAB members on what they wished their Judge would have known when they were seen in court.

The Bench Card was presented to the Judges at their Annual Symposium in Carmel, IN. Rimy Morris, Justin Hayden, Alayna Leonard, and Chance Kapase participated in a panel discussion sharing their personal experiences in court and how they feel judges can best use the principles of authentic youth engagement with cases involving young people in foster care. These young leaders also presented the Bench Card to the judges who were impressed by their work.

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Youth Leaders Create Engagement Bench Card for Indiana Judges | Foster Success Indiana

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As part of DCS's 2020 Youth Engagement Strategic Plan, young people were tasked with creating a training tool on authentic youth engagement for juvenile judges across the state of Indiana. Members of the Indiana Youth Advisory Board (IYAB) Leadership Team bravely provided feedback on their experiences in court during their time in the child welfare system.

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HI HOPES Youth Leadership Boards are statewide and sit on local boards with a family court judge.

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HI HOPES Youth Leadership Boards are statewide and sit on local boards with a family court judge.

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collaborating/dev. relationships with other agencies/entities to reach out to their young people--eg., shelters, intra-agency programs, etc.

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Town Halls

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Youth that cannot attend complete a youth court questionnaire prior to hearings.

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Invite them to virtually meet with OFC Director quarterly

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Invite them to virtually meet with OFC Director quarterly

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Youth boards present and provide trainings to Family Court judges and staff.

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Youth boards present and provide trainings to Family Court judges and staff.

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Leadership Opportunities through Connected Youth Initiative Coaching 

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Leadership Opportunities through Connected Youth Initiative Coaching 

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working on daily living skills checklist to discuss court process and preparing for transition from foster care and how to go ensure youth have fundamental skills in place

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dhhs is implementing paid opportunities for young people and families to engage directly with policy and procedures teams to co create policies that best serve communities

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Judges and attorneys often asked for a "one stop" location for resources to share with youth so we created a central navigation website for transition aged youth.

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Connected Youth Initiative exists to support transition-aged youth and young adults, ages 14 to 26, in Nebraska, who are living without the support of family and have life experiences that can make transitioning to adulthood feel overwhelming.

We listen to what young people say they need, help them learn to advocate for themselves, and help them make connections to supportive services and providers in their community.

We hope that Nebraska's young people are empowered to create change to improve the quality of life for young people who have experience in foster care, the juvenile justice system, are unhoused or homeless, survivors of human trafficking, and/or who are pregnant or parenting by advocating for better practices and policies, training providers to strengthen local practices, and supporting service providers in the community to implement strength-based, youth-led core programs for transition-aged youth.

We hope that all of Nebraska's transition-aged young people (and their children) have the resources and tools to thrive!

Have something to include on this website?
Email connectedyouth@nebraskachildren.org

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Connected Youth Initiative exists to support transition-aged youth and young adults, ages 14 to 26, in Nebraska, who are living without the support of family and have life experiences that can make transitioning to adulthood feel overwhelming.

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HI--has a Lived Experience young person at court hearings to further engage young people to attend their hearings.

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Invite state and local YAB to offer feedback on program and policy design

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Invite state and local YAB to offer feedback on program and policy design

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HI -has Youth Circles

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Paid positions where young people share information, resources, encouragement, advice, etc. on social media platforms.

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Youth boards have designed materials that are shared with Family Court to post up in court or to disseminate to youth in court.

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Youth boards have designed materials that are shared with Family Court to post up in court or to disseminate to youth in court.

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Having youth be actively able to review policy

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HI--we have a workgroup with CASAs/GALs, CWS, Young People, EPIC, CIP...to work on issues such as this.

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Youth Engagement Task Force: There is court representation

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Youth Engagement Task Force: There is court representation

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Youth boards are engaged in efforts to improve the quality and quantity of youth engagement in court.

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Youth boards are engaged in efforts to improve the quality and quantity of youth engagement in court.

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prepping with youth to attend court and having them understand court process and empowering them to voice their concerns

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Young people participate in skill-building and education about the legislative process and the judicial process and then apply those skills in policy advocacy (for the Gov., lawmakers, other stakeholders).

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Youth and young adults are the heart and soul of Nebraska's Connected Youth Initiative and there are lots of ways to get involved and engage in leadership activities and events!

The goal of CYI leadership and engagement is to provide youth and young adults - just like you - with opportunities to build social connections, develop life skills, gain leadership skills, and advocate for systems change.

CYI Youth Leadership operates with the following core values:

Leadership - preparing young people to deal with the problems of tomorrow.
Unconditional Inclusion - giving young people equitable access and opportunities without discrimination and intolerance and providing them with a safe and loving environment.
Respect - where young people's voices are valued and lifted, and young people are cared for and supported.
Relationships - young people have opportunities to develop meaningful relationships and social connections with peers, Adult Supporters, and the community.
Hope - young people feel a sense of trust, security, and reason to keep moving forward.

Connected Youth Initiative Chapters

Project Everlast Omaha is a youth-led Connected Youth Initiative program and youth chapter committed to providing resources, connections, and support to young adults in Omaha as they age out of foster care. Project Everlast's services help ensure a smooth transition from foster care to adulthood with a goal to empower young people to build successful lives as thriving, independent adults. Project Everlast Omaha is also the place to go for central navigation in the Omaha Metro Area.

Project Everlast Lincoln youth-led chapter and program is in Lincoln, Nebraska. Project Everlast Lincoln - located at The Hub - is also the place to go for central navigation in the Lincoln Metro Area.

Southeast Nebraska Collaborative Youth Chapter: The FYI Center houses the programs of Southeast Nebraska's Connected Youth Initiative including the CommUNITY Connections, SE Nebraska Connected Youth Initiative (CYI), and Opportunity Passport, a financial literacy program.
Hall County Community Collaborative (H3C) Youth Chapter
Buffalo County Youth Advisory Board: Buffalo County Youth Advisory Board (YAB) is a program and a philosophy that recognizes youth as valuable resources in the Kearney and surrounding communities and partners as equal community members to bring about positive community change. Buffalo County YAB, governed by a board of youth and adults and supported by local funders, provide grants for youth-initiated and youth-led community projects.

Norfolk Future Leaders: Norfolk's Future Leaders provides leadership, engagement and advocacy opportunities for young people in and around Norfolk, Nebraska.

North Platte LEAP: North Platte's Leadership Experience Active Participation - or LEAP - provides youth in Lincoln County with the opportunity to build social connections, develop life skills, gain leadership skills, and advocate for system change. LEAP has groups and events that create a place for everyone from junior high to postsecondary.

Panhandle Youth Voice - The purpose of the Youth Voice group is to provide resources, connections, leadership opportunities and support to young adults who've had foster care experience or experience with probation or homelessness. The members who are a part of this group are provided regular opportunities to connect with their community and each other in Scotts Bluff County and support coordination of Youth Leadership in surrounding counties. The goal of doing this work with the youth who become involved in the group is to allow the youth to become a self-sufficient adult who is leader oriented and recognizes what it takes to utilize their leadership skills in several facets within their lives.

Fremont Youth Voice: Fremont Youth Voice is an advocacy group serving unconnected youth ages 14-24 in Washington and Dodge County. On the most basic level we are a peer to peer support group. Our work consists of learning how to be good self-advocates and how we can make an impact of the systems that served us. Join us! We need your unique voice. "We Matter, We Deserve, We're Better Together & WE ARE THE SOLUTION"!

Camp Catch-Up

Camp Catch-Up reunites siblings, that may have been separated by foster care, for a weekend of fun, adventure, and connection at camp sites across Nebraska.

Camp Catch-Up also offers paid and volunteer leadership opportunities for older youth and young adults interested in giving back to the community and serving others. Look for an announcement on the Current Opportunities page when applications open up!

Did you participate in a CYI leadership event, meeting, or activity and receive an honorarium or stipend for your participation?

Instructions: Please receive confirmation that the event is eligible for an honorarium or stipend prior to the event and check with the leader (CYI staff) of the event for the rate and confirm if your transportation and childcare costs are also reimbursed. Once confirmed, complete the online form at the link below.

Mileage is paid at the federal rate for the most direct route to and from the meeting.

Childcare must be pre‐approved by the event lead and will only be paid for the duration of meeting and time spent getting to/from the meeting.

All request will be reviewed and participation confirmed with the event lead prior to payment.

Once approved, payment will be made via mailed paper check or Venmo. Please allow up to 10 days for payment.

Questions about your payment?Contact Lincoln Arneal, Vice President of Youth Leadership, at larneal@nebraskachildren.org.

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Connected Youth Initiative : Support for Young People : Leadership and Engagement

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Youth and young adults are the heart and soul of Nebraska's Connected Youth Initiative and there are lots of ways to get involved and engage in leadership activities and events! The goal of CYI leadership and engagement is to provide youth and young adults - just like you - with opportunities to build social connections, develop life skills, gain leadership skills, and advocate for systems change.

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Youth boards host or participate in events to encourage young people to attend court hearings

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Youth boards host or participate in events to encourage young people to attend court hearings

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Pay young people to co-design on programmatic changes, new opportunities, etc.

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Showing up to provider events that they host for young people in care allows for meaningful connections and creates a space where young people can be honest and open.

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Youth boards and young professionals with lived experience assist the court in designing and putting on Teen Days throughout the State, opportunities for youth to attend a mock court hearing, meet their judges and other youth, learn about resources, eat, win prizes and have fun.

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Youth boards and young professionals with lived experience assist the court in designing and putting on Teen Days throughout the State, opportunities for youth to attend a mock court hearing, meet their judges and other youth, learn about resources, eat, win prizes and have fun.

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Youth facilitated a youth panel discussion during Judges / Court Judicial Training

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Youth facilitated a youth panel discussion during Judges / Court Judicial Training

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Each community/region across the state have Youth Chapters that engage youth locally in civic engagement, community service, leadership skill building, etc. Each chapter has a Youth Advisor - a leader with lived experiences.

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EPIC creates trngs for young people on self-advocacy & is developing a "Foster Care 101" for cohorts to learn about CWS, Courts, etc.

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Youth Policy Workgroup: Youth review state policy

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Youth Policy Workgroup: Youth review state policy

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HI- has Teen Days, annual young people event-`Ohana Is Forever----where issues such as Importance of Court, creating comfort with Judges/Court setting & Process, Resources, etc. are enhanced.

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Working on a foster youth 101 curriculum that includes a session that educates youth on their rights around court and the court process in hopes that they will attend more and become more involved.

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Paid advisory committee that advises and consults with systems partners about issues related to young parents in the system/transitioning from the system.

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Hawaii has a youth in court facilitator (on Oahu island only) that connects with youth before their court hearing to help prepare the youth to talk to their judge.

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Hawaii has a youth in court facilitator (on Oahu island only) that connects with youth before their court hearing to help prepare the youth to talk to their judge.

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Court Improvement Project hosts yearly regional town halls/panels where young people tell their story and make recommendations about how judges, attorneys, other stakeholders can improve the system and engaged young people in the process.

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Young people have access to alumni of foster care to ask for court room advice and tips toward engaging in their own cases.

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Young people have access to alumni of foster care to ask for court room advice and tips toward engaging in their own cases.

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Indiana NYTD Youth Ambassadors host Youth Impact Day: Training and sharing NYtD data with their peers. Youth experience a datawalk

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Indiana NYTD Youth Ambassadors host Youth Impact Day: Training and sharing NYtD data with their peers. Youth experience a datawalk

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Young people can participate in Speaker's Bureau training to help them tell their story and use experiences to inform policy and practice change.

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Most courts require GALs to tell the court if a youth will be attending their hearing  and if not, why.  This practice has been changed during the pandemic and we hope it will be reinstituted as the courts open up more fully.

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Most courts require GALs to tell the court if a youth will be attending their hearing  and if not, why.  This practice has been changed during the pandemic and we hope it will be reinstituted as the courts open up more fully.

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Court attendance became part of a foster youth bill of rights, signed into State law in 2018. This legislative effort was spearheaded by youth boards and partnered with CWS and other stakeholders. CWS is required to go over the rights and have youth (ages 14-older, sometimes younger) sign to indicate they've received and understand these rights.

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Court attendance became part of a foster youth bill of rights, signed into State law in 2018. This legislative effort was spearheaded by youth boards and partnered with CWS and other stakeholders. CWS is required to go over the rights and have youth (ages 14-older, sometimes younger) sign to indicate they've received and understand these rights.

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Cross-sector workgroup/task force with young leaders, advocacy organizations, lawmakers, and systems partners about state policy impacting youth.

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When youth participate on panels, we try to ensure that youth are compensated for their time.

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When youth participate on panels, we try to ensure that youth are compensated for their time.

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Employing young people with lived experience creates opportunity for increased participation in committees, meetings, and collaborations

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Employing young people with lived experience creates opportunity for increased participation in committees, meetings, and collaborations

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CIP connects Judiciary with HI HOPES Bds, CWS, other agencies---to keep connected on impt. youth issues, making courts more youth-friendly----through these efforts--the Judiciary has been very responsive to young people comfort and issues.

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Hosted by Court Improvement Project

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Aging out of the System Youth Panel Sharing Lived Experiences on Aging Out