OIG Report on Nebraska Child Welfare: An Analysis of Institutional Effectiveness and Sustainable Development Goals

Executive Summary

A report released by the Office of Inspector General (OIG) of Nebraska Child Welfare examines the implementation and outcomes of the Alternative Response (AR) program. The investigation, prompted by nine cases involving child fatalities or serious injuries between 2021 and 2024, assesses the program’s alignment with its legislative intent and its impact on achieving key Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly those concerning child safety, institutional accountability, and well-being.

Key Investigative Findings

• The Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) was notified of six serious child injuries and three child deaths following an AR intake within the previous 12 months.
• The OIG confirmed that DHHS adhered to existing laws and policies in assigning these cases to the AR pathway.
• A significant discrepancy was identified between the program’s intended focus on low to moderate-risk families and its actual application, which frequently includes high and very high-risk families.
• The voluntary nature of the AR program makes family engagement essential for success, yet high-risk families can refuse services.
• The report concludes that additional data points are required to properly evaluate the overall effectiveness of the AR program.

Implications for Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

The OIG’s findings have direct implications for Nebraska’s progress toward several critical SDGs:

• SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions: The report underscores challenges related to Target 16.2 (End abuse, exploitation, trafficking and all forms of violence against children) and Target 16.6 (Develop effective, accountable and transparent institutions). While the AR program is an institutional mechanism designed to protect children, its application to high-risk families without mandatory participation raises questions about its effectiveness. The OIG’s oversight function, however, exemplifies an effort to build institutional accountability.
• SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being: The tragic outcomes of serious injury and death in the cases reviewed represent a failure to uphold Target 3.2 (End preventable deaths of children). Ensuring the well-being and safety of children is a fundamental component of this goal, and the report highlights systemic risks within the current child welfare approach.
• SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities: Effective child protection systems are crucial for ensuring that vulnerable children have an equal opportunity for a safe and healthy life. The finding that high-risk families are served by a voluntary program could exacerbate inequalities if those families lack the resources or capacity to engage effectively, leaving children unprotected.

Recommendations for Strengthening SDG Alignment

The OIG has proposed specific actions to improve the AR program, which can be viewed as direct steps toward achieving SDG targets for child protection and institutional integrity.

1. Enhance Outcome Tracking Systems: Develop a more robust system for DHHS to track AR outcomes. This directly supports SDG 16.6 by creating a more transparent and accountable institution, allowing for data-driven evaluation of the program’s success in protecting children (SDG 16.2).
2. Evaluate Family Engagement Strategies: Create a formal system to assess the effectiveness of different family engagement strategies within the AR framework. This measure is critical for improving the program’s ability to protect child health and well-being (SDG 3) and ensuring that the partnership-based approach effectively reduces violence and neglect (SDG 16.2).

Conclusion

The Inspector General, Jennifer Carter, noted that while AR is a valuable alternative, it is crucial to recognize its use with high-risk populations. This recognition must inform its implementation and evaluation. The OIG report serves as a critical tool for policymakers, highlighting the need for systemic adjustments to ensure the AR program effectively contributes to the well-being of Nebraska’s children and aligns with the state’s commitment to the Sustainable Development Goals.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions: This goal is central to the article, which focuses on the effectiveness and accountability of a state institution (Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services – DHHS) responsible for child welfare. The investigation by the Office of Inspector General (OIG) and its recommendations aim to strengthen this institution to better protect children from violence and neglect.
• SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being: The article directly addresses health outcomes for children within the welfare system. The report of “six children who experienced a serious injury and three children who had died” is a critical issue related to ensuring healthy lives and promoting well-being for all, especially vulnerable children.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

1. Target 16.2: End abuse, exploitation, trafficking and all forms of violence against and torture of children.
   • The article’s entire premise is based on the failure to prevent harm to children. The report investigates cases where children “experienced a serious injury” or “had died” following interactions with the child welfare system. This directly relates to the goal of ending all forms of violence and abuse against children. The Alternative Response (AR) program is discussed in the context of its effectiveness in preventing such outcomes.
2. Target 16.6: Develop effective, accountable and transparent institutions at all levels.
   • The OIG’s investigation into the DHHS’s implementation of the AR program is an exercise in ensuring institutional accountability. The finding that the program serves “high and very high risk families,” contrary to its intended focus, points to a gap in effectiveness. The OIG’s recommendations to “enhance the system in which DHHS tracks AR outcomes” and “evaluate the effectiveness of family engagement strategies” are direct calls to build a more effective, accountable, and transparent system.
3. Target 3.2: By 2030, end preventable deaths of newborns and children under 5 years of age…
   • The article explicitly states that “three children who had died” were part of the investigation. Deaths of children resulting from abuse or neglect are considered preventable. The failure of the social protection system to safeguard these children connects directly to this target of reducing child mortality.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

1. For Target 16.2 (End violence against children):
   • Explicit Indicators: The article provides concrete numbers that serve as direct indicators of violence: “six children who experienced a serious injury” and “three children who had died.” These figures are used to measure the severe negative outcomes of the current system.
2. For Target 16.6 (Effective institutions):
   • Implied Indicators: The article implies the need for new indicators. The OIG’s recommendation to “enhance the system in which DHHS tracks AR outcomes” and “create a system to evaluate the effectiveness of family engagement strategies” points to the absence of, and need for, specific metrics to measure the program’s success and the institution’s effectiveness. The risk level of families (“low and moderate risk” vs. “high and very high risk”) is also used as an indicator to evaluate the program’s implementation against its original intent.
3. For Target 3.2 (End preventable child deaths):
   • Explicit Indicator: The number of child deaths (“three children who had died”) serves as a direct, albeit localized, indicator for this target. It measures the most severe failure of the system to protect child well-being.

4. Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: 1011now.com