State eyes county facility to treat juvenile offenders

The head of the state Health and Human Services Department says a Lancaster County facility could be a good place to provide intensive behavioral health services to male and female juvenile offenders.

August 28, 2019Updated: August 28, 2019
News Channel NebraskaBy News Channel Nebraska

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) - The head of the state Health and Human Services Department says a Lancaster County facility could be a good place to provide intensive behavioral health services to male and female juvenile offenders.

Department CEO Danette Smith made the pronouncement Monday while discussing her department's efforts to better serve the teenage girls sent to the Geneva center that she emptied last week. The female juvenile offenders were moved to the boys center in Kearney after department officials learned the girls' buildings in Geneva had fire hazards, holes in walls and mold and water damage.

Smith says staffers are discussing leasing a 20-bed portion at the Lancaster County Youth Services Center. Discussions with the county are still preliminary, but she says the center could house the youths there, providing education, case management, probation and therapeutic recreation and transition services.

Copyright 2019 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Regional

Unusually warm and dry winter has forecasters predicting similar months ahead

Unusually warm and dry winter has forecasters predicting similar months ahead

Kearney, UNK partner up to enhance Dryden Park

Kearney, UNK partner up to enhance Dryden Park

Kearney, UNK partner up to enhance Dryden Park

Kearney, UNK partner up to enhance Dryden Park

NSEA weighs in on Pillen–Turning Point USA partnership

NSEA weighs in on Pillen–Turning Point USA partnership

Nebraska lawmakers advance bill eliminating human relations training for substitutes

Nebraska lawmakers advance bill eliminating human relations training for substitutes

Rep. Flood-backed housing bill advances to Senate

Rep. Flood-backed housing bill advances to Senate