MEDIA CONTACT
Gillian Daniel, (402) 471-6585,
gillian.daniel@nebraska.gov
Lincoln, NE – Nebraska is one of 10 jurisdictions selected nationwide to receive a federal grant to test predictive analytics in child welfare, providing the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) Division of Children and Family Services with an opportunity to strengthen how data is used to support children, families, and child welfare professionals.
“The safety and well-being of Nebraska's children will always be our top priority," said Governor Jim Pillen. “This grant gives Nebraska an important opportunity to strengthen our child welfare system by using data to inform decisions, improve outcomes, and help ensure children receive support when they need it most."
Through the three-year Children's Bureau Predictive Analytics in Child Welfare Demonstration Grant, Nebraska DHHS will develop Right Home, Right Time on TRACK (Timely Review, Analytics, and Coordination for Kids), a statewide predictive analytics initiative designed to strengthen child welfare decision-making and improve permanency outcomes based on the following frameworks:
- Identify risk earlier: Use data from multiple sources to identify children and families who may be at a higher risk of abuse or neglect before a crisis occurs.
- Deliver vital services to families: Connect families with the preventative resources they need before challenges escalate.
- Prevent unnecessary entries into foster care: Identify opportunities for early intervention and support that can safely keep children with their families.
- Improve decision-making and outcomes: Give caseworkers better information to support decisions about intervention, placement, reunification, and ongoing services.
- Achieve permanency sooner: Help children attain stable, permanent homes as soon and safely as possible.
“Predictive analytics will better equip caseworkers to make difficult decisions with more complete information so they can ensure the best outcomes for children," said ACF Assistant Secretary Alex J. Adams. “ACF is grateful for Nebraska's leadership and willingness to pilot this new technology that we believe can help every state achieve A Home for Every Child."
Nebraska DHHS will develop a predictive analytics platform that uses patterns in administrative data to support child welfare decision-making. The platform will include predictive models and other decision-support tools to help child welfare professionals prioritize cases, identify opportunities for earlier intervention, and allocate resources more effectively. The project will also establish a governance framework for ethical and responsible use of predictive analytics, provide workforce training, and evaluate implementation and outcomes.
Importantly, Nebraska plans to develop and maintain TRACK internally rather than relying on an external vendor or proprietary system. This approach will allow DHHS to build long-term analytical expertise within the agency while emphasizing transparency, accountability, and responsible use of predictive analytics.
“Right Home, Right Time on TRACK gives Nebraska an opportunity to lead the nation in the responsible use of predictive analytics to help us make smarter, more informed decisions for children and families," said Division of Children and Family Services Director Dr. Alyssa Bish. “By using the data we already have to better understand where resources and support can make the greatest difference, we can be better stewards of taxpayer dollars while working toward the best possible outcomes for Nebraska's children."
The project will build a sustainable analytical capability within DHHS that extends beyond the grant period, allowing Nebraska to continue strengthening data-informed practice, improving permanency and child well-being outcomes, and responsibly exploring new ways to use data to better support children and families.