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SEWARD AND BUTLER COUNTY
Three-Year Juvenile Services Plan July 2018-June 2021
Contact Information
Person responsible for completing the plan:
Casey Tiemann
261 S 8th Street #211
Seward, NE 68434
402-643-2795
County team chair:
Wendy Elston
261 S 8th Street #211
Seward, NE 68434
402-643-2795
I. Community team history and organization
The team name is Seward and Butler County Three Year Plan and Prevention Coalition.
Seward County Bridges implemented a government task force in 2001 to begin the
development of the Pretrial Diversion Program in Seward County. Once the diversion
program was developed, the team began forming a countywide juvenile services plan to
improve the quality of life for youth and families in Seward County. Included in this plan
was mentoring; after school programs; Seward Youth Center; connection of services and
agencies within the county; improved statistical information from law enforcement agencies;
and better communication between schools, agencies, the county attorney and law
enforcement.
In 2004, requirements from the Nebraska Crime Commission led to the formation of a new
committee to begin crafting a new plan according to the commission’s template. The group
held monthly meetings to develop and implement the plan. In 2006, the committee submitted
its formal plan to the commission.
Also in 2006, the committee began meeting three times a year to analyze how county
programs are progressing toward the stated strategies. In 2008, the committee participated in
the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Analysis Tool, and held three
planning sessions in anticipation of the 2009-2011 plan rewrite. The committee held its final
2008 session in November.
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The committee met twice yearly in 2009 and 2010, then based on commission requirements
begin the rewrite for 2012. However, the crime commission structure changed and the due
date for the plan was pushed ahead to 2013. In 2011 and first half of 2012, the committee met
quarterly. In 2012, it met monthly in July, August, September and October to finalize the
plan.
In 2013 the committee met five times throughout the year to discuss the progress and success
related to the new priorities and strategies. Then in August 2013, Seward and Butler County
entered into an Interlocal Agreement combining the two counties Three Year Juvenile
Services Comprehensive Community Plans. See Appendix B for a copy of the most recently
signed Interlocal Agreement. The committee then met seven times in 2014 and five times in
2015. The quarterly 2015 meetings focused on rewriting the plan. Then in 2016 and 2017 the
committee continued to meet one time per quarter.
The current committee chairperson is Wendy Elson, the Seward County Attorney. Seward
County takes the lead as the fiscal agent.
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B. Seward County Team members
Name, phone and e-mail Agency and address
Scott Axt
(402) 643-2988
Principal
Seward High School
532 Northern Heights Dr
Seward, NE 68434
Noelle Baker
(402) 643-2988
Counselor
Seward High School
532 Northern Heights Dr.
Seward, NE 68434
Alan Baldwin
(402) 643-2579
Seward Police Chief
148 South 1st
Seward, NE 68434
Colin Bargen
(402) 534-2321
Secondary Principal
Centennial Public Schools
1301 Centennial Avenue
Utica, NE 68456
Barb Barth
(402) 534-2321
Centennial Teammates
Centennial Public Schools
1301 Centennial Ave
Utica, NE 68456
Daina Cepure Sain
(402) 646-2002
Sixpence Program Manager
Blue Valley Community Action
459 S. 6h Street. Suite #3
Seward, NE 68434
Kyle Daley
(402) 643-3055
Attendance Support Program Case Manager
261 S. 8th Street #211
Seward, NE 68434
Johnie Shonk
(402) 643-3055
Attendance Support Program Case Manager
261 S. 8th Street #211
Seward, NE 68434
Ann Dobesh
(402) 643-2981
UN-L Extension in Seward County Educator
322 S 14th Street
Seward, NE 68434
Wendy Elston
(402) 643-3055
Seward County Attorney
261 S 8th Street #211
Seward, NE 68434
Marci Fehlhafer
(402) 643-3695
Director
Southeast Nebraska CASA
PO Box 215
Seward, NE 68434
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Whitney Fleischman
(402) 643-2883
Seward County Commissioner
Seward County Courthouse
Seward, NE 68434
Carrie Gottschalk
(402) 643-2981
UN-L Extension in Seward County Educator
322 S 14th Street
Seward, NE 68434
Lori Hamling
(402) 643-2981
UN-L Extension in Seward County Educator
322 S 14th Street
Seward, NE 68434
Troy Hiser
(402) 643-0542
Foster Friends
421 Faith Ln
Seward, NE 68434
Denise Janssen
(402) 643-3055
Seward County Pretrial Diversion Director
261 S 8th Street #211
Seward, NE 68434
Jill Johnson
(402) 643-2988
Assistant Principal
Seward High School
532 Northern Heights Dr
Seward, NE 68434
Megan Kahler
(402) 643-4189
Seward County Chamber & Development
Partnership
616 Bradford St
Seward, NE 68434
Erika Kratochvil
(402) 643-3337
Seward Youth Center
211 S 4th St
Seward, NE 68434
Laura McDougall
(402) 362-2621
Executive Director
Four Corners Health Department
2101 N. Lincoln Ave.
York, NE 68467
Brandon Mowinkel
(402) 761-2525
Principal
Milford High School
301 South G
Milford, NE 68405
Sarah Nelson
(402)643-2562
Juvenile Resource Supervisor
District 5 Probation
261 S. 8th Street
Seward, NE 68434
Brian Peters
(402) 643-2579
Seward Police Assistant Chief
148 South 1st
Seward, NE 68434
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Ashley Standley
(402) 643-2795
Seward County Human Resources
529 Seward St
Seward, NE 68434
Casey Tiemann
(402) 643-3055
Diversion Caseworker
Seward County
261 S 8th Street #211
Seward, NE 68434
Lori Todd
(402) 643-2986
Teammates
Seward Middle School
2401 Karol Kay Blv
Seward, NE 68434
Laura Vandenberg
(402) 643-3343
Blue Valley Behavioral Health Counselor
459 S. Sixth
Seward, NE 68434
Joe Yocum
(402) 643-2359
Seward County Sheriff
261 S. 8th Street #245
Seward, NE 68434
Butler County Team members
Michael Eldridge
(402) 545-2081
Secondary Principal
East Butler Public School District
212 S. Madison Street
Brainard, NE 68626
Julie Reiter
(402) 367-7470
County Attorney
Butler County Attorney’s Office
451 N. 5th
David City, NE 68632
Nate and Jennifer Rohda
Co-Chairman of the BBYC
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II. The Juvenile Justice System Analysis Tool was developed by the Juvenile Justice Institute at
the University of Nebraska at Omaha in conjunction with the Nebraska Crime Commission to
assist in County Juvenile Services Comprehensive Planning. The Tool consists of twelve areas of
decision points that make up the formal juvenile justice system in Nebraska. Various factors are
present at each decision point—oftentimes changing from year to year based on state or county
dynamics within the system such as changes in policies, programs, and/or personnel. There are
formal factors dictating certain decision points in the system, such as statutory authority. In
addition, each county or community has unique factors surrounding certain decision points
within the local county juvenile justice system. Identifying such informal factors helps to
understand and assess juvenile justice needs and issues in individual locales. Available data
might also inform the factors surrounding a data point. Anecdotal data might be compared with
statistical data, for example, to assess the true state of the system. County data is assessed when
applying the tool where applicable. The Three Year Plan Committee will begin to work with
local law enforcement agencies, County Attorney’s, Pretrial Diversion, Probation, and judges to
analyze DMC issues at each point in the system. A copy of the most recent tool can be located in
Appendix A. See below for a overview of the racial breakdown by race for juveniles involved at
the following juvenile justice system points:
Seward County Juvenile Population and System Point Analysis for 2017
County
Juvenile
Population
% of Total
Juveniles
Arrests
% of Total
Arrests
Ordered to
Detention
% Ordered
to Detention
White 3,878 96.9% 43 89.6% 3 75%
Black 73 1.8% 2 4.2% 1 25%
Asian 22 <1% - - -
American Indian 29 <1% 1 2.1% - -
Other/Unknown - - 2 4.2% - -
Total 4,002 48 4
Diversion
Referrals
% of
Total
Diversion
Diversion
Enrollments
% of
Total
Diversion
Diversion
Successful
Completions
% Diversion
Successful
Completions
Diversion
Unsuccessful
Completions
% Diversion
Unsuccessful
Completions
White 32 86.5% 26 86.7% 25 92.6% 6 75%
Black 4 10.8% 3 10.0% 2 7.4% 1 12.5%
Asian - - - - - - - -
American
Indian
- - - - - - - -
Other/Unknown 1 2.7% 1 3.3% - - 1 12.5%
Total 37 30 27 8
Probation
Cases
% of
Probation
Cases
Probation
Admitted
% of
Probation
Admitted
Probation
Revoked
% of
Probation
Revoked
Satisfactory
Release
% of Satisfactory
Release
White 28 75.7% 18 69.2% - - 44 91.6%
Black 4 10.8% 4 15.4% - - 2 4.2%
Asian 1 2.7% 1 3.8% - - - -
American
Indian
1 2.7% - - - - - -
Other/Unknown 3 8.1% 3 11.5% - - 2 4.2%
Total 37 26 0 48
7
Butler County Juvenile Population and System Point Analysis for 2017
County
Juvenile
Population
% of Total
Juveniles
Arrests
% of Total
Arrests
White 1,856 97.8% 16 72.7%
Black 23 1.2% 0 -
Asian 12 <1% 0 -
American Indian 6 <1% 0 -
Other/Unknown 0 - 6 27.3%
Total 1,897 22
Diversion
Referrals
% of
Total
Diversion
Diversion
Enrollments
% of
Total
Diversion
Diversion
Successful
Completions
% Diversion
Successful
Completions
Diversion
Unsuccessful
Completions
% Diversion
Unsuccessful
Completions
White 6 100% 6 100% 11 91.7% 1 50%
Black 0 - - - - - - -
Asian 0 - - - - - - -
American
Indian
0 - -- - - - - -
Other/Unknown 0 - - 1 83.3% 1 50%
Total 6 6 12 2
Probation
Cases
% of
Probation
Cases
Probation
Admitted
% of
Probation
Admitted
Probation
Revoked
% of
Probation
Revoked
Satisfactory
Release
% of
Satisfactory
Release
White 16 66.7% 13 65% - - 28 100%
Black - - - - - - - -
Asian - - - - - - - -
American
Indian
- - - - - - - -
Other/Unknown 8 33.3% 7 35% - - -
Total 24 20 0 28
III. Community socio-economics
Seward County
Most recent census date in 2017 shows the population of Seward County at 17,161. The
population of Seward County has increase 2.0% over the past 5 years. The City of Seward has
7,219 residents and the City of Milford 2,112. Smaller towns and villages in the county are
Beaver Crossing, Bee, Cordova, Garland, Goehner, Pleasant Dale, Staplehurst and Utica.
Below is a breakdown of the demographics of Seward County residents by age, race, and gender
in 2016.
Age Percentage
Persons under 5 years 6.2%
Persons under 18 years 23.6%
Persons 65 years and over 17.2%
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Gender Percentage
Female 48.9%
Male 50%
Race Percentage
White 97.1%
Black 0.06%
American Indian and Alaska Native 0.06%
Asian 0.05%
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander 0.0%
Hispanic or Latino Origin 2.7%
Two or more races 1.2%
The Burlington Northern Santa Fe serves Seward County with 65 freight trains daily. East-west
U.S. Highway 34 and north-south Nebraska Highway 15 intersect in downtown Seward.
Interstate-80 is five miles south of the City of Seward and runs the full length of the county,
approximately 27 miles. Interstate 29 is 80 miles east of Seward.
Seward Municipal Airport is located two miles south of Seward with hard-surfaced and lighted
runways. The airport sells fuel and provides aircraft maintenance. The facility houses about
fifteen private airplanes in several hangars. Lincoln Municipal Airport is approximately 25 miles
east of Seward. United, Northwest and Delta Airlines have daily flights from Lincoln.
Seward County has three public school systems, an alternative high school and four parochial
grade schools. Below is an overview of each of the public schools according to Nebraska
Department of Education (2016-2017):
Enrolled
Graduation Rate
Attendance Rate
Seward Public Schools
1426
95.76%
95.78%
Milford Public Schools
747
94.92%
95.78%
Centennial Public Schools
447
93.02%
96.21%
9
Located in Milford, Educational Service Unit Six provides special education, preschool,
workshops and educational assistance to all county schools. Also in Milford is Southeast
Community College, a technical and technology two-year institution. Seward is home to
Concordia University, a private Christian liberal arts college with an enrollment of
approximately 1,500. Seward County hosts a HeadStart school with an enrollment of 17.
The main economic activities are manufacturing, retailing, medical services, education, farming,
cattle, hog and sheep feeding, trucking, printing, banking and agricultural research. The City of
Seward has an extensive parks and recreation system: 2.7 mile hiking and biking trail currently
being expanded to 5 miles; 11 playgrounds; 7 ball fields; a disc golf course; year-round city-
sponsored athletics including softball, baseball, wrestling, football, soccer and volleyball; and an
athletic training center.
Seward has numerous venues through the year that benefit tourism including the well-known
Small Town USA Fourth of July and the Plum Creek Children’s Literacy Festival. Concordia
University is host to dozens of athletic, fine arts and other events attracting approximately
100,000 visitors annually. The Seward County Fairgrounds Ag Pavilion also hosts dozens of
events each year including gun shows, dog shows, craft fairs and the annual Seward County Fair
which draws over 12,000 attendees. The fairgrounds recently added Harvest Hall; a 14,300 sq. ft
facility that seats 480 individuals for meetings, family reunions, wedding receptions and other
events. The hall is equipped with state-of-the-art electronics and an audio-visual installation.
According to the Census, approximately 56% of Seward residents commute outside the county
for work. The average median income in Seward is $61,563. The percentage of those living
below the poverty level is 7.9%. According to Kids Counts in 2015, about 18% of Seward
County youth are living in-food insecure households; furthermore, almost 25% of youth are
eligible for free and reduced lunches at school.
The results of the 2016 Nebraska Risk and Protective Factors (youth self reported statistics)
showed that alcohol was the most common substance used by 8th, 10th, and 12th grade students.
After alcohol, 8th grade students reported tobacco, inhalants, and marijuana as the most
frequently use; 10th grade students reported tobacco, marijuana, and inhalants as the most
frequently used; and then 12th grade students reported tobacco, marijuana, and prescription pills.
The survey showed among 8th, 10th and 12th grade students that there was a decrease in alcohol,
marijuana and tobacco use from 2014 to 2016.
Lifetime Substance Use Among Students
8th Grade 10th Grade 12th Grade
2016 2014 2016 2014 2016 2014
Alcohol 12.2% 9.6% 27.0% 26.5% 43.0% 49.4%
10
Cigarettes 3.5% 2.5% 7.0% 12.7% 23.2% 28.3%
Smokeless tobacco 1.2% 2.5% 7.6% 9.3% 14.8% 20.8%
Marijuana 1.2% 0.6% 6.5% 4.8% 20.4% 24.7%
Inhalants 2.9% 3.6% 2.7% 3.7% 53.5% 3.9%
Prescription drugs 0% 0.5% 1.1% 2.6% 3.5% 8.4%
Results also indicated that the use of cigarettes alcohol and marijuana was perceived as wrong or
very according to a majority of 8th grade students. However, only 66.4% of 12th grade students
viewed alcohol use as wrong and only 73.5% viewed marijuana use as wrong. The perception of
the risk related to smoking marijuana regularly was 55% for 8th grade students compared to
33.6% for 12th grade students. In addition, the perception of risk related to having five or more
alcoholic beverages one or times week was considered more risky for 8th grade students with
60% considering it risky and only 50.4% of 12th grade students considered it risky. The three
most common sources for obtaining alcohol for 12th graders was getting it from a party, other
family members bought or gave it to them, or gave money to someone to buy it for them. Among
12th grade students, 61.% of them thought cigarettes were easy to obtain, 63.8% of them thought
alcohol was easy to obtain, and 48.9% of them thought marijuana was easy to obtain.
Information from the Nebraska Crime Commission shows that in 2016 there were 23 juvenile
arrests. The number of arrests for juveniles has decreased from the year prior at 29 arrests.
Simple assaults and vandalism were the top two most common offenses juveniles were arrested
for Seward County in 2016.
Butler County
Data from the U.S. Census of 2017 revealed that there are 8,052 people residing in Butler
County. The population of Butler County has decreased 4.1% over the past 5 years. Butler
County is a rural community with one city, David City with population of 2,815, and eleven
villages: Albie, Bellwood, Brainard, Bruno, Dwight, Garrison, Linwood, Octavia, Rising City,
Surprise, and Ulysses.
Below is a breakdown of the demographics of Seward County residents by age, race, and gender
in 2016.
Age Percentage
Persons under 5 years 5.7%
Persons under 18 years 23.2%
Persons 65 years and over 21.0%
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Gender Percentage
Female 49.8%
Male 50.7%
Race Percentage
White 97.8%
Black 0.5%
American Indian and Alaska Native 0.3%
Asian 0.5%
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander 0.0%
Hispanic or Latino Origin 3.2%
Two or more races 0.8%
Butler County, located in east-central Nebraska, consist of 584.91 square miles of land area and
.08 miles of water area. The population density for Butler County is 14.4 people per square mile.
The county seat of David City is approximately 50 miles northwest of Lincoln and is the
midpoint (75 miles) between Omaha and Grand Island. The County is served by major Nebraska
Highways 15 and 92, and U.S. Highway 30.
Within Butler County there are five public schools and two (2) private schools. Within the
public school districts are: Bellwood Elementary, Dwight Elementary, David City Elementary
School, David City High School, East Butler High School, Shelby/Rising City Middle School,
The private schools include: Aquinas High School, David City; and St. Mary's Catholic
Elementary School, David City. Below is an overview of each of the public schools according to
the Nebraska Department of Education (2014-2015):
Enrolled
Graduation Rate
Attendance Rate
David City Public Schools
633
94.12%
95.43%
East Butler Public Schools
303
100%
95.85%
The main economic activities with Butler County is farming, cattle feeding, hog production, egg
production, manufacturing, food processing and retail. David City, the county seat, has one
private golf course, two public tennis courts, a family aquatic center, the Thorpe Opera House,
the David City Auditorium, two public parks, public library, fitness centers, ball fields, and two
public camp grounds.
The average median income in Butler County is $51,166. The percentage of those living below
the poverty level is 8.9%. According to Kids Counts, in 2015, about 19% of Butler County
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youth are living in-food insecure households; furthermore, about 31% of youth are eligible for
free and reduced lunches at school.
The results of the 2016 Nebraska Risk and Protective Factors (youth self-reported statistics)
showed that alcohol was the most common substance used by 8th, 10th, and 12th grade students.
After alcohol, 8th graders reported tobacco as most frequently used; 10th graders reported
tobacco and marijuana as most frequently used; 12th graders reported tobacco and marijuana as
most frequently used.
The study results showed that 69.4% of 8th grade student perceive regular marijuana use as a
great risk compared to only 30.2% of 12th grader students. In addition, the perception of risk
related to having five or more alcoholic beverages one or times week was considered more risky
for 6th grade students with 63.9% considering it risky and only 53.7% of 12th grade students
considered it risky. The three most common sources for obtaining alcohol for 12th graders was
getting it from a party, having someone buy it for them, or a family member (including parent)
giving them alcohol. Among 12th grade students, 75.9% of them thought cigarettes were easy to
obtain, 85% of them thought alcohol was easy to obtain, and 44.4% of them thought marijuana
was easy to obtain.
In addition to substance use, student reported experiencing other at risk behaviors. About 47.3%
of 12th grade students experienced some sort of bullied compared to 48.4% of 8th grade students.
Lifetime Substance Use Among Students
2012 and 2014 Report
8th Grade 10th Grade 12th Grade
2016 2014 2016 2014 2016 2014
Alcohol 20.0% 12.7% 48.2% 43.5% 63.6% 72.9%
Cigarettes 5.1% 8.1% 21.4% 21.0% 31.5% 47.9%
Smokeless
Tobacco
11.9% 6.7% 19.6% 19.7% 40.0% 31.3%
Marijuana 3.3% 1.6% 14.3% 16.1% 37.0% 31.3%
Inhalants 3.3% 4.8% 5.4% 3.2% 7.3% 6.3%
Prescription
Drugs
0% 0% 3.6% 0% 9.1% 4.2%
Information from the Nebraska Crime Commission shows that in 2016 there were 15 juvenile
arrests. The number of arrests for juveniles has decreased from the year prior at 31 arrests.
Liquor laws and drug abuse violations were the top two most common offenses juveniles were
arrested for in Butler County.
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Seward and Butler County
Three Year Juvenile Services Plan 2018-2021
Priority One
Strengthen collaboration and distribute responsibilities for community betterment among
communities, public organizations, private organizations, government entities and all interested
parties via collective impact.
Strategy One: Build coalition capacity.
Resources:
• Obtain commitments from the 12-sectors to serve on the prevention coalition and
Three Year Plan Committee: youth; parent; business; media; schools; youth-
serving organization; law enforcement; religious organization; civic group;
healthcare professional; state or local agency with expertise in field of substance
abuse, juvenile crime, and mental health; other organization involved in reducing
substance abuse, juvenile crime, and mental health issues Who: Bridges, Bridges
recruiting committee, Prevention Coalition Teams Timeline: Ongoing Results: Coalitions
have representation from various community stakeholders which allows for broader
networking.
• Maintain Seward County services database and ensure resources to keep it updated:
Who: Bridges, Concordia intern, Foster Friends Timeline: January 2019 Results: Those
in need have access to resources to reduce substance abuse, juvenile crime, and mental
health issues.
Strategy Two: Maintain Seward County Bridges and the Butler County Coalition as the
“backbone” organization for their county and also as the central and priority agency for
juvenile justice and prevention.
Resources:
• Coalition Team: Who: Bridges and Seward and Butler Coalition Teams Timeline:
Ongoing Results: Team will utilize and implement a data-driven plan whose strategies
and resources benefit county youth and in particular in the areas of underage alcohol use,
drug abuse, risky behavior prevention, mental health issues, and building the 40
Developmental Assets.
• Three Year Plan Who: Seward County Attorney’s Office in collaboration with Bridges
and the Seward and Butler Coalition Teams Timeline: July 2018 and Ongoing Results:
Team will utilize and implement a data-driven plan whose strategies and resources
benefit county youth and in particular in the areas of underage alcohol use, drug abuse,
risky behavior prevention, mental health issues, and building the 40 Developmental
Assets.
14
• Grant writing: Who: Bridges in partnership with the Seward County Attorney’s Office
and other programs seeking funds Timeline: Ongoing Results: All programs will see
increased sustainability and sufficient resources to implement their strategies.
• Grant management and fiscal agent services: Who: Bridges in collaboration with
Seward County Attorney’s Office Timeline: Ongoing Results: Programs receiving grant
funding will be in compliance with all funding requirements, and Bridges in collaboration
with Seward County Attorney’s Office will provide oversight and accountability in all
financial transactions.
• Bridges’ operations sustainability: Who: Bridges finance committee Timeline:
Ongoing Results: Bridges will have sufficient operating funds.
Strategy Three: Implement strategies and increase resources to community stakeholders
pertaining to the understanding the social issues that adversely impact youth
Resources:
• Bridges out of Poverty: Who: Region V Timeline: Fall 2019 Results: Bridges Out of
Poverty is a community support program to help employers, community organizations,
social service agencies, and individuals address and reduce the social issues of poverty.
More specifically, the program brings community members from all sectors together in
order to reduce social costs related to crime, poor health, and welfare; strengthen
educational attainment and job skills; enhance economic development; reduce
unemployment; improve on-the-job productivity; and build sustainable communities
where everyone can live well.
• Mental Health First Aid: Who: Region V Timeline: Ongoing Results: Mental Health
First Aid Training is an 8 hour training course that will give participants the key to help
someone who is developing a mental health problem or is experiencing a mental health
crisis. Trained individuals will be able to recognize the potential risk factors and warning
signs for a range of mental health concerns; use a 5-step action plan to help an individual
in crisis; connect with appropriate professional help; and interpret the prevalence of
various mental health disorders in the U.S. and the need for reduced negative attitudes in
the community.
• Suicide Prevention Training: Who: County Attorney, Blue Valley Behavioral Health,
Four Corners, Suicide Prevention Coalition, Seward and Butler County Schools, Seward
and Butler County Pretrial Diversion, Region V Timeline: Ongoing Results: Suicide
Prevention Training is a crucial component of many community professionals education.
Adequate training will prepare professionals on how to identify risk factors and early
signs of depression, respond to individuals who are suicidal, stress the importance of
asking about suicide and address the importance of partnering with qualified mental
health professionals for assessment and crisis intervention services. Suicide training may
be done in several avenues such as face-to-face workshops, webinars, and other self-
paced courses.
15
• Motivational Interviewing: Who: Seward and Butler County Pretrial Diversion,
Probation Timeline: As Requested Results: Motivational interviewing is considered to be
an evidenced-based approach to addressing the ambivalence of change. This approach
works to get clients to discuss in their own words their desire to change, plan for and
begin the process of change, begin using “change talk”, and building client confidence.
Motivational interviewing is used during all interactions with clients.
• Child Abuse & Neglect Training – Public & Professional: Who: Community leaders,
teachers, child care providers, therapist, citizens of Seward and Butler County, and
anyone with an interest in the welfare of children. Timeline: Annually Results: Public
trainings on child abuse and neglect focus on increasing public awareness. Participants
will be able to define child abuse and neglect, identity who must report child abuse and
neglect, practice the questions they should ask children before making a report, become
familiar with the roles and responsibility of various agencies involved in these types of
cases. The stigma of calling the child abuse and neglect hotline will be eliminated. These
trainings are commonly held by the Child Advocacy Center. Notification of upcoming
training opportunity can found on the CASA and Child Advocacy Center website, in the
local newspaper, fliers posted in the community and through word of mouth.
Priority Two
Educate, engage and involve parents and other adults as role models in the lives of county youth
and in youth programs.
Supporting Data:
• In the past 30 days, 21.2 % (Seward, 2016) and 23.8% (Butler, 2016) of 12th grade
students obtained alcohol from a parent without their permission. (NRPFS)
• In the past 30 days, 32.4% (Seward, 2016) and 13.6% (Butler, 2016) of 12th grade
students used alcohol at their home without parent permission. (NRPFS)
• In the past 30 days, 29.4% (Seward, 2016) and 31.8% (Butler, 2016) of 12th grade
students used alcohol at their home with their parent permission. (NRPFS)
• In the past 30 days, 26.5% (Seward, 2016) and 45.5% (Butler, 2016) of 12th grade
students used alcohol at someone else’s home without their parent permission. (NRPFS)
• In the past 30 days, 12.1% (Seward, 2016) and 13.6% (Butler, 2016) of 12th grade
students used alcohol at someone else’s home with their parent permission. (NRPFS)
• 87.9% (Seward, 2016) and 67.3% (Butler, 2016) of 12th grade students reported it is
important to be honest with their parents (NRPFS)
• In 2016, 7.9% of Seward County residents live in poverty; 8.9% of Butler County
residents live in poverty (Census.gov)
Strategy One: Implement environmental strategies such as public relations campaigns,
social media campaigns and other hands-on projects that will result in changes in policies,
practices and social norms.
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Resources:
• Web presence with resources for parents on local websites: Who: Bridges, BBYC,
Seward and Butler County Schools, Seward and Butler County Pretrial Diversion, Region
V Timeline: Ongoing Results: Local organizations will provide access to research-
based, locally-driven resources on their website. Some topics to be included on their
websites include information on: preparing for college and applying for financial aid;
using social media in a safe and positive manner; preparing parents on talking to their
youth about alcohol/drugs and recognizing substance abuse; identifying signs of
depression of suicidal thoughts; understanding the 40 Developmental Assets; and
promoting a healthy lifestyle through proper nutrition and exercise.
• Social media posts on local organizations Facebook pages: Who: Bridges, BBYC,
Seward and Butler County Schools, Seward and Butler County Pretrial Diversion, Region
V Timeline: Ongoing Results: Facebook posts are a no-cost, widely-used social media
tool that will create awareness and collaboration by connecting and sharing information.
Examples of past social media posts include information about upcoming job fairs,
seminars, trainings, and community activities; advertisement for volunteer opportunities
in the community; notification of awards given to local community members; newspaper
articles describing positive developments in the community; educational materials
regarding child wellness; alcohol and drug prevention messages; and recruitment of
community members and professionals to join Bridges and BBYC.
• Media campaigns; 40 Developmental Assets; MADD Power of Parents; Operation
Graduation; Red Letter Week, others Who: Bridges, Four Corners, Region V, Seward
and Butler County Schools, BBYC Timeline: Ongoing Results: Changing of social
norms in perception of alcohol and drug use and abuse; providing information on
available prevention programs and services; educating the community on the 40
Developmental assets and how they result in positive youth development. Venues include
newspaper, Facebook, Web, literature distribution at community events such as the health
fair and county fair, and billboards.
Strategy Two: Provide educational opportunities for parents and adults to engage with
youth for the purpose of developing stronger relationships and advocating against risky
behaviors.
Resources:
• Family Nights: Who: Extension, Family Nights committee Timeline: Assess the need
for the program by Spring 2019 Results: Parents will strengthen their skills in
establishing positive family relationships, improving family communications and
instilling the 40 Developmental Assets. Family Nights provides a meal, followed by child
care for youth and a presentation for parents. The Program will schedule six or more
programs in Seward and quarterly programs in Milford and Utica. Examples of topics
presented include 40 Developmental Assets, parenting in a digital world, nutritional
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information, 4-On Your Own and OK curriculum, and a visit from the mobile science
lab. Family Nights is dedicated to educating and involving parents in the lives of youth
due in part that every dollar invested in early childhood, the system saves $7 to $8.
• Parenting classes: Who: Seward and Butler County Pretrial Diversion Timeline:
Ongoing Results: The Pretrial Diversion Program will offer Parenting Classes to adults in
the community to discuss several topics affecting families with children. Professionals
within the community and surrounded area will be a guest speaker regarding topics such
as drug and alcohol use; mental health and suicide awareness; social media concerns;
school commitment and college preparation; how to deal with difficult teens; building
strong family relationships; and enhancing the 40 Developmental Assets. There will be
no fee associated with attending the class. The Pretrial Diversion Program will follow-up
each class with an evaluation to evaluate the impact of the class on its attendees.
• Parenting apps and teacher texts: Who: Extension Timeline: Ongoing Results: The UR
Parent App provides research based information to parents focusing on helping their
family thrive and how to support children as they grow. Parents are able to track their
child’s developmental milestones such as how a child grows, learns, thinks, and interacts
with others. Parents are able to document birth statistics, immunization, growth records,
child favorites, and child photos. In addition, the UR Parent App also provides a link to
websites and videos containing useful information. The Texts4Teachers delivers text
messages for teachers of children from birth through age 8. The text messages focus on
the critical areas of child development; family involvement; social and emotional
development; health, safety, and nutrition; and curriculum and activities.
• Character Building and strength based training: Who: Bridges, Seward and Butler
County Schools, Blue Valley Behavioral Health, Four Corners, Seward and Butler
County Pretrial Diversion, Probation, 40 Developmental Assets trainers and other
character building and strength based trainers Timeline: As requested Results:
Participants will learn the common sense, positive experiences and qualities that help
influence choices young people make and help them become caring, responsible adults
by instilling the 40 Developmental Assets.
• Circle of Security: Who: Sixpence, Extension Office Timeline: Ongoing Results: Circle
of Security Parenting is an 8-week parenting program based on years of research about
how to build a strong relationship with children. It is designated to help learn how to
respond to a child’s needs in a way that enhances a parent’s connection with them, which
often times leads to changes in the child behavior. It also helps parents give children a
feeling of security and confidence so they can explore learn, grow and build positive
relationships. Parents who complete the class say they have happier, more positive
relationships with their children and their children are more understanding of other’s
emotions and have stronger self-esteem.
• School Crisis Response Training: Who: Seward County Schools Timeline: August 2018
Results: The Seward Public Schools utilizes the I Love You Guys Standard Response
Protocol, which is a synthesis of common practices in use at a number of districts,
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departments, and agencies. Seward Public Schools Crisis Response Team Members are
trained in a variety of crisis situations ranging from bomb threats to dealing with grief to
hostage or intruder situations. This training ranges from how to talk to media to two-way
radio protocol.
• Sixpence Program: Who: Sixpence in collaboration with Seward County Schools and
Blue Valley Community Action Timeline: Ongoing Results: The Sixpence program is
designated to provide parents and soon-to-be parents with the opportunity to bond and
develop strong relationships with their children. Parents learn to be their child’s first
teacher, promote learning within the home environment, and encourage the curiosity
within the child’s play. The program works with pregnant women or anyone who has a
child under the age of 18 months. Special eligibility consideration is made for teen
parents; families who qualify for free and reduced lunch; families with children born
prematurely or low birth rate; and families whose primary language is not English.
• 24/7 Dad’s Class- Who: Seward and Butler County Pretrial Diversion Timeline: Ongoing
Results: The Pretrial Diversion Program is utilizing this curriculum to help teach fathers
to be responsible, involved and committed to their children 24 hours a day, 7 days a
week. The curriculum focuses on instilling five characteristics of a successful 24/7 dad:
self-awareness, caring for self, parenting skills, fathering skills, and relationship skills.
One study showed that this program lead to improvements in parent/child relationships,
engagement in reading to their children and assisting in homework, discipline, added
support to the mother and increase in happiness being a parent. This curriculum aims to
improve parent’s perception about their role, competence in their parenting ability and
their investment in their role.
• SCIP Teams: Who: Seward and Butler County Schools Timeline: Ongoing Results:
Annually, school staff are able to attend the School Community Intervention and
Prevention (SCIP) training. The SCIP Training assists school staff in recognizing
warning signs of at-risk behaviors and the ability to develop an appropriate plan to assist
the student and his or her family through the process of getting the help they need. SCIP
Teams offers support and resources for concerns such as drug and alcohol use, gang
activities, dating violence, working with refugee families, and other behavioral/mental
health concerns.
Strategy Three: Build volunteer network and adult role model network.
Resources:
• Mentoring: Who: Seward and Butler County Schools Timeline: Ongoing Results: The
goal of the program is to have a caring adult, or mentor, meet with youth for one hour per
week. Mentors are volunteers from the community who have dedicated themselves to
making a difference in the life of a young person. The TeamMates Program is committed
to the following core values: serving youth with compassion and respect; providing safety
and protection of the mentee and mentor; establishing integrity and trust in all
19
relationships; and including mentees and mentors from diverse backgrounds. Mentees
and mentors meet in and out of school. While meeting in school they can play games,
talk, walk, shoot baskets, play catch, etc and while meeting outside of school they enjoy
pizza parties, movie night, bowling day, picnics, and even attending a high school
basketball game.
• Safe Homes: Who: Milford Public Schools-maintain established network. Seward Public
School, build new network Timeline: Milford Public Ongoing; Seward Public: Ongoing
Results: Our youth face intense societal pressure to use alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs.
Families are the key to sending that message because they are the most powerful
influence in a child’s life. Parents are empowered to join together to give their children
clear, consistent messages about underage drinking and drug use. The Safe Homes Parent
Network is designed after the national Safe Homes substance abuse prevention program
developed by parents to support parents. The program has been successful nationwide in
reducing youth alcohol and substance use in communities. Its mission is to help parents
establish a clear “No use” message for children in their home when it comes to the
consumption of alcohol, tobacco, and illegal drugs. By signing a pledge, parents agree to
cooperate with schools, law enforcement, other parents, and young people to create a safe
and healthy atmosphere in which student use of alcohol and other drugs is prohibited.
Parents who sign the pledge will agree to supervise student get-togethers and prohibit
underage drinking and the use of drugs.
• Volunteer network: Who: Bridges, Concordia intern Timeline: Fall 2020 Results:
Project will connect those organizations seeking volunteers and those individuals seeking
to volunteer via Volunteer Connection Web site. Volunteers would have a central
location to search for volunteer opportunities within Seward County. Each volunteer
opportunity would display a general description of the activity, the best way to make
contact if you are interested in volunteering, if a potential volunteer must meet any
requirements (ie. age, educational skills, personality traits), the time commitment
required in order to participate. By connecting individuals in the community to volunteer
activities there is an increase likelihood they will stay crime free as a result of developing
pro-social attitudes and social bonds to conventional values.
• CASA volunteers: Who: Community volunteers who have completed a minimum of 30
hours of training, attended at least three juvenile court hearings and have been sworn in
by a judge as a friend of the court Timeline: Ongoing Results: Qualified, compassionate
adults will fight for and protect children’s rights to be safe, to be treated with dignity and
respect and to learn and grow in the security of a loving family. All children involved in
juvenile cases due to being abused or neglect will have a CASA Volunteer assigned.
Children with a CASA Volunteer are: more likely to be adopted than to linger in long-
term foster care (defined as 3+ years); half as likely to re-enter the foster care system
(fewer than 10% do); more likely to have a plan for permanency; more likely to do well
in school.
• Faith Based Youth groups: Who: Faith-based organizations Timeline: Ongoing
Results: Faith based youth groups are facilitated by an adult role model who leads a
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group of youth towards developing common sense, positive experiences and qualities that
help influence the choices they make. Youth attending these faith based youth groups are
more likely to become caring, responsible adults as a result of instilling several of the 40
Developmental Assets. Youth are also considered to be at lower risk for committing
crimes due in part to the fact they are surrounded by peers who share similar views of
upholding morals attitudes and behaviors. These faith based groups generally meet
weekly during the school year.
Priority Three
Advocate against social acceptance of underage alcohol and drug use, and prevent and reduce
these and other at-risk behaviors such as irresponsible social media usage, bullying and sexual
promiscuity.
Supporting Data:
• In the last 30 days, 20.4% (Seward, 2016) and 38.2% (Butler,2016) 12th grade students
admitted to using alcohol. In their lifetime, 43.0% (Seward) and 63.6% (Butler) admitted
to using alcohol. (NRPFS)
• In the last 30 days, 10.6% (Seward, 2016) and 18.2% (Butler, 2016) of 12th grade
students admitted to smoking marijuana. In their lifetime, 20.4% (Seward) and 37.0%
(Butler) admitted to smoking marijuana. (NRPFS)
• 66.4% (Seward, 2016) and 58.5% (Butler, 2016) of 12th grade students reported it was
wrong to drink alcohol once or twice per month, 73.5% (Seward, 2016) and 68.5%
(Butler, 2016) of 12th grade students reported it was wrong to smoke marijuana. (NRPFS)
• In the last 12 months, 2.9% (Seward, 2016) and 9.3% (Butler,2016) of 12th grade students
admitted to diving a vehicle under the influence of alcohol. (NRPFS)
• 63.8% (Seward, 2016) and 77.8% (Butler, 2016) of 12th grade students thought it was sort
of or very easy to get alcohol. (NRPFS)
• 48.9% (Seward, 2016) and 44.4% (Butler, 2016) of 12th grade students thought it was sort
of or very easy to get marijuana. (NRPFS)
• The top way 12th grade students got alcohol in Seward and Butler County was getting it
at a party. (NRPFS)
• In the last 12 months, 50.7% (Seward, 2016) and 47.3% (Butler, 2016) 12th grade
students stated they have been bullied. (NRPFS)
• 79.4% (Seward, 2016) and 88.9% (Butler, 2016) 12th grade students reported they were
hopeful about their future during the past week. (NRPFS)
• In 2017, in Seward County, 27 businesses were checked with four selling alcohol to a
minor. (Nebraska State Patrol News Release)
• In the 2016-2017 school year at Seward High School, there were 13 out-of-school
suspensions. The following is a breakdown for the violation: 2 drug related, 3 bullying
and harassment, 1 tobacco, 2 vandalism, 1 technology infraction, and 1 sexual
harassment. (Seward High School)
• In 2015, there were 3 teen births in Seward County and 1 teen birth in Butler County.
(KidsCount.com)
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• The following are the graduation rates for 2016-2017 in Seward County: 94.9% Milford
Public Schools, 95.7% Seward Public Schools, and 93.0% Centennial Public Schools.
The following are the graduation rates for 2016-2017 in Butler County: East Butler
Public Schools 100% and 94.1% David City Public Schools.
Strategy One: Provide opportunities after the school bell rings or on non-school days for at-
risk youth to engage in positive, not risky, behaviors.
Resources:
• 4-H Afterschool Clubs: Who: Extension and Seward County Schools Timeline: Ongoing
Results:4-H Afterschool Clubs create a safe, healthy, and enriching environment to
enhance young people’s social, emotional, physical, and academic success. The 4-H
Afterschool Clubs provides youth with 40 Development Assets by building activities,
incorporating science, technology, robotics, outdoor skills, agricultural literacy, art and
other classes after the school bell rings and on non-school days. Based on data collected
from surveys, 4-H Afterschool Clubs are preparing youth to be successful in science
based classes in school, enhancing youth curiosity to learn, increasing organizational
skills, fostering youth-adult partnerships, and instilling teamwork. On average, 150-200
youth participate every school year.4-H Afterschool Clubs range in times met, due to the
availability of instructors. Most clubs meet on average of 6-8 times for 4 weeks.
• Seward Youth Center: Who: Seward Youth Center Timeline: Ongoing Results: The
Seward Youth Center provides youth with a safe, alcohol and drug-free after-school
environment to engage in positive and supervised activities in order to enhance social
interaction with peers. The Youth Center offers several opportunities for youth be
involved. The Youth Center provides free tutoring for any middle school student who
needs extra help with school work and subjects, a daily Afterschool Program that covers
a diverse array of activities and presentations, and monthly Teen Dances/Fun Nights
consisting of games, karaoke, and dancing.
• School sponsored programs: Who: Seward and Butler County Schools Timeline:
Ongoing Results: School offers several extracurricular and sport activities to youth.
• Afterschool Study Group- Who: Local Schools, Seward Youth Center, Concordia
University Timeline: Ongoing Results: The Seward High Schools offers an afterschool
program for students to get extra help from teachers and tutors. This program is available
to all students, however, students who are identified on the weekly failing list are
recommended to attend the program daily until the student has passing grades. This
program can also be used to identify students that are failing more than one class and at-
risk of losing credits. The school assigns these students a mandatory assignment that
they attend the program daily until they are passing their classes. The Seward Youth
Center also offers a non-required tutoring service for any of its attendees.
• 1st Job-Seward- Who: 1st Job Seward, Seward County Attorney’s Office Timeline:
Ongoing Results: 1st Job Seward is a program created to give high school juniors and
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seniors exposure to a professional field of interest through a paid internship. This in turn
gives them a competitive edge in acceptance into college, potentially saving money in
college by having a hands-on experience in a field before deciding their major, providing
them with a professional reference, and reducing the likelihood of violent crimes. More
specifically, this program teaches work readiness for students through mandatory events
such as cover letter/resume writing, mock interviews, ACE IT Day, job fairs, and the
celebration and recognition event. Although all students are welcome to join, the program
focuses on serving youth who are have at risk characteristics such as academic struggles,
coming from a family with financial struggles, have had disciplinary action at their
school, come from single parent homes, are a foster child, known to use drugs and/or
alcohol, have mental or behavioral health concerns, or have no post-high school
employment or academic plans.
• Prosocial Activities and Events: Who: Bridges, BBYC, Region V, Seward and Butler
County Schools, Seward Optimist Club, Seward Youth and Community Club, Kiwanis
Timeline: Ongoing Results: Throughout the year, communities continue to organize
events to engage youth in a positive way. Examples of these activities include movie and
bowling nights, pool parties, June Jam, Half Century Bike Ride, and the Red White
tailgate party.
Strategy Two: Provide opportunities at school to empower and engage youth in character
building.
Resources:
• PBIS: Who: Seward and Butler County Schools Timeline: Ongoing Results: Positive
Behavior Support Interventions (PBIS) refers to a system of positive behavior
intervention with the theme of teaching behavioral expectations in the same manner as
any core curriculum subject. A team of representatives comprised of administrators and
regular education and special education teachers focuses on three to five behavioral
expectations that are positively stated and easy to remember. Consistency from class to
class and adult to adult is very important for successful implementation of PBIS. A
matrix of the behavioral expectations are located in all the classroom and non-classroom
areas.
• Leadership Class: Who: Seward High School Timeline: Ongoing Results: This class will
help students identify leadership strengths using Gallup StrengthsFinder and the 7 Habits
of Highly Effective Teens and begin to seek opportunities for potentially exhibiting their
leadership skills. The Leadership Project Proposal should indicate the identified area of
need and driving objective to be achieved. The proposal describes the project to be
developed, outlining specific objectives to be achieved and how the students intend to
utilize their time to achieve their goal. The plan should also address what resources and
steps will be needed to implement the project. Students will meet with their Leadership
teacher for a proposal conference to gain approval before implementing the project.
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• Bluejay Leadership Team: Who: Seward High School Timeline: Ongoing Results: The
Bluejay Leadership Team empowers students as leaders and gives students more voice in
making the school the best it can be. Bluejay Leadership Team members will apply and
be elected by members of their class to be involved in the team. The Team meets monthly
or at any time input for topics such as school safety or sportsmanship.
Strategy Three: Use environmental approaches, educational opportunities and information
dissemination.
Resources:
• Risk and Protective Factors mailing: Who: Bridges, BBYC, Seward and Butler County
Schools Timeline: January 2019 Results: The Nebraska Risk and Protective Factors
Student Survey (NRPFSS) targets Nebraska students in grades 6, 8, 10, and 12 with a
goal of providing schools and communities with local level data. The survey was
designed to assess adolescent substance use, delinquent behavior, and many of the risk
and protective factors that predict adolescent problem behaviors. The Nebraska survey is
adapted from a national, scientifically-validated survey and contains information on the
risk and protective factors. These risk and protective factors are also highly correlated
with substance abuse as well as delinquency, teen pregnancy, school dropout, and
violence. Results from the NRPFSS can aid schools and community groups in planning
and implementing local prevention initiatives to improve the health and academic
performance of their youth.
• Social media safety, bullying awareness, and drug and alcohol prevention through
education programs and projects: Who: Bridges, BBYC, Seward and Butler County
Schools Timeline: Ongoing Results: Social media safety, bulling awareness, and drug
and alcohol prevention may be done through various avenues such as formal
presentations, demonstrations, trainings, brochures, projects, posters, educational games,
billboards, and use of informative websites focusing on risky behaviors. More
specifically, examples of resources accessed or projects promoted by local stakeholders
include talkaboutalcohol.org, Youth Alcohol Prevention Profile, “I am Many” anti-
bullying campaign, Red Ribbon Week, Sticker Shock, and prom letters.
• WAIT Training/Real Essentials: Who: Bridges, BBYC, Seward Youth Center, WAIT
trainers, Seward and Butler County Schools Timeline: Winter 2019 Results: The WAIT
Training/Real Essentials curriculum used by educators, parents, and other role models is
to assist youth in understanding themselves and the differences in others; making healthy
decisions; dealing with cultural and peer influences; communicating effectively; dealing
effectively with conflict; understanding friendship, dating and love; avoiding high-risk
behaviors; and understanding the benefits of and the skills to prepare for healthy
marriage. The curriculum is offered in different forms such as educator certification
training, direct services to schools and other organizations, and a mentoring edition that
consists of a small group with a leaders guide and youth workbooks.
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• Pretrial Diversion and Probation classes: Who: Seward and Butler County Pretrial
Diversion, Probation Timeline: Ongoing Results: There are several educational classes
offered to youth through the Pretrial Diversion and Probation classes. Youth who are
enrolled in either program may be required to attend classes; however, the classes are
available to the public. These classes focus on educating youth about positive decision-
making, reducing substance use and abuse, and developing effective communication
skills.
• Reading Initiatives: Who: Seward High Schools Timeline: Fall 2018, 2019 and 2020
Results: The Seward High School teams up with the Plum Creek Literacy Festival to
select a novel in which all students are required to read. Novels are selected to bring
awareness to social issues affecting our communities. Previous topics include human
trafficking, dating violence, and social media misuse. Students and organizations in the
schools are given the opportunity to distribute awareness on the topic through various
avenues (selling t-shirts, demonstrations). The author of the novel and other professional
speakers present to students, adults, and other community members on the topic.
Strategy Four: Schedule community initiatives to reduce driving under the influence; to
prevent the sale of alcohol, tobacco, vapors, illegal drugs, and immitation drugs to
underage youth; and to increase the number of responsible beverage servers.
Resources:
• Sobriety checkpoints: Who: Seward and Butler County Sheriff Departments, Seward
Police Department Timeline. Ongoing Results: Sobriety checkpoints are used by law
enforcement officials to identify drivers for signs of alcohol or drug impairment. In
addition, sobriety checkpoints may gain media attention and increase a driver’s perceived
risk of arrest and ultimately lead to fewer divers under the influence. Sobriety
checkpoints are commonly targeted to specific areas and times that studies have shown
the probability of DUI apprehension is the highest (ie. nighttime, weekends, holidays,
etc). The Centers for Disease Control studied sobriety checkpoints and found numerous
studies that show they can reduce alcohol-related crashes and fatalities by 18-24%.
• Compliance checks: Who: Seward and Butler County Sheriff Departments, Seward
Police Department, Region V Timeline: Ongoing Results: Alcohol compliance checks
are a type of environmental prevention that deters alcohol retailers from selling alcohol to
underage youth. Law enforcement officials supervise undercover youth who attempt to
purchase alcohol. If the youth is successful in purchasing alcohol, the establishment is
penalized. These compliance checks also provide many additional benefits for the
community such as: measuring and monitoring the level of underage alcohol sales in the
community; achieving voluntary compliance in the future; raising community awareness;
reinforcing community norms that underage drinking is unacceptable; and deterring
youth from attempting to purchase alcohol from retailers.
• Responsible beverage server trainings: Who: Four Corners, Region V Timeline: As
requested Results: Responsible Beverage Server training programs give owners,
25
managers, and staff of establishments that serve alcohol knowledge and skills to help
them serve alcohol responsibly and fulfill the legal requirements of alcohol service.
Training programs for managers and owners most often provide guidance on
implementation of service policies and practices. Training programs for servers focus on
knowledge and skills that enhance their ability to prevent excessive alcohol consumption
among patrons, minimize harms from excessive drinking that has already occurred, and
intervening to prevent intoxicated patrons from driving.
• Search and Safety Dogs: Who: Seward and Butler County Schools, Seward and Butler
County Sheriff Departments Timeline: As requested Results: Schools prioritize providing
a safe environment for learning and personal development. Therefore, local school
systems will continue partnering with local law enforcement agencies to conduct safety
sweeps, to minimize the presence of unwanted contraband, mitigate risk, reduce exposure
and to protect the student body. When utilizing these resources, there is a reduction in the
presence of contraband during unscheduled visits with searches of hallways, lockers, and
parking lots.
Priority four
Prevent youth from entering the juvenile justice system by providing services and reduce the
length of stay in the system by offering community services.
Supporting Data:
• In 2016, 23 total juvenile arrests in Seward County and 15 total juvenile arrests in Butler
County. (Nebraska Crime Commission Arrest Data Query)
• In 2017, 37 total juvenile referrals were made to the Seward County Pretrial Diversion
Program resulting in 30 juvenile enrollments into the program. There were 19 successful
completions out of the 27 juvenile enrollments already completed or a 70% success rate
for enrolled clients in 2017. There were three currently enrolled diversion clients at the
time of this report.
• In 2017, 6 total juvenile referrals were made to the Butler County Pretrial Diversion
Program, resulting in 6 enrollments into the program. There was 5 successful completions
out of 6 enrollments or a 83% success rate for enrolled clients in 2017.
• In the 2016-2017 school year, 25 total student referrals were made to the Seward County
Truancy Program with 16 students required to enroll. In Butler County, there were 60
total student referrals were made to the Butler County Truancy Program with 15 students
required to enroll. (Seward and Butler County Attendance Program)
• In 2017, the Seward County Probation completed 7 juvenile intake screens and 47
juveniles were enrolled in probation. Butler County Probation completed 4 juvenile
intake screens and 30 juveniles were enrolled in probation. (Probation)
• 66.4% (Seward, 2016) and 58.5% (Butler, 2016) of 12th grade students reported it was
wrong to drink alcohol once or twice per month, 73.5% (Seward, 2016) and 68.5%
(Butler, 2016) of 12th grade students reported it was wrong to smoke marijuana. (NRPFS)
• 31.7% (Seward, 2016) and 32.7% (Butler, 2016) of 12th grade students reported enjoying
being in school. (NRPFS)
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• 39.6% (Seward, 2016) and 41.5% (Butler, 2016) of 12th grade students reported having
favorable attitudes toward beating other people up. (NRPFS)
• In the 2017-2018 school year, 21% of youth qualified for free and reduced lunch (Seward
High School)
• In 2017, 16 children were served by a CASA volunteer. (CASA)
Strategy One: Use of screening and assessment tools to identify at risk behaviors
Resources:
• Youth Level of Service: Who: Seward and Butler County Pretrial Diversion, Probation
Timeline: Ongoing Results: The Youth Level of Service (YLS) is a risk/needs assessment
and a case management tool. The YLS/CMI helps professionals identify the youth’s
major needs, strengths, barriers, and incentives; select the most appropriate goals for him
or her; and produce an effective case management plan. Professionals gather information
from a client by focusing on several areas: prior and current offenses, education,
substance abuse, family, personality/behavior, peers, leisure/recreation, and
attitudes/orientation.
• NYS: Who: Seward and Butler County Pretrial Diversion, Probation Timeline: Ongoing
Results: The Nebraska Youth Screening (NYS) tool is an is an adaptation of the Youth
Level of Service (YLS) The NYS is a shorter pre-screening tool used by agencies to
quickly distinguish low-risk youth from high-risk youth. This tool appears to be effective
for quickly capturing a youth’s potential score on the full YLS. Similar to the YLS,
professionals gather information from a client by focusing on several areas: prior and
current offenses, education, substance abuse, family, personality/behavior, peers,
leisure/recreation, and attitudes/orientation. If a youth is identified as a low risk offender
on the NYS, the NYS can used in lieu of the full YLS assessment. However, if the youth
is identified as either medium or high risk a YLS assessment will need to be completed.
• Intake Screen: Who: Probation Timeline: Ongoing Results: An intake occurs at the
request of law enforcement when a juvenile under the age of 18 has committed a new law
violation, has an active warrant or is a runaway. Law enforcement contacts the local
probation office and arranges for the probation officer to conduct the intake utilizing the
intake tool. This is a standardized scoring tool that helps make decisions regarding what
should occur with a youth until they appear before the Court. The Probation Officer
interviews law enforcement, the youth and the parent to gather information then scores
the tool. Areas include severity of current offense, legal status (currently/recently under
supervision or before the Court) risk of failure to appear/reoffend, mitigating factors such
as parent willing/able to assume supervision or no citations within the last year and
aggravating factors such as runaway behaviors multiple offenses or history of violence
are also considered. The purpose of the tool is to prevent unnecessary detention of
youth. Youth should only be detained if they are a flight risk or a danger to reoffend.
• Random drug screening – Who: Seward and Butler County Pretrial Diversion,
Probation, local schools Timeline: Ongoing Results: Youth in the community may be
27
required to participate in drug testing in order to meet the requirement of the programs they are involved. Through random drug screenings, programs promote health, safety, and law abiding behaviors; provide a foundation for referring to community resources for treatment; and educate on the negative impact of drug and alcohol use among youth.
Strategy Two: Implement prompt prevention and intervention strategies for truant students
with an individualized plan that focuses on collaboration with parents toward
reestablishing attendance in school
Resource:
• Seward and Butler County Attendance Support Program: Who: Seward and Butler
County Attendance Support Program, Probation, Seward County Attorney, Butler County
Attorney, Bridges, Blue Valley Behavioral Health, Extension and Local schools
Timeline: Ongoing Results: The Attendance Support Program in Seward and Butler
County focuses on early identification of children that are at risk of being suspended or
are at risk for involvement in the juvenile justice system due to truancy. The program will
address intervention strategies for those who are demonstrating significant difficulty
attending school on a regular basis. The program involves parents, guardians, teachers,
mentors, and other caring adults to better understand the child at risk. Once enrolled in
the program, the student’s attendance is checked on a daily basis and the Attendance
Support Case Manager continues to assess the student’s behavior and assist them in
getting to and from school, if needed.
Strategy Three: Implementing evidence-based strategies or standardized, replicable
practices that have been researched and have demonstrated positive outcomes
Resource:
• Nebraska Juvenile Pretrial Diversion Guidelines: Who: Seward and Butler County
Pretrial Diversion Timeline: Ongoing Results: The Nebraska Juvenile Pretrial
Diversion Guidelines provides a framework for juvenile pretrial diversion programs that
will ensure consistency with statutory requirements, as well as consistency to the juvenile
justice system across Nebraska. Goals, objectives, and the administration of proposed
juvenile pretrial diversion programs should be consistent with the guidelines set forth
within the document. The document can be used to enhance and/or expand an existing
program. Pretrial Diversion programs receiving or seeking Community-based Juvenile
Services Aid funding are required to follow these guidelines.
Strategy Four: Educate youth about the effects of alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs on their
lives through prevention and intervention.
Resources:
• Insight Class and Tobacco Education Group: Who: Seward and Butler County Pretrial
Diversion Timeline: Ongoing Results: The Insight Group educates youth about substance
use and how the substances affect their decision making, and other consequences of their
28
drug use. Tobacco Education Group educates youth about the negative consequences of
tobacco use and how to move closer to quitting. Both groups utilize curriculum that has
been demonstrated to be an evidence based practice and have pre-post evaluation surveys
to measure the change in a youth’s behavior and attitude.
• Choices Class: Who: Seward and Butler County Pretrial Diversion Timeline: Ongoing
Results: Educate youth about responsible decision making relating to alcohol use by
proving facts, discussing the risks, and evaluating society norms relating to alcohol. The
goal is to reduce the number of youth using alcohol and potentially other illegal
substances.
• D.A.R.E.: Who: Seward and Butler County Sheriff Departments, Seward Police
Department, Seward and Butler County Schools Timeline: August 2019, 2020, and 2021
Results: D.A.R.E. focuses on teaching students good decision-making skills to help them
lead safe and healthy lives. Every lesson good decision making skills are practiced with
the Dare Decision Making Model, which teaches them to define the problem, assess
their choices and consequences, respond, and then evaluate their decision. This is done
using various scenarios from inside of their workbooks either out loud as a group or in
small groups. D.A.R.E. provides students with facts and health effects of tobacco and
alcohol, but also talks about responsibility and consequences, identifying and dealing
with stress, confident communication and effective listening, peer pressure and resistance
strategies, bullying, being a good citizen, and getting help/help networks. Each lesson is
aimed at giving students the knowledge to recognize risky situations and information to
make smart, informed decisions when faced with those situations. D.A.R.E. is about
kids learning to be safe and responsible.
Strategy Five: CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) Program
Resources:
• Through the Eyes of the Child Team: Who: Regular parties to a juvenile case, attorneys,
county attorney, court staff, DHHS, therapists, school personnel, law enforcement &
CASA. Timeline: Ongoing. Results: The Through the Eyes of the Child Team is a
multidisciplinary team comprised of local child welfare stakeholders to collaborate with
each other in their efforts to improve issues in their communities’ child welfare court
systems as well as communicate with other teams and stakeholders across the state to
identify systemic barriers and work on solutions. The teams create their own strategic
plans, which include projects and goals to improve the child welfare court system, and
then meet regularly to ensure those goals are being accomplished. Examples barriers
commonly addressed include: children's attendance at court hearings, availability of
substance abuse services, adequacy of parenting time, use of mediation/facilitation, quality
of court reports, improvement of support service to the family, response to older youth in
car, and targeted treatment for substance-abusing parents.
• Child Abuse & Neglect Training – Public & Professional: Who: Community leaders,
teachers, child care providers, therapist, citizens of Seward and Butler County, and anyone
29
with an interest in the welfare of children. Timeline: Annually Results: Public trainings
on child abuse and neglect focus on increasing public awareness. Participants will be able
to define child abuse and neglect, identity who must report child abuse and neglect,
practice the questions they should ask children before making a report, become familiar
with the roles and responsibility of various agencies involved in these types of cases. The
stigma of calling the child abuse and neglect hotline will be eliminated. These trainings
are commonly held by the Child Advocacy Center. Notification of upcoming training
opportunity can found on the CASA and Child Advocacy Center website, in the local
newspaper, fliers posted in the community and through word of mouth.
• Child Abuse & Neglect Training – CASA Volunteers: Who: Community volunteers
who have completed a minimum of 30 hours of training, attended at least three juvenile
court hearings and have been sworn in by a judge as a friend of the court.
Timeline: Ongoing Results: Qualified, compassionate adults will fight for and protect
children’s rights to be safe, to be treated with dignity and respect and to learn and grow in
the security of a loving family. All children involved in juvenile cases due to being
abused or neglect will have a CASA Volunteer assigned. Children with a CASA
Volunteer are: more likely to be adopted than to linger in long-term foster care (defined as
3+ years); half as likely to re-enter the foster care system (fewer than 10% do); more
likely to have a plan for permanency; more likely to do well in school.
Strategy Six: Offer detention alternatives to youth involved in the juvenile justice system
through community services
Resources:
• Electronic Monitoring: Who: Seward and Butler County Pretrial Diversion, Probation
Timeline: Ongoing Results: Electronic monitoring is a system used to increase
effectiveness in supervising participants who are required to abide by curfew or remain in
their homes as a condition of the Diversion Program. GPS tracking systems capture
location data throughout the day, comparing collected data against stored geographic
boundaries and schedules once the individual returns home. When the tracker comes
within range, GPS data is uploaded to the central monitoring computer using the client’s
home phone line. The central monitoring computer compares the location data to the
client’s authorized schedules and locations to detect violations. As a result, the staff can
also monitor participants adherence to curfew restrictions based on presence or absence
in the home.
• Tracking: Who: Seward and Butler County Pretrial Diversion, Probation Timeline:
Ongoing Results: A tracker is a person who works with the youth and family in the
community to increase accountability and provide skill building to support the youth’s
success in the home. Goals can be written to address supervision, personal development,
independent living, parent/family involvement, school, free time activities, development
30
of support systems and restorative justice. Tracking services may be combined with
electronic monitoring or used alone if needed.
Priority Five
Increase availability of community based support for youth with behavioral health and mental
health issues.
Supporting Data:
• In the last 12 months, 33.3% (Seward, 2016) and 16.7% (Butler, 2016) of 12th grade
students reported feelings of depression. (NRPFS)
• In the last 12 months, 11.3% (Seward, 2016) and 16.7% (Butler, 2016) of 12th grade
students considered attempting suicide. (NRPFS)
• In the last 12 months, 50.7% (Seward, 2016) and 47.3% (Butler, 2016) of 12th grade
students stated they have been bullied . (NRPFS)
• In the last 12 months, 16.9% (Seward, 2016) and 16.4% (Butler, 2016) of 12th grade
students stated they have been bullied electronically. (NRPFS)
• In the last 12 months, 26.7% (Seward, 2016) and 22.9% (Butler, 2016) of 12th grade
students reported being controlled or emotionally hurt by a date. (NRPFS)
• In 2017, there were six reported threats to commit suicide, 1 reported attempt at suicide,
and no completed suicides (Seward County Dispatch)
• According to DHHS, in 2015, there were 189 child/abuse and neglect calls in Seward
County. Of these calls, 18 cases were determined substantiated.
• One of the leading agencies to provide substance abuse and mental health services,
reported 174 youth youth participating in their substance abuse and mental health
outpatient programs and youth assistance programs in their 2016-2017 fiscal year.
Strategy one: Provide a crisis intervention resource to law enforcement and mental health
agencies
Resource:
• Emergency Response Team Who: Emergency Response Team Timeline: Ongoing
Results: The Emergency Response Team would operate a 24-7 phone line that allows law
enforcement to access a mental health professional to assist them with people who are
experiencing a mental or behavioral health crisis and may require an emergency
protective custody. The crisis counselor would complete an on-site assessment of the
individual, work to defuse the situation, develop a safety plan and refer to community
support services as appropriate. As it relates to providing emergency response to youth,
the goals of this program is to provide an alternative way to access services without
needing to cite the youth, reduce the need for an ungovernable filings in order to access
services, reduce the need for emergency out of home placement and/or detentions of
youth and reduce law enforcement contact time. This alternative response was developed
31
to address a noted gap in services. In Seward County, law enforcement and families have
few emergency assistance options for youth displaying aggression, property destruction,
runaway tendencies, or other delinquent behaviors.
Strategy two: Address youth mental health and behavioral health through public
awareness, education and training to help communities build new and/or strengthen
existing programs.
Resources:
• Suicide Prevention Training Who: County Attorney, Blue Valley Behavioral Health,
Four Corners, Suicide Prevention Coalition, Seward and Butler County Schools, Seward
and Butler County Pretrial Diversion, Region V Timeline: Ongoing Results: Suicide
Prevention Training is a crucial component of many community professionals education.
Adequate training will prepare professionals on how to identify risk factors and early
signs of depression, respond to individuals who are suicidal, stress the importance of
asking about suicide and address the importance of partnering with qualified mental
health professionals for assessment and crisis intervention services. Suicide training may
be done in several avenues such as face-to-face workshops, webinars, and other self-
paced courses.
• Community-based Suicide Awareness Activities: Who: County Attorney, Blue Valley
Behavioral Health, Four Corners, Suicide Prevention Coalition Timeline: Ongoing
Results: One of the key ways to prevent a suicide is by creating a heightened sense of
awareness. Community-based activities is one way to create this awareness. Some
examples of activities include a Suicide Prevention Walk; making educational brochures
available to schools, law enforcement, mental health professionals, churches, parents,
youth, etc; holding an annual fundraiser with funds going to the organizations like the
Nebraska Suicide Hotline; sponsoring speakers; and holding activities during Suicide
Prevention Week.
• LOSS Team: Who: Suicide Prevention Coalition Timeline: Ongoing Results: The Local
Outreach to Suicide Survivors (LOSS) Team consists of trained survivor and mental
health professionals acting as volunteers to bring immediate support to survivors of
suicide. Suicide survivors are those who have had a loved one complete a suicide and are
at risk due to their emotional response, which may include the use of unhealthy coping
strategies or attempting suicide themselves. Many members of the LOSS Team are also
on the Suicide Prevention Coalition.
• Mental Health First Aid Training: Who: Region V Timeline: Ongoing Results: Mental
Health First Aid Training is an 8-hour training course that will give participants the key
to help someone who is developing a mental health problem or is experiencing a mental
health crisis. Trained individuals will be able to recognize the potential risk factors and
warning signs for a range of mental health concerns; use a 5-step action plan to help an
individual in crisis; connect with appropriate professional help; and interpret the
prevalence of various mental health disorders in the U.S. and the need for reduced
negative attitudes in the community.
32
• Mental Health and Behavioral Health Counseling: Who: Blue Valley Behavioral
Health, Turning Point Behavioral Health and Addiction Counseling, Metschke
Counseling Center Timeline: Ongoing Results: Youth in Seward and Butler County have
access to several local behavioral and mental health counselors who specialize in
identifying, supporting, and treating a variety of concerns including: anxiety, depression,
substance abuse, anger management, trauma, and family conflicts. Youth are able to meet
one-on-one with his/her counselor in an atmosphere that is non-judgmental, confidential,
and empathic.
• Youth Assistance Program: Who: Blue Valley Behavioral Health, Seward and Butler
County Schools, Seward and Butler County Attendance Support Program, Seward
County Pretrial Diversion Timeline: Ongoing Results: The Youth Assistance Program is
a brief intervention service that assists in concerns about a child’s mood and or behavior.
YAP can help assess the need for referral for continued services in areas such as
substance abuse, depression, outbursts at home and a variety of other concerns. YAP is a
free program available for the child and/or their family. YAP services are provided in a
confidential location during school hours and is typically done once a week for around
30-45 minutes and generally goes four to five sessions. YAP services are provided
through Blue Valley Behavioral Health by a provisional/licensed counselor and if there is
any need for further services, the counselors will communicate concerns to the child’s
parent/guardian.
33
Appendix A:
Juvenile Justice System Analysis Tool
34
SYSTEM POINT: ARREST/ CITATION PARTY RESPONSIBLE: Police/Law Enforcement
STATUTE REFERENCE: NRS §§ 43-247 (1), (2), (4)
Decision: Whether an information report should be filed, or what offense, if any, with which juvenile should
be cited or arrested.
Formal Determining Factors
a. Sufficient factual basis to believe
offense was committed.
b. Underlying support for a particular
offense
Informal Determining Factors
a. Officer’s inclination/patience
b. Degree to which parent or service
provider pushed the issue
c. Youth’s prior incidences with law
enforcement
d. Youth and/or youth’s families perceived
status in the community
e. Attitude of juvenile (compliant or not)
f. Age of juvenile
g. Totality of circumstances Notes:
In the case where a juvenile comes into contact with law enforcement for allegedly committing a law violation, it
is customary for law enforcement to issue a citation to the juvenile for a law violation and forward a report to the
county attorney. In the event that a citation is not issued, law enforcement may still submit a report to the county
attorney who will then determine what charges, if any, should be filed. It is also the officer’s discretion to issue a
warning to the juvenile in lieu of a citation and not contact the county attorney’s office.
Decision: Whether to cite or arrest juvenile for juvenile or adult offense.
Formal Determining Factors
a. Seriousness of Offense
b. Is there a warrant?
c. In accordance with state statute
d. Age of juvenile
Informal Determining Factors
a. Degree to which juvenile cooperates with
officer
b. Victim’s desire
c. Youth is already in the HHS or juvenile
system
d. Age of the juvenile
e. Criminal history of the juvenile Notes:
The juvenile is treated as a juvenile throughout any and all law enforcement actions. It is the responsibility of the
County Attorney to determine if charges should be adult or juvenile. The major considerations are how much
trouble the youth is getting into, how serious the crime is, and involved of the parents.
Decision: Whether to take juvenile into custody or to cite and release.
Formal Determining Factors
a. Is there a warrant?
b. As stated in statutes NRS § 43-248;
NRS § 43-250
Informal Determining Factors
a. Immediate risk to juvenile
b. Immediate/short term risk to public
c. Seriousness of perceived offense
d. Extent to which parent or other
responsible adult is available to take
responsibility for juvenile
e. Availability of pre-adjudication detention
options
35
f. Availability/cost of law enforcement to
transport juvenile
g. Too much time elapses from first contact
with juvenile and when he/she enters
juvenile court
h. Legal status of family (if known) Notes:
Law enforcement generally will cite and release a juvenile unless the above formal issues exists. If law
enforcement decides to detain, the probation office determines whether or not the juvenile will remain in
detention, be placed back into the home or placed in out-of-home placement. A mental health case may result in
temporary custody being placed with the Department of Health and Human Services, and the juvenile is then
taken to a youth mental health facility for safekeeping and to undergo an evaluation.
SYSTEM POINT: INITIAL DETENTION PARTY RESPONSIBLE: State of Nebraska Probation
STATUTE REFERENCE: NRS § 43-250(3), § 43-260, § 43-260.01
Decision: Whether juvenile should be detained, placed in an alternative or released.
Formal Determining Factors
a. Risk assessment outcome
b. Accessibility of placement options:
i. Parent/Guardian
ii. Alternatives for Detention
iii. Staff Secure Facility
iv. Secure Detention Facility
Informal Determining Factors
a. Detention screening instrument requires
approval for override by a supervisor
b. In cases involving a mental health crisis,
law enforcement will contact the local
crisis response team or conduct an EPC,
if applicable.
Notes:
Secure detentions are a last resort for law enforcement and probation. The probation office conducts a risk
assessment. According to the results of the assessments, the juvenile can be placed in a staff secure facility, an
emergency shelter or placed back with the parents or other family members or friends that would be appropriate.
If the juvenile is released, he may be placed on tracking and electronic monitoring services through the Probation
Office.
SYSTEM POINT: CHARGE JUVENILE PARTY RESPONSIBLE: County Attorney
STATUTE REFERENCE: NRS § 43-274(1), § 43-275, § 43-276
Decision: Whether to prosecute juvenile.
Formal Determining Factors
a. Factors under NRS § 43-276
i. The type of treatment such juvenile
would most likely be amenable to
b. Whether there is evidence that the
alleged offense included violence
c. The motivation or the commission
of the offense
Informal Determining Factors
a. After reviewing police reports,
examining the nature of the County
Attorney will make decision made as to
whether to refer to Pre-trial Diversion or
file petition. Enrolling youth in Pre-trial
Diversion is a more immediate path for
intervention.
36
d. The age of the juvenile and the ages
and circumstances of any others
involved in the offense
e. The previous history of the
juvenile, including whether he or
she has been convicted of any
previous offenses or adjudicated in
juvenile court
f. The best interests of the juvenile
g. Consideration of public safety
h. Consideration of the juvenile’s
ability to appreciate the nature and
seriousness of his or her conduct
i. Whether the best interests of the
juvenile and the security of the
public may require that the juvenile
continue in secure detention or
under supervision for a period
extending beyond his or her
minority and if so, the available
alternative best suited to this
purpose
j. Whether the victim agrees to
participate in mediation
k. Whether there is a juvenile pretrial
diversion program established
pursuant to section 43-260.02 to
43-260.07
l. Whether the juvenile has been
convicted of or has acknowledged
unauthorized use or possession of a
firearm
m. Whether a juvenile court order has
been issued for the juvenile
pursuant to section 43-2, 106.03
n. Whether the juvenile is a criminal
street gang member
o. Such other matters as the parties
deem relevant to aid in the decision
Notes:
If the County Attorney finds that there is a sufficient amount of evidence, the case will be referred to Pre-trial
Diversion or a petition will be filed in juvenile court. The County Attorney will have the final decision if the case
goes to a diversion program or court. If there is an insufficient amount of evidence to prosecute, the juvenile does
not participate in either. If the juvenile participates in the Pre-trial Diversion program, a Pretrial Diversion Case
Manager conducts a risk assessment on the juvenile.
37
Decision: Whether youth should be prosecuted as juvenile or adult.
Formal Determining Factors
a. Reference NRS § 43-276 for
guidelines
b. Age of youth
Informal Determining Factors
a. Nature of offense and age
b. Mental capabilities
c. Which judicial system would best
serve needs if youth but also be
accountable for actions but protect the
safety of the community.
d. Juvenile’s prior criminal record
e. Degree of accountability
f. Public Safety h. Resource issue
Notes:
The ultimate decision to prosecute a juvenile as an adult with rest entirely on the discretion of the county
attorney taking into consideration the above determining factors.
Decision: Offense for which juvenile should be charged.
Formal Determining Factors
a. Seriousness of offense
b. Charge must be supported by
sufficient evidence to establish proof
beyond a reasonable doubt
Informal Determining Factors
a. Determined by police reports
b. Prosecutorial discretion
c. Nature of offense
Notes:
SYSTEM POINT: PRE-ADJUDICATION DETENTION PARTY RESPONSIBLE: Juvenile Court Judge
STATUTE REFERENCE: NRS § 43-253(2)
Decision: Whether juvenile detained at the time of citation/arrest should continue in detention or out-of-home
placement pending adjudication.
Options:
1. Parents/Guardians
2. Emergency Shelter
3. Staff Secure Facility
4. Secure Detention Facility
5. Electronic Monitoring Formal Determining Factors
a. Whether there is an “immediate and
urgent necessity for the protection of
such juvenile”
b. Whether there is an “immediate and
urgent necessity for the protection of
the person or property of another”
c. Whether juvenile is likely to flee the
jurisdiction of the court
Informal Determining Factors
Notes:
Juveniles in detention are brought before the judge within 48 hours at which time the court decides whether the
juvenile shall remain in detention. Based on the seriousness of the offense and the need to protect the public
38
and/or the juvenile, the court can order that the juvenile (1) remain in detention pending another hearing, (2) be
released to the custody of the parent or custodian, or (3) authorize probation to find suitable placement. If the
juvenile is released to the parent, the court can issue Conditions of Release which are temporary court orders that
govern the behavior and whereabouts of the juvenile AN electronic monitor can be ordered through the juvenile
court. If the juvenile remains in detention, the youth is placed in the Northeast Nebraska Juvenile Services
detention center in Madison until his next court appearance date.
Often times, the Juvenile Court Judge who may preside at detention hearing believe the law does not allow
juveniles to be in detention longer than necessary. This same standard is also applied to any other out-of-home
placement. As a result, most juveniles who have met the criteria for detention are returned to the car and custody
of their parents/guardians.
SYSTEM POINT: PROBABLE CAUSE HEARING PARTY RESPONSIBLE: Juvenile Court Judge
STATUTE REFERENCE: NRS § 43-256
Decision: Whether state can show that probable cause exists that juvenile is within the jurisdiction of the
court.
Formal Determining Factors
a. Police investigation/Reports
b. Sworn Affidavit
c. NRS § 43-256. When the court
enters an order continuing placement
or detention pursuant to section 43-
253, upon request of the juvenile, or
his or her parent, guardian, or
attorney, the court shall hold a
hearing within forty-eight hours, at
which hearing the burden of proof
shall be upon the state to show
probable cause that such juvenile is
within the jurisdiction of the court.
Strict rules of evidence shall not
apply at the probable cause hearing.
The juvenile shall be released if
probable cause is not shown. At the
option of the court, it may hold the
adjudication hearing provided in
section 43-279 as soon as possible
instead of the probable cause
hearing if held within a reasonable
period of time. This section and
section 43-255 shall not apply to a
juvenile (1) who has escaped from a
commitment or (2) who has been
taken into custody for his or her own
protection as provided in
subdivision (2) of section 43-248 in
Informal Determining Factors
a. Parent or other agencies
b. Petitions and motions filed
c. Evidence submitted to by state,
guardian-ad-litem, other attorneys
appointed or designated by juvenile.
39
which case the juvenile shall be held
on order of the court with
jurisdiction for a reasonable period
of time. Notes:
The Judge takes the County Attorney’s advice into consideration. The County Attorney knows the facts about the
juvenile and it helps when the Judge knows as much about the juvenile as possible
SYSTEM POINT: COMPETENCY EVALUATION PARTY RESPONSIBLE: Juvenile Court Judge
STATUTE REFERENCE: NRS § 43-258(1(b))
Decision: Whether juvenile is competent to participate in the proceedings.
Formal Determining Factors
a. Outlined in statute
b. Pending the adjudication of any case
under the Nebraska Juvenile Code,
the court may offer the juvenile to
be examined by a physician,
surgeon, psychiatrist, duly
authorized community mental health
service program, or psychologist to
aid the court in determining (a) a
material allegation in the petition
relating to the juvenile’s physical or
mental condition, (b) the juvenile’s
competence to participate in the
proceedings, (c) the juvenile’s
responsibility for his or her acts, or
(d) whether or not to provide
emergency medical treatment.
Informal Determining Factors
a. Evidence submitted to by state,
guardian-ad-litem, other attorneys
appointed or designated by juvenile.
Notes:
If a competency hearing is ordered, which is rare, factors considered would be whether the juvenile is suicidal,
whether the juvenile is addicted to any substances, and whether the county could provide services. What type of
legal representation the juvenile had would also be a concern.
Decision: Whether juvenile is “responsible” for his/her acts.
Formal Determining Factors
a. “Complete evaluation of the
juvenile including any authorized
area of inquirey requested by court”
(NRS § 43-258(2))
b. Opinion of physician, psychiatrist,
community mental health program,
psychologist
c. Pending the adjudication of any
case under the Nebraska Juvenile
Informal Determining Factors
a. CASA
b. DHHS
c. Adequate investigation of pre-placement
behavior to ensure evaluation is correct
40
Code, the court may offer the
juvenile examined by a physician,
surgeon, psychiatrist, duly
authorized community mental
health service program, or
psychologist to aid the court in
determining (a) a material
allegation in the petition relating to
the juvenile’s physical or n=mental
condition, (b) the juvenile’s
competence to participate in the
proceedings, (C0 the juvenile’s
responsibility for his or her acts, or
(d) whether or not to provide
emergency medical treatment.
Notes:
SYSTEM POINT: ADJUDICATION PARTY RESPONSIBLE: Juvenile Court Judge
STATUTE REFERENCE: NRS § 43-279 (2) and (3)
Decision: Whether the juvenile is, beyond a reasonable doubt, “a person” described by section 43-247.
Formal Determining Factors
a. Legal sufficiency of evidence
presented during adjudication
hearing
b. Whether juvenile admits the
allegations of the petition (or,
“pleads to the charge”)
c. Residency
d. Age
Informal Determining Factors
Notes:
The statute sufficiently describes the factors that must go into this decision.
Decision: Whether to order probation to conduct a pre-disposition investigation.
Formal Determining Factors
a. Outlined in statute
Informal Determining Factors
a. Is additional information needed?
b. What is the Risk level?
c. What is the Appropriate Supervision
Level?
Notes:
The Juvenile Court Judge to determine the appropriate disposition for a juvenile after adjudication. Sometimes,
the court has sufficient information following the adjudication to make a disposition immediately. If the court
41
believes it needs additional information in order to make a decision at disposition, then the juvenile is often
ordered to submit to a pre-disposition investigation (PDI) with the probation office. Probation will then utilizes
the PDI to determine the risk level and supervision level needed for the juvenile. PDI’s are not ordered in every
case.
SYSTEM POINT: DISPOSITION PARTY RESPONSIBLE: Juvenile Court Judge
STATUTE REFERENCE: NRS § 43-286 (1)
Decision: Whether to place juvenile on probation
Formal Determining Factors
a. As outlined in statute
Informal Determining Factors
Notes:
Determining factors are parental influences, family structure, the juvenile’s socialization skills, and friends. Other
significant factors include answering these questions: what agency is best suited to help the juvenile – Probation
or OJS? What impact can the probation officer/OJS personnel have regarding the juveniles family situation, peer
influence, the juvenile’s social abilities, the best ability to oversee the juvenile during the evening/nighttime
hours, and the ability to track and assist the juvenile with their school attendance/classroom performance? Can
the probation officer provide the services needed to meet expected goals?
Notes: Most dispositions in the area end with an order of probation. It is the preferred option because it is the
least restrictive rehabilitation plan. The court takes the recommendations of the County Attorney’s Office, the
juvenile’s counsel and/or guardian ad litem and even the parents into consideration when making a decision on
disposition. In the event that the juvenile has been continuously unsuccessful in previous probations or the State
has exhausted all community based programs to rehabilitate the juvenile, the juvenile may be committed to a
Youth Treatment Center. The county attorney must file a motion to court requesting that the juvenile be placed in
a youth treatment facility and that all efforts has been exhausted to rehabilitate the juvenile.
Decision: Whether to place juvenile on probation and commit juvenile to the YRTC
Formal Determining Factors Informal Determining Factors
a. No apparent authority for delinquent
in the legal custody of
parents/guardian.
a. Gives probation responsibility of
supervision, but opens access to HHS/OJS
funds for treatment or rehabilitation Notes:
See Also, State v. David C., 6 Neb. App. 198, 572 N.W.2d 392 (1997): [9] It is clear that the court intended to
commit David to the YRTC without actually revoking his probation. We can find no statutory basis for this
procedure. Section 43-286 provides for the possible dispositions that a court may make, including continuing
[*214] the disposition portion of the hearing and (1) placing the juvenile on probation subject to the supervision
of a probation officer; (2) permitting the juvenile to remain in his or her [***31] own home, subject to the
supervision of the probation officer; (3) placing the juvenile in a suitable home or institution or with the
Department; or (4) committing him or her to OJS. Section 43-286 provides no authority for a court to place a
juvenile on probation under the care of OJS. Section 43-286(4)(e) provides that if the court finds that the juvenile
violated the terms of his or her probation, the court may modify the terms and conditions of the probation order,
extend the period of probation, or enter "any order of disposition that could have been made at the time the
original order of probation was entered . . . ." The court could not have originally entered an order providing for
probation with commitment to YRTC, and it necessarily follows that the court could not enter such an order upon
finding that the juvenile had violated the terms of his or her probation. The attempt to continue probation while
committing David to a YRTC would also require a reversal of the order of April 30.
SYSTEM POINT: ADMINISTRATIVE SANCTIONS
42
PARTY RESPONSIBLE: Probation
STATUTE REFERENCE: NRS § 29-2266
Decision: Whether to impose administrative sanctions on a probationer
Formal Determining Factors
a. Probation officers has reasonable
cause to believe that probationer has
committed a non-criminal violation
b. Substance abuse violation refers to a
positive test for drug or alcohol use,
failure to report for such a test, or
failure to comply with substance
abuse evaluation or treatment
c. Non-criminal violation means
i. Failure to report to his or her
probation officer;
ii. Leaving the jurisdiction of the
court or leaving the state without
the permission of the court or his
or her probation officer
iii. Failure to work regularly or
attend training schools.
iv. Failure to notify his or her
probation officer of change of
address or employment.
v. Frequenting places where
controlled substances are
illegally sold, used, distributed or
administered
vi. Failure to perform community
service as directed
vii. Failure to pay fines, court costs,
restitution or any fees imposed
pursuant to section 29-2262.06
Informal Determining Factors
a. Whether violation can be handled
informally through an
administrative sanction
b. Whether juvenile cooperates in
agreeing to the administrative
sanction
c. Whether parent agrees to assist
juvenile in complying with sanction
d. Whether an extension of probation
is needed to handle the violation.
e. Nature and seriousness of the
violation
f. Past history of administrative
sanctions files and reasons for
sanctions.
g. Offender’s perceived danger or
threat to himself, or the community
Notes:
The State Probation Office Nebraska law and its own rules and regulations regarding whether to impose an
administrative sanction. If the probationer has violated the probation order but the type of violation can be handled
informally, then the probation officer has the authority to request that the probationer submit to the administrative
sanction. The probationer would sign a standard administrative sanctions form that requires them to agree that they
violated their probation and requires them to agree to comply with an additional request of the probation officer.
Administrative sanctions have proved useful in handling minor probation violations rather than needing to go to
back to court for every issue.
SYSTEM POINT: MOTION TO REVOKE PROBATION PARTY RESPONSIBLE: County Attorney
STATUTE REFERENCE: NRS § 43-286(4)(b)(i)
Decision: Whether to file a motion to revoke probation.
Formal Determining Factors Informal Determining Factors
43
a. Outlined in statute
b. Current probation order requires
modification and/or change in disposition.
c. Probation office files alleged violation
d. Law enforcement citation is a violation
a. Law violation occurs that is being filed in
court and/or if Probationer continues to
violate probation conditions even after
sanctions have been issued and steps have
been taken to try and correct the conditions
the probationer has violated.
b. Nature of violation
c. Severity of violation
d. Necessity for accountability
e. Need for alternative disposition
f. Appropriateness of administrative
sanctions for minor violations
g. Recommendation from probation officer
h. County Attorney prosecute merit
assessment
i. If a Motion to Revoke is based on a new
law violation which has yet to be
adjudicated, the matter is often continued
to allow that adjudication. In the event the
disposition of both matters is often handled
at the same time.
j. If a PDI was not ordered at the time of the
original disposition it may well be ordered
at the time of re-disposition.
k. Judge will use a continuum of care
approach as a result of a revocation Notes:
The County Attorney’s Office is notified of probation violations generally in one of two ways. The State Probation
office may send an alleged probation violation to the County Attorney’s Office, the County Attorney’s Office may
be notified if there is a citation and/or report form a law enforcement agency and the internal records show that the
juvenile is still on probation. In any of these circumstances, the County Attorney’s Office may file a motion to
revoke probation alleging which conditions of probation have been violated. A hearing is set up by the juvenile
court and the juvenile has a first hearing similar to the first hearing conducted on the original petition. In other
words, the juvenile will be advised of his or her rights, possible consequences and possible pleas.
SYSTEM POINT: MODIFICATION/REVOCATION OF PROBATION PARTY RESPONSIBLE: Juvenile Court Judge
STATUTE REFERENCE: NRS § 43-286(4)(b)(v)
Decision: Whether to modify or revoke probation.
Formal Determining Factors
a. NRS § 43-286. When it is alleged that
the juvenile has exhausted all levels of
probation supervision and options for
community-based services and section
43-251.01 has been satisfied, a motion
for commitment to a youth
rehabilitation and treatment center may
be filed and proceedings held as
Informal Determining Factors
a. Recommendations by probation office
b. Recommendations by counsel
c. Recommendations by other
professionals d. The court usually modifies probation with
additional terms and conditions rather than revoke
or unsatisfactorily discharge the Order of Probation
depending on age and services available.
44
follows: (a) The motion shall set forth
specific factual allegations that support
the motion and a copy of such motion
shall be served on all persons required
to be served by section 43-262 to 43-
267; and (b) The juvenile shall be
entitled to a hearing before the court to
determine the validity of the
allegations. At such hearing the burden
is upon the state by a preponderance of
the evidence to show that: (I) All levels
of probation supervision have been
exhausted.
Notes:
Once a juvenile has been found in violation of the probation order, then the juvenile court has a limited amount of
options. The critical question is whether the juvenile is a good candidate to remain on some form of probation.
Often, the juvenile court will order a letter report from the Probation Office in order to obtain recommendations.
In addition, letters of recommendation from professionals (counselors, social workers, school officials) working
with the juvenile will be obtained. During the disposition hearing, counsel of record will make recommendations
to the court. If the juvenile court is under the belief that the juvenile is still making progress and making amends
for the probation violation, then the court is more than likely going to keep the juvenile on some form of
probation. That order can include an extension on probation. The probation order can be modified to include an
additional condition such as counseling. There are also times where a probation order can be made more
restrictive by either tightening the curfew conditions or implementing an order of intensive supervised probation.
In the event that probation is revoked by the court, the juvenile court can either terminate the probation or
institute a new order such as commitment to a Youth Treatment Center.
SYSTEM POINT: SETTING ASIDE ADJUDICATION/DISCHARGE PARTY RESPONSIBLE: Juvenile Court Judge
STATUTE REFERENCE: NRS § 43-2,104
Decision: Whether juvenile has satisfactorily completed his or her probation and supervision or the treatment
program of his or her commitment.
Formal Determining Factors
a. Juvenile’s post adjudication behavior
and response to treatment and
rehabilitation programs
b. Whether setting aside adjudication will
depreciate seriousness of juvenile’s
conduct or promote disrespect for law
c. Whether failure to set aside
adjudication may result in disabilities
disproportionate to the conduct upon
which the adjudication was based.
Informal Determining Factors
Notes:
This decision is based on how the juvenile has progressed. The Judge will set a specific time period for probation.
The probation officer can request early termination if the juvenile has improved in the areas indicated above. If
the juvenile’s environment was positive during probation there is a better chance they will stay out of trouble.
The juvenile’s character will be a big indicator as to whether they have progressed or not. The goal is for them to
45
successfully complete probation and make better decisions after probation.
Decision: Whether juvenile should be discharged from the custody and supervision of OJS
Formal Determining Factors
a. Presumably same as those for probation
under NRS § 43-2, 103
Informal Determining Factors
46
Appendix B:
Memorandums of Understanding
47
Appendix C:
County Board of Commissioners Approval
