Bill > LB217

This bill requires comprehensive suicide awareness and prevention training for child welfare workers and employees of child-placing agencies in Nebraska, mandating that the Department of Health and Human Services develop baseline curriculum and training materials in consultation with mental health and suicide prevention experts. The training will focus on identifying early warning signs of behavioral and mental health issues in youth within the child welfare system, and will include evidence-based practices for appropriate responses and trauma-informed care. All staff directly involved with children and families in the child welfare system will be required to complete annual training before interacting independently with youth and families, with the training to be integrated into existing department training programs. Additionally, the bill requires that suicide awareness and prevention training be included in initial licensure and renewal processes for foster care providers, and child-placing agencies must establish standardized training requirements for their employees that meet a baseline curriculum set by the department. The new training requirements will become operative on October 1, 2025, giving agencies time to develop and implement the necessary training programs.

Health and Social Services

https://nebraskalegislature.gov/bills/view_bill.php?DocumentID=59381