Voices for Children in Nebraska celebrated its 15th production
of the Kids Count in Nebraska report at a breakfast Tuesday morning at the Governor's Residence in Lincoln.

The report documents how children in Nebraska are faring in areas such as child abuse and neglect, early childhood care and education, economic well-being, education, health, juvenile justice, nutrition, and out-of-home care.

Kathy Bigsby Moore, Executive Director, relates the importance of being able to produce the Kids Count Report for fifteen consecutive years.

"This fifteen year edition retains the best of the data we have been able to capture consistently through the years and clearly demonstrates the importance of an annual monitoring effort on behalf of
children.

By capturing and reporting this information for fifteen years, we are letting children know that someone is watching out for them and believes their needs are important enough to be prioritized."

This particular report also highlights the importance of the Kids Count in Nebraska for child advocates, legislators and child serving agencies around the state.

Additionally, the report provides new tips for advocates, information about a new online data system, and trend data for several indicators.

"It is our hope and intent that through data trending and the online data system, our Kids Count data will be more accessible for all who seek to be a voice for children.

Anyone with concern for children and children's issues, empowered with the right information, can be an effective advocate for children in their family, workplace, community and in our state," said Annemarie Bailey Fowler, Research and Opportunity@Work Coordinator.

Recent data from the Kids Count in Nebraska 2007 Report include:

Child Care Subsidies were utilized for 31,307 children, an increase of 4 percent over 2005.

The Child Care Assistance Program was created to ensure that low-income parents who work, go to school, or both are able to provide quality care to their children.

The Nebraska Legislature created the state Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) in 2006, which provided a tax credit equaling 8% of the federal EITC to hard-working Nebraska parents.

In 2006, a total of $15,563,409.00 was refunded. Research has shown that families are most likely to spend EITC dollars on bills or to pay off loans, establish savings accounts, build assets, improve their means of transportation or purchase goods in the local economy.

Nearly 30 percent -- 129,062 -- of Nebraska's children were provided health coverage via Kids Connection (Medicaid and the State Children's Health Insurance Program) in 2006.

Kids Connection successfully ensures that children receive necessary and preventative health care.

In 2006, a total of 10,972 children were in out-of-home care at some point - this is an increase of 175 children over 2005.

Of those in care, a total of 456 adoptions were completed - this is a 79 percent increase in state ward adoptions from the previous year.

Over 16,000 youth were arrested in 2006 - an increase over the previous year.

Of those arrested, 717 were tried in adult court and 86 youth were processed through the adult correctional system and housed in adult prisons.

Kids Count in Nebraska is used as a resource across the state by government agencies, media outlets, education and child welfare organizations and concerned citizens.

Voices for Children in Nebraska has been active since 1987. It is a statewide, independent, nonprofit child advocacy organization committed to educating the public about the needs of
children and improving conditions where necessary, building a powerful and effective voice for all of Nebraska's children.

These goals are accomplished by working cooperatively with
community groups and individuals to analyze, research, and advocate.