The webinar will highlight the Bridge to Independence program and discuss the new changes to the law (LB 50, 2023) that expanded the program to include certain youth with probation experience.
Click here to download the slide presentations.
Sarah Helvey is a Staff Attorney and Director of the Child Welfare Program at
Nebraska Appleseed. Since joining Appleseed in 2006, Sarah has authored or co-authored several amicus briefs before the Nebraska Supreme Court in cases addressing the Indian Child Welfare Act, sibling placement, and the authority of juvenile courts in Nebraska. She has also litigated several precedent-setting cases related to Medicaid access on behalf of children and youth in foster care and with behavioral health needs. In partnership with Project Everlast, Sarah has had the great honor of working with young people with foster care experience to improve the system for older youth, including advocating for the passage of state legislation in 2013 to extend foster care services and support to age 21 through the Bridge to Independence (B2I) program and in 2023 to expand the program to young people with juvenile justice experience. She is a member of the Nebraska Supreme Court Commission on Children in the Courts and the B2I Advisory Committee under the Nebraska Children’s Commission. Sarah received her undergraduate degree, magna cum laude, from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and her master’s degree and law degree, cum laude, from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She previously practiced juvenile and family law at Community Justice Inc. in Madison, Wisconsin.
Lindsay Meyer is the Juvenile Justice Reform Specialist within the Administrative Office of the Courts and Probation (AOCP) Juvenile Services Division. Lindsay obtained a Bachelor's Degree in Social Work from Nebraska Wesleyan University. She began her work in this field as a high-risk juvenile probation officer in District 3J in Nebraska working with a wide variety of youth who presented with significant risk, needs, and responsivity struggles. Lindsay joined the Administrative Office in July, 2021 and in her current role she oversees implementation of enhancements to the juvenile justice system guided by best practice research and recommendations made through the Probation System Review conducted in 2021 and 2022 by the Robert F. Kennedy National Resource Center for Juvenile Justice. Lindsay's passion is seeing the potential in all justice involved youth and supporting our justice system workforce.
Deanna Brakhage is a program specialist for the Bridge to Independence Program. She has been with DHHS for 33 years, focusing on child welfare. She has worked in all areas of child welfare, including initial assessment, ongoing, permanency, ICPC, and Bridge to Independence.
Terrence Williams, Children and Family Services Supervisor with the Bridge to Independence Program (B2i) has been in this role since 2016. Our team covers three of the five service areas within Nebraska. The Southeastern, Central, and Western Service areas. Terrence began this role in 2016. Previously, he provided case management services for ongoing juvenile court cases through KVC in 2012 then transitioned to DHHS. Through 2012 to 2015, he worked as a Children and Family Services Specialist in the Lincoln area, completing initial assessment investigations as well as ongoing case management for ongoing juvenile court cases within the Child Welfare system of NE. Terrence has been an advocate for young adults and case managers through various legislative subcommittees who report to the B2i Advisory Committee since 2016. He has been involved in collaborations of Connected Youth Initiatives as they developed in areas of Nebraska. Terrence has presented on B2i to the Nebraska Children’s Summit, internally to DHHS/CFS team members, and with various community stake holders and legal parties involved within the Child Welfare system across NE since taking on this current role in 2016. Terrence received his undergraduate degrees in psychology and Spanish from Nebraska Wesleyan University.
Kathy Anstine has been a Supervisor for the Bridge to Independence Program since 2016. Kathy has 6 Independence Coordinators in her group that cover the Eastern and Northern Service Areas of Nebraska. Kathy has been employed with the Department of Health and Human Services for 37 years. During that time she has worked on the Child Abuse and Neglect Hotline, monitored statewide contracts, and was a part of the quality assurance Team. Kathy started out her career with DHHS as an on-going worker with older youth in Independent Living and her returning to work with the older youth population in B2i shows her true passion lies with helping young people become successful.