Raising kids can be hard, but finding help doesn’t have to be.
Click the links below to learn more about two Nebraska services for families with children experiencing behavioral health challenges.

Family Navigator/Family Peer Support Services
http://youtu.be/-TALO5_hbpM

Nebraska Family Helpline
http://youtu.be/NYDVcvc5RCQ

Nebraska Family Helpline - 1-888-866-8660
This new service is available 24/7/365, providing assistance to families with a youth experiencing behavioral health challenges.  Some families may be referred on to receive further assistance from a Family Navigator.  These new services were authorized in 2009 by the Children and Family Behavioral Health Support Act of LB603.

In 2009, The Children and Family Behavioral Health Support Act provided funding for three new services and the evaluation of such services. A contract was awarded to Hornby Zeller Associates, Inc. for the Evaluation Services of those three new services.

• The Nebraska Family Helpline and Family Navigator Services.  NE Helpline & Navigator Annual Report - Fiscal Year 2011

• Family Navigator and Post Adoption/Post Guardianship Services - Right Turn.

Materials for Parents: ​ 

• Family Guide to Systems of Care for Children with Mental Health Needs

Nebraska has made great efforts in the past years to improve services to children and families. These successes include new plans at both the service and system levels. The Division of Behavioral Health funds outpatient treatment. It also continues to fund and expand middle intensity services including day treatment, respite care and school-based wraparound.

The Department also funds wraparound for children with serious emotional problems and their families through the Professional Partner Program. The purpose of the Program is to improve the lives of Nebraska’s children with serious emotional disturbances and their families. This would be done by preventing expensive out-of-home placements, reducing juvenile crime, increasing school performance and attendance, and preventing children from becoming state wards just to get services.

Family Networks
Another component of the service array system in the community is the family support organizations in each of the six behavioral health regions. Two offices offered a proposal to solicit bids for a new support activity called "Families Mentoring & Supporting Other Families," a joint initiative to request proposals from qualified sources to provide:

• Strength-based, family centered, and partnership oriented supports to:

  • Parents whose children are diagnosed with a serious emotional disturbance and substance dependence disorders.

  • Parents across the State of Nebraska whose children have been made state wards, or are in a voluntary case, or

  • Parent who are involved with the department as a result of a report of abuse/neglect, or

• The intent is to ensure that parents have a voice, ownership and access to the systems of care for their child (i.e. case plans, individual educational plans, treatment plans and any other care plan).

The Department sought organizations interested in working with the State to build support services to families that will focus on giving parents an understanding of wraparound services through peer role modeling and coaching. The philosophy of wraparound includes individualized services that are developed through professionals and parents in partnership where both are serving important roles in service delivery. Services are tailored to meet the individualized needs of the child and family and based upon strength-based assessments.

Early Childhood Mental Health A Governor’s Symposium on Early Childhood Mental Health was held in May 2001. At this two day meeting, family members, providers and policy makers laid out the challenge for a comprehensive, integrated and coordinated system of care to meet the mental health needs of our youngest children. The Early Child Mental Health Work Group has been developing an action plan to develop a system that is child focused and family centered, culturally responsive, community based and committed to continuous improvement.

For more information contact:
Susan Adams
Network Operations Team Manager
Division of Behavioral Health
PO Box 95026
Lincoln NE 68509-5026
Phone: (402) 471-7820

Arc of Nebraska
The Arc of Nebraska advocates for the rights and full participation of all children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Together with their network of members and affiliated chapters, they improve systems of supports and services; connect families; inspire communities and influence public policy. For more information, see https://www.arc-nebraska.org/

​CEDARS Youth Services
CEDARS' mission is to help children achieve safety, stability, and enduring family relationships. For a list of the services CEDARS provides, please see https://www.cedars-kids.org/​.

CenterPointe
Grounded by the solid belief that every person has the ability to recover, CenterPointe makes pivotal treatment available for people suffering from mental health and substance use disorders. Meeting people where they are and supporting them to gain control of their lives is what CenterPointe aims to do. By treating the whole person, mental health and addiction can be addressed together in real-time. CenterPointe offers a full continuum of care - treatment, rehabilitation, and housing - for homeless and low-income individuals. For more information on CenterPointe, see http://www.centerpointe.org/.

Community Action
Community Action of Nebraska (CAN) is the state association for Nebraska’s nine Community Action Agencies and provides a voice for those Agencies and the people they serve. Community Action of Nebraska’s mission is to alleviate poverty by enhancing program development, providing technical assistance, and advocating public policy to support all Community Action Agencies in Nebraska. Community Action Agencies in Nebraska provide services and programs designed to meet the local needs of the communities they serve. For more information and a list of services offered, please see https://canhelp.org/who-we-are/.

Heartland Family Service
The mission of Heartland Family Service is to strengthen individuals and families in our community through education, counseling, and support services. Founded in 1875, Heartland Family Service serves more than 35,000 individuals of all ages each year from more than 15 locations in east central Nebraska and southwest Iowa. Our 50 programs provide critical human services to the individuals and families who ultimately shape the future of our community in the following focus areas: Child & Family, Counseling & Prevention, and Housing & Financial Stability. More information can be found at http://heartlandfamilyservice.org/.

League of Human Dignity
The League of Human Dignity is concerned with the rights and quality of life of people with disabilities. They believe in emphasizing likeness not difference, ability not disability, normality not abnormality, and integration not segregation. The League of Human Dignity works with people who have disabilities to promote independent living and ensure social, economic, and political equality. Please see http://leagueofhumandignity.com/#2 for more information.

Nebraska Children's Home Society
Nebraska Children’s Home Society is focused on educating children and families, facilitating adoption, supporting foster parents and children, and walking beside families through every need and stage. For more information, please see https://www.nchs.org/.

Youth Care and Beyond
Youth Care and Beyond supports children, individuals and families in the Omaha community. They specialize services to include individuals who have suffered trauma, have learning or intellectual disabilities or developmental disabilities. Youth Care and Beyond offers specific programs (and residential services if needed) for teens 9-19 and their families in the juvenile justice – child welfare system. They provide in home assistance (and apartment style living services if needed) for children and adults with Autism, Asperger's, Down Syndrome and other developmental disabilities. For further information, see https://www.youthcareandbeyond.org/.

To find additional service providers, see www.communityplatform.us/communityplatform/nam/map.

Mediation is the attempt to help parties in a disagreement to hear one another, to minimize the harm that can come from disagreement, to maximize any area of agreement, and to find a way of preventing the areas of disagreement from interfering with the process of seeking a compromise or mutually agreed outcome. While a mediator may charge a fee comparable to that of an attorney, the mediation process generally takes much less time than moving a case through standard legal channels. While a case in the hands of a lawyer or a court may take months or years to resolve, mediation usually achieves a resolution in a matter of hours. Taking less time means expending less money on hourly fees and costs.

Click here for a list of Office of Dispute Resolution Approved Mediation Centers

A guardian may need a lawyer to provide legal advice or to advocate on behalf of the ward. Individuals who are financially eligible can receive legal services through legal aid or legal services programs. In addition, under the Older Americans Act, there are special programs of legal assistance for older people who are “in the greatest social and economic need.” For those not eligible for such legal programs, there are private lawyers who focus on assisting elders or individuals with disabilities. 

Nebraska Legal Aid Services
http://www.legalaidofnebraska.org/ 
Legal Aid of Nebraska
209 S. 19th Street, Suite 200
Omaha, Nebraska 68102 
Phone: 402-348-1069
Legal Assistance: (877) 250-2016
Senior Help Line: (800) 662-1772

Nebraska Bar Association
www.nebar.com 
Customer service (800) 927-0117

Nebraska Free Legal Answers (NFLA)
NE.freelegalanswers.org 
​How NFLA works: To determine user eligibility, visit the above website and answer the series of screening questions. Qualified users must be Nebraska residents, 18 years of age or older, meet income eligibility requirements, and cannot be in jail or prison. 

AARP Pharmacy Services
Provides information on discounted drugs and services for AARP members. Site includes information and applications for MembeRx Choice discount program and Prescription Savings Service, which save an average 19 percent on most pharmacy drugs.

Advanced Diabetes Supply
Provides diabetes testing supplies nationwide, along with help, guidance and resources for clients. Offers home delivery anywhere in the country.

BenefitsCheckUp.org
Fill out online questionnaires in minutes to find programs for people age 55 and older that may pay some costs of prescription drugs, health care, utilities and more.

Directory of Prescription Drug Patient Assistance Programs
Maintains a searchable database of dozens of pharmaceutical companies’ patient assistance programs. Search by Member Company, program name, drug name, or drug and program.

DoctorSolve.com
Licensed Canadian pharmacists fill prescriptions written by U.S. physicians. Costs substantially less than U.S. pharmacies.

Drug Assistant
A software system used by hospitals, clinics and patient advocates to access discount medications for their indigent patients.

DrugAlert.org
A comprehensive database that provides information, news alerts, drug recalls, side effects, and pending litigation associated with various drugs and their manufacturers about potentially dangerous drugs currently on the market or previously available worldwide.

Drugstore.com
Offers prescription drugs at up to 30 percent savings on medicines not covered by your insurance.

DrugWatch.com
A comprehensive resource featuring information on various medications, including prescription and over-the-counter drugs, and those currently available or previously distributed worldwide. Site is not affiliated with any pharmaceutical companies or drug manufacturers.

IndiCare
Automated, online tool for physicians and healthcare providers to obtain free prescription drugs for indigent patients.

Liberty Medical
The nation's leading direct-to-consumer Medicare provider of diabetes testing supplies and diabetes management products. Also provides direct-to-home delivery of liquid respiratory medications and supplies and other prescription medications.

LillyAnswers
Low-income Medicare enrollees pay $12 for a 30-day supply of any Eli Lilly prescription drug dispensed at a pharmacy, including Evista, Humulin, Humalog, Prozac, Sarafem and Zyprexa. Save an average of $600 a year per medication for chronic conditions.

MedData Services Prescription Assistance Program
Program provides doctors and patients with information needed to apply for free medications.

Medicare: Prescription Drug Assistance Programs
Offers information on public and private programs that provide discounted or free medication, as well as Medicare health plans that include prescription coverage. Search for information by geographic area.

Medicine Program
A volunteer organization dedicated to helping people find patient assistance programs.

National Association of Counties (NACo) Rx Program
A free Prescription Discount Program. This program will save you an average of 24% off the retail price of prescription medications and can be used at 68,000 pharmacies nationwide. Visit the website to enroll or call 1-877-321-2651

Needymeds.com
Provides information about patient assistance programs, searchable by particular drugs or by individual programs. Also offers Pharmaceutical Discount Card Comparison, applications to some programs, and more.

Partnership for Prescription Assistance
Brings together the nation's pharmaceutical companies, doctors, other health care providers, patient advocacy organizations and community groups to help qualifying patients who lack prescription coverage get the medicines they need through the public or private program that's right for them. PAP offers a single point of access to more than 275 public and private patient assistance programs, including more than 150 programs offered by pharmaceutical companies.

Pfizer Helpful Answers
A comprehensive savings program for people without prescription drug coverage. Can help you find a prescription savings program that is right for you.

PharmacyChecker
Compares prescription drug prices for more than 1,000 medications. Also provides pharmacy ratings and shipping fees so you can compare total costs.

Planet Drugs Direct
Fully accredited Canadian pharmacy and international pharmacies fill prescriptions and provide other medications at substantial discounts.

RxHope.com
Helps physicians and patient advocates obtain, apply for or track requests for no-cost medications for patients who are unable to afford them and do not have access to prescription insurance or government-funded programs. Consumers can find information about prescription assistance programs, drugs, and pharmaceutical companies’ products and services.

Together Rx.com
Eligible Medicare enrollees can have free memberships to this prescription savings program, which provides up to 40 percent savings on more than 150 medicines, including Augmentin, Avandia, Beconase, Coumadin, Diovan, Flexeril, Flonase, Glucophage, Glucovance, Haldol, Imitrex, Lescol, Nexium, Prilosec, Relafen, Retrovir, Serevent, Zofran and Zomig.

Universal Drugstore
Pharmacy is located in central Canada and is regulated closely by Health Canada and provincial pharmacy regulators. All partner pharmacies are duly licensed by a qualified government regulatory body where they operate. Prescriptions will only be filled in a reputable licensed facility.

We Care Medical Mall
Helps its customers obtain free medications. Program charges a one-time processing fee for each medication.

Wellpartner
A mail service pharmacy that provides WellpartnerPLUS discount prices that can save uninsured customers up to 20% or more on prescriptions. Wellpartner serves uninsured individual customers, members of health plans, nonprofit hospitals, federally qualified health centers, and other customers. The WellpartnerPLUS program is open to everyone in the U.S. without prescription drug coverage, regardless of age or income, and there are no annual or monthly fees or discount cards.

For more information on RX assistance, please visit: http://nebraska.networkofcare.org/aging/links/national.aspx?id=38

The following database lists more than 21,000 currently available products from more than 8,000 companies. The database also offers information on non-commercial prototypes, customized and one-of-a-kind products, and do-it-yourself designs. To find specific products for children or parents with disabilities, we recommend that you use the Advanced Search by Keyword below. Note: Many assistive devices are now covered by Medicaid or Medi-Cal. Please visit http://nebraska.networkofcare.org/aging/assistive/index.aspx for a list of devices.

Be My Eyes is a free app that connects blind and low-vision people with sighted volunteers and company representatives for visual assistance through a live video call.

The following website contains more than 30,000 articles, fact sheets and reports produced by leading organizations in the fields of healthy aging, caregiving, disabilities, Alzheimer’s and dementia, alternative treatments, Medicare, financial planning, and more. Visit the following website to view health topics by category, medications, medical tests, interactive tools, symptom checker, and many other resources. See http://nebraska.networkofcare.org/aging/library/index.aspx to access the library.

To search your area's comprehensive directory to find services related to aging, disabilities, caregiving, Alzheimer's, and more, please visit the following website: http://nebraska.networkofcare.org/aging/services/index.aspx.

For additional resources and services relating to disability services, visit http://www.networkofcare.org/splash.aspx. Select a Network of Care on the left, select your state, then your region determined by your county of residence.

The websites found on the Network of Care are resources for individuals, families and agencies concerned with various issues. They provide information about services, laws, and related news, as well as communication tools and other features. Regardless of where you begin your search for assistance with diverse issues, the Network of Care helps you find what you need – it helps ensure that there is "No Wrong Door" for those who need services.

Nebraska Resource and Referral System generates a list of resources based on location, age group, and provider.