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All children in Nebraska should have primary health
care and public health services including adequate
levels of immunization to prevent disease and disability.
Equal access should exist for services ranging from
community-based to inpatient, family-oriented mental
health services for mental illness, drug and alcohol
abuse, and behavioral problems.
Lack of adequate health care can significantly impact
the quality of a child's life. Much progress has been
made in Nebraska to improve the health of our children
through the expansion of health coverage through Kids
Connection. However, there is still a long way to
go, as access to services remains a serious concern,
particularly in the areas of oral and behavioral health.
This problem is even more acute in rural areas of
Nebraska.
Nebraska continues to rank among the lowest
in the country in providing mental health and substance
abuse services. In the Juvenile Services Master Plan,
completed in 1999, it was discovered that 60-90% of
the 1,208 youth residing at the Youth Rehabilitation
and Treatment Centers at Geneva and Kearney have identified
behavioral health needs. Without proper funding of
behavioral health services, this problem will continue
to spiral out of control with little hope of helping
Nebraska's youth.
 Download:
Issue Brief: Health Care
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