Sen. Machaela Cavanaugh

District 6

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Urgent Update: Youth Rehabilitation and Treatment Center – Geneva
September 20th, 2019

Dear Constituents,

On Thursday, August 15, I, along with five of my colleagues and several legislative staff, took a tour of the Lincoln Regional Center (LRC). It is part of the legislatures job to provide oversight of state agencies. As a member of the Health and Human Services Committee, it is my job to oversee the work of the Department of Health and Human Services. As a freshman Senator, the tour of LRC was my first foray into firsthand viewing and oversight of DHHS outside of committee work.

Yesterday, Nebraskans read the Lincoln Journal Star article about the Youth Rehabilitation and Treatment Center-Geneva (YRTC-G). The four senators who visited the YRTC-G have been in contact with the entire legislature and updated us on the situation. The conditions are as treacherous as initially reported in the Lincoln Journal Star. You can read a full account from the Inspector General’s office attached here.

Here is what I would like to communicate to my constituents (and all Nebraskans):

The deterioration of conditions at the YRTC-G happened in the past 9 months. This came to my attention Thursday. I take my role of oversight with the utmost seriousness. And now that I am aware of the situation, I guarantee that I will be vigilant in the rehabilitation of the YRTC-G. Children deserve our attention and care. Children in the care of the State should be well looked after and not subject to life threatening conditions.
If you have concerns about any Nebraska state agency, please contact my office immediately.

Child welfare is my top priority and I will spend everyday of my term working to ensure that Nebraska’s children are cared for.

Best,

Machaela

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