OMAHA, Neb. (KMTV) — A state-wide program that's working to keep kids out of foster care is expanding in a major way thanks to a federal grant.
The program Bring Up Nebraska. The $2.7 million federal grant will increase the number of communities they can now impact all over the state.
Bring Up Nebraska hosted a press conference at Girls Inc. where they announced the expansion.
Nebraska First Lady Susanna Shore says reading levels are up and juvenile crime is down in areas where the program is already in place.
"Community based prevention is not new but what makes Bring Up Nebraska unique is that we're building on successes we've already had, we are coordinating strategies both local and state wide and federal so we all have the same goal and are moving towards the same end," she said.
The program currently serves 20 counties but with the grant money they will be able to serve more than 50 counties by 2020.