Prerequisite: First go to https://dhhs.ne.gov/Pages/Safety-Organized-Practice.aspx and participate in the SOP Interactive Learning. This self-paced training teaches participants about the basic terms of SOP. If you have time check out the additional resources also available on this page.

Next, join us on November 5th  for a live SOP discussion panel via WebEx.

Safety Organized Practice (SOP) is a collaborative approach that emphasizes the importance of teamwork in child welfare. SOP aims to build and strengthen partnerships between the child welfare agency and family, including the family’s informal support network of friends and family members. SOP uses strategies and techniques that align with the belief that a child and his or her family are the central focus, and the partnership exists in an effort to find solutions that ensure safety, permanency, and wellbeing for children. This method combines practices from solution-focused techniques, Signs of Safety, trauma-informed practice, Structured Decision Making™​(SDM), and cultural humility.

The implementation of SOP has been a targeted effort for Children and Family Services since 2019. As of October 1, 2021 Children and Family Services will require the use of SOP practices as a part of daily case management.

The Court Improvement Project and Children and Family Services are partnering to bring SOP education to the court, legal parties and other child welfare stakeholders.

SOP Benchcard (PDF)

Panelists:

Katie Harvey is a Foster Care Administrator. Katie has worked in Child Welfare for 9 years, starting as a case manager. She was promoted to Child and Family Services Supervisor before becoming the Statewide Foster Care Administrator for DHHS. She has been actively involved in the implementation of SOP since it began in 2018.

Courtney Armstrong is a Child and Family Services Specialist Supervisor. Courtney is the Safety Organized Practice Champion for the Western Service Area and a member her local service area and statewide SOP Implementation Teams. She fully became trained in SOP in 2019 as a learner and as a trainer and has trained both DHHS and Saint Francis Ministry staff.

CJ Roberts is a Children and Family Services Attorney for the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services and is based out of Lancaster County. CJ provides legal counsel and representation to CFS in court.  During his time at DHHS CJ has also represented the Division of Public Health, the Division of Developmental Disabilities, and served as a hearing officer.  Prior to employment with DHHS, CJ was a deputy public defender in Adams County. 

Jeri James is a Children and Family Services attorney for the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services. Jeri covers abuse/neglect cases in Sarpy, Cass, and Otoe counties.  Jeri also provides legal support for the Bridge to Independence program.  Jeri’s prior employment included eight years as Deputy Dodge County Attorney.  

Kirsten Perry is a Program Training Specialist with Saint Francis Ministries. Kirsten has been working in Child Welfare for 10 years, working in both ongoing case management and training. Kirsten currently works with new case managers going through training and trains Safety Organized Practice for all staff.

Ashlin Kava is a Child and Family Services Specialist Lead Worker, but for the last five years was an assessment worker. She is a strong advocate of Safety Organized Practice use in daily practice and assists other Child and Family Services Specialist undertaking this task. Ashlin finds strengths in SOP’s focus on safety and inclusion of child's voice.

Stephanie Vensky is a Children and Family Services Specialist Supervisor. Stephanie has been working for Child and Family Services for 5.5 years working as an ongoing manager before becoming a supervisor. She was an early adopter and trainer of SOP, training primarily South East Service Area CFS staff.