Mental Health Association of Nebraska
Mental Health Association of Nebraska

Resources and Issues

NEW Division of Behavioral Health Website

Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services System has rebuild their website to make it more user friendly. However, in doing so, they also have new web addresses. Use the links below to access these new pages.

For more information on the Division of Behavioral Health, its duties and responsibilities, staff, and other information please contact:

Division of Behavioral Health Services
Nebraska Department of Health & Human Services
P.O. Box 98925
Lincoln NE 68509-8925
Phone: (402) 471-7818

Regional Consumer Specialists Hired

With funding provided by the Nebraska Division of Behavioral Health Services, each of the six Behavioral Health Regional Offices have, or in the case of Region 4 are, hiring a Consumer Specialist to help engage, coordinate and collect information from consumers, with the hope that the state will then receive current and accurate information on the concerns, needs and suggestions on behavioral health policy and service development.

According to the Nebraska 2007 Mental Health Block Grant application filed last August, consumers and their families were to "drive the development of the job descriptions within each region [and that] consumer input at the regional level will hopefully make the regional work most relevant to local need." In order to ensure that Nebraska provides the highest quality of services possible, LB 1083 stated that "consumer involvement [is] a priority in all aspects of service planning and delivery."

MHA-NE will work with the Consumer Specialists in each region to ensure that each Specialist seek out and encourage the active participation of consumers and their families in "all aspects of services design, planning, implementation, provision, education, evaluation, and research." (§ 71-814 NE Revised Statutes)

If you have questions about these new positions or have suggestions or concerns that you would like addressed, please contact the Consumer Specialist in your region:

Region 1
Judith Moorehouse
Panhandle Mental Health
4110 Avenue D
Scottsbluff, NE 60361
Phone: 308-635-3171

Region 2
Corey Brockway
Nancy Rippen
Heartland Counseling
1012 West 3rd
McCook, NE 69001
Phone: 308-345-2770

Region 3
Tammy Fiala
Region 3 Behavioral Health Office
4009 6th Ave, Suite 65
PO Box 2555
Kearney, NE 68848
Phone: 308-237-5113, Ext. 235

Region 4
Lisa Sullivan
Region 4 Behavioral Health Office
206 Monroe Avenue
Norfolk, NE 68701
Phone: 402-370-3100

Region 5
Virginia (Ginny) Wright
Region V Systems
1645 ‘N' Street, Suite A
Lincoln, NE 68508
Phone: 402-441-4361

Region 6
Ken Timmerman
Region 6 Behavioral Health Office
3801 Harney Street
Omaha, NE 68131
Phone: 402-996-8131

Nursing Home Quality: A State-by-State Report

Consumer Reports. The Consumer Reports Nursing Home Quality Monitor provides state-by-state breakdown of nursing homes that are likely to provide better-quality care and those that provide poorer-quality care. The Quality Monitor looks at deficiencies cited in each nursing home's 3 most recent state inspection surveys; staffing levels for RNs, LPNs, and nurse's aides; and certain quality indicators required by the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). The indicators that must be reported to CMS are the following:

• The proportion of residents who are at high risk for pressure ulcers and who have a pressure ulcer;
• The proportion of residents who spend most of their time in bed;
• The proportion of residents who experienced a decline in their ability to move about independently;
• The proportion of residents who were at low risk for incontinence but became incontinent; and
• The proportion of residents who declined in activities of daily living.

The Quality Monitor lists the top 10% and worst performing 10% of nursing homes for each state based on weighted scores of these criteria. In general, the Consumer Report investigation found that good care is more likely to be provided by not-for-profit nursing homes and independently run homes, rather than for-profits and chains.

Affordable Housing Report Now Available

Out of Reach is a side-by-side comparison of wages and rents in every county, Metropolitan Area (MSAs/HMFAs), combined nonmetropolitan area and state in the United States.

In Nebraska, the Fair Market Rent (FMR) for a two-bedroom apartment is $609 . In order to afford this level of rent and utilities, without paying more than 30% of income on housing, a household must earn $2,029 monthly or $24,346 annually. Assuming a 40-hour work week, 52 weeks per year, this level of income translates into a Housing Wage of $11.71.

In Nebraska, a minimum wage worker earns an hourly wage of $5.15. In order to afford the FMR for a two-bedroom apartment, a minimum wage earner must work 91 hours per week, 52 weeks per year. Or, a household must include 2.3 minimum wage earner(s) working 40 hours per week year-round in order to make the two bedroom FMR affordable.

In Nebraska, the estimated mean (average) wage for a renter is $9.79 an hour. In order to afford the FMR for a two-bedroom apartment at this wage, a renter must work 48 hours per week, 52 weeks per year. Or, working 40 hours per week year-round, a household must include 1.2 worker(s) earning the mean renter wage in order to make the two-bedroom FMR affordable.

For more information on Out of Reach, and find more data on Nebraska housing and housing across the country, click on the link below.

For Lancaster County (NE) Residents: Free Prescription Drug Discount Card

Lancaster county residents are elligible for a discount prescription drug card that can save up to 20% on prescription medications. This program is designed for individuals and families that are either uninsured or under-insured. No income or age reguirements and no enrollement fees.

For more information call: 402-441-7447

National Network of Libraries of Medicine

National Networks of Libraries of Medicine (NN/LM) provides the Consumer Health Information system for Nebraska health professionals and consumers. Site includes a link to the Consumer Health Information Resource Service (CHIRS). Sponsored by the McGoogan Library of Medicine at the University of Nebraska Medical Center, the Nebraska Library Commission, and more than 70 public and academic libraries in Nebraska.

"Need information to guide decisions about your health or the health of a family member or friend? The McGoogan Library of Medicine provides such information to Nebraska residents free of charge."

Behavioral Health Reform List Serves Now Available

Stay up to date on behavioral health reform in Nebraska. These 2 list serves target both public and providers. Sign up is easy.

"These electronic discussion groups were designed to facilitate communication and coordinate in the Nebraska's behavioral health reform movement. Through these two list serves you will receive useful national, state and local information and have the opportunity to collaborate with behavioral health leaders and community organizations throughout the state. Participants will be able to discuss behavioral health programs, share ideas, explore potential solutions and submit inquiries or comments to the group and to reply to others' messages via email."

Your comments/suggestions are welcome and needed!

Resources & Issues pages are published and updated on an ongoing basis. If you know of an item of interest that relates to behavioral health, please contact us at (402) 441-4371 or by filling out the feed back form.

Thanks!