Bridge to Independence Advisory Subcommittee

Pursuant to Neb. Rev. Stat. §43-4513, as amended by LB 905 (2026), the Bridge to Independence Advisory Committee was terminated on July 1, 2026, and its duties were transferred to the Nebraska Children's Commission. To maintain continuity, the Commission voted to formally establish the Bridge to Independence Advisory Subcommittee, successfully transferring the previous committee's structural framework, meeting schedules, and operational processes under the Commission's oversight. Originally created by LB 216 (2013), the advisory body met from July 2013 until its 2026 transition to guide the creation and ongoing improvement of the program, which provides voluntary services and support for youth who age out of foster care before attaining permanency. Following the program's implementation on October 1, 2014, the final period of operations for the statutory committee was led by Chair Richard Hasty (Plattsmouth Community School District), whose leadership continues to guide the subcommittee's ongoing recommendations regarding the Bridge to Independence Program, extended guardianship assistance, and extended adoption assistance.

The Subcommittee currently has three active workgroups: the Evaluation and Data Collection Workgroup, whose efforts on data and outcomes of the B2i program and participants; the Sustainability and Peer Connections Workgroup, whose focus is on the strengthing the engagement, connections, and support of the program; and the Special Populations Workgroup (formerly the Immigration Status Workgroup), focused on the program needs of participants from distinct or newly categorized entry populations.

Links to the Committee's past reports and recommendations can be found below with additional information available on our Reports page. Future reports will be released by the Nebraska Children's Commission.

The subcommittee continues to meet as needed. Notices of subcommittee meetings are published on the Nebraska Public Meeting Calendar. You can access current meeting documents here or past meeting documents may be found here. A current member listing is available below.

An application to become a member can be found here.