University of Nebraska Public Policy Center


November 7, 2009NU | UNL | UNMC | UNO | UNK | IANR 

News and Events

Nebraska DHHS Awarded Grant Money for Suicide Prevention

The Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services was notified last week it will receive $500,000 per year for 3 years to implement best practices to prevent youth suicide. The grant is from the federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) within the US Department of Health and Human Services. The Department of Health and Human Services will work with the University of Nebraska Public Policy Center and Interchurch Ministries of Nebraska to carry out grant activities and evaluate project progress.

To view the full article, click here.

For more information, go to the Nebraska Suicide Prevention Project page

Student Opportunities

The Public Policy Center provides an exciting setting for students interested in public policy and research. About half of our staff are graduate or undergraduate students at the University and come to us from a variety of departments such as: psychology, political science, economics, sociology, international studies and pre-law. Students are given tasks that range from basic office functions to producing work that will be included in final reports and require a high level of responsibility and skill.

Students have been involved in almost every project at the Center. Undergraduate involvement might include mailing surveys and entering received responses, conducting and transcribing phone interviews to be analyzed, as well as helping with literature reviews and basic project research. Graduate students have gone with project directors to present research at conferences, assist with grant writing, help with general project management, arrange and attend meetings with stakeholders, as well as survey design and statistical analysis.

Former PPC students have gone on to do great things across the nation. A few examples include:

  • Psychometrician at American Dental Association in Chicago, IL helping to develop and score tests designated for dental professional licensure.
  • Assistant Professor of Criminal Justice and Social Psychology at the University of Nevada, Reno
  • Senior Manager, Community Investment Department, United Way in Connecticut

If you are interested in becoming an Undergraduate Research Assistant please contact Cyndi Woollam at cwoollam@nebraska.edu or 472-5678, or, if you are interested in becoming a Graduate Research Assistant please contact Jenn Klein at jklein2@nebraska.edu or 472-0194.