University of Nebraska Public Policy Center
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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

Public Participation

Although governments can sometimes feel like “them” rather than “us,” our democracy is founded on the ideal of citizen participation in shaping government and holding it accountable. The inscription “The salvation of the state is watchfulness in the citizen” is carved above an entrance of Nebraska’s state capitol building, and it serves as a beacon for public involvement in policymaking. Inundated with information, citizens can often feel overwhelmed or become apathetic about important policy issues. It can be difficult to involve the public in meaningful dialogue on policy matters. At the heart of nearly all the Public Policy Center’s activities is the belief that the public is an important stakeholder in policy decisions. The Public Policy Center enriches policy dialogue through deliberative discussions, information seminars and presentations, community conversations, and surveys. These dialogues and information sharing sessions often include policymakers and have resulted in changes in policy and a more informed and engaged public.

Public Participation Projects
Public Participation Publications

A Balance of Power. Beckman, Antona. (2008 Winter).

By The People: Immigration and Nebraska Report. (2007 November).

Citizen Deliberation on Education Policy, A. (2005 October).

Citizen Voices on Pandemic Flu Choices: A Report of the Public Engagement Pilot Project on Pandemic Influenza. (2005 December).

Community Conversation: Future of Lincoln, A. (2005 March).

Community Services Initiative Project Year Four Progress Report. (2004 October).

Community Services Implementation Project Year Three Progress Report. (2003 May).

Comprehensive Community Initiatives (CCI): A Comparison of Community Implementation Plans. Perkins, T. (2002 May).

Consumer Opinions on Genetically Modified Food: A Community Discussion. (2005 August).

Energy and the Future. University of Nebraska Public Policy Center. (January 2008).

Evaluation of a Deliberative Process
to Obtain Citizen Input for the Draft Strategic National Vaccine Plan. University of Nebraska Public Policy Center. (2009 June). PDF Files

Pandemic Influenza Vaccine Prioritization Public Engagement Evaluation. University of Nebraska Public Policy Center. (2008 February). PDF Files

Priority Lincoln: Background. (2008 March). PDF File

Priority Lincoln: Brief Report Final. (29 May 2008). PDF File

Priority Lincoln: Budgeting for Outcomes Final Report. (29 May 2008). PDF File

Public Engagement Project on Community Control Measures for Pandemic Influenza Final Report. The Keystone Center. (2007 May). PDF Files

Security and Prosperity: A Preliminary Report on the January 2004 By the People Citizen Deliberations. University of Nebraska Public Policy Center, Nebraska Educational Television, and University of Nebraska at Kearney. (2004 January). PDF File

Sharing Health Records Electronically: Background. Abdel-Monam, Tarik, Herian, Mitch. (2008 December 11).

Sharing Health Records Electronically: Final Report. Abdel-Monem, Tarik, Herian, Mitch. (2008 December 11).

BEHAVIORAL
HEALTH		 GOVERNMENT
SERVICES		 INFORMATION
TECHNOLOGY		 PUBLIC
PARTICIPATION		 WATER
RESOURCES