We heard from Jim Blue, Chief Executive Director of Cedars on August 9, 2024..
Jim started by sharing the Cedars was started by community members and continues to be community minded and appreciate the community support. He thanked us for our recent donations of hygiene products for their teens.
He told us that Cedars was started in 1947 by Reverend Charles and Alberta Danner. They noticed a young Native American boy who did not have a home. The invited him into their home for a meal and kept caring for him. They reached out to the authorities asking to help them find and shelter children living in chaotic, unstable family situations.
Cedars is one of the largest child-caring organizations in Nebraska. The actual mission statement for Cedars is long but the opening sentence says it: "Cedars mission is to help children achieve safety, stability and enduring family relationships."Jim explained that they measure successful graduation out of Cedars if they are able to find a safe, stable place to live and have made good relationships or with families.
He talked about the programs at Cedars - how they work and who they serve.
For those kids who are unable to live at home due to abuse, neglect, homelessness, running away or family crises, Cedars provides safe places to stay. This offers structure and support while working to facilitate a successful transition to a more permanent living situation.
Their living facilities are not like orphanages as we have known in the past. They housed about 400 kids overnight but there are only 20 in a group environment. The Pioneer Center is the only congregate living program. It acts as an emergency shelter for teenagers that have no other place to stay the night. Sometimes they are brought to them by the police who know that their jail cells are not the best people to house kids just because they have nowhere to go.
Jim shared his passion about working with teenagers. He said he has never met a teenager in the facility that he was afraid of - that most can be helped if we just take time to listen and communicate with them. He shared that teenagers remember what it is like to have family around - even if it was not the best environment. So giving them the opportunity to build relationships is really important to their success.
There are about 260 kids in the foster care system. Jim shared that, though they are trying to help the kids, their priority is on the parents. They provide services to the families. They help kids move from a bad living situation to stability while working to either return home safely or find permanency in the form of adoption, guardianship or independent living. Jim proudly announced that, when surveying the parents and families using these services, 92% of them are, not only satisfied, but "highly" satisfied.
Cedars has rented a number of apartments for the older teenagers who are ready for independent living. Most of those transition to a point where they can take over the lease or move to their own apartment.For slightly younger teens, they have transitional housing. It is an environment to help them learn life skills, how to cook and clean, it is a shared living space so they are also working on building healthy relationships.
They have a program for preventative services. Nobody wants a child to be removed form their home. Cedars works with about 200 clients in their homes working to strengthen the family system. Hopefully there will not be a need to remove the child from the home. Nearly 98% of parents want to be good parents - but they lack the skills to overcome issues such as low income.
Cedars had the first, and only, licensed early childhood center in census tract 4 in Lincoln - located at 27th & Holdrege. The program is nationally accredited. They also support after school programs at schools in area or low income families - currently at Clinton, Hartley and Randolph Elementary.
BIO
Since 1991 Jim Blue, has served as the Chief Executive Officer of the CEDARS organization, founded in Lincoln by caring community members who saw the tremendous needs that children and their families face every day. CEDARS mission is to help children and youth achieve safety, stability and enduring family relationships.
Jim holds an undergraduate degree in Criminal Justice from the University of Nebraska at Lincoln and a Master’s Degree in Social Work from the University of Nebraska at Omaha.
Four nearly 40 years Jim has been married to Susanne Blue, who served as Executive Director of Matt Talbot Kitchen and Outreach and is extensively involved in community development activities. Together, they have two adult children. Understanding that pursuing balance in life is vital, Jim enjoys cycling the beautiful country roads and trails of Nebraska.