LINCOLN — The man who has been in charge of child welfare, public assistance, child support services and Nebraska’s two youth rehabilitation and treatment centers is resigning.
Gov. Pete Ricketts announced Friday that Matt Wallen will step down as director of the Department of Health and Human Services’ Division of Children and Family Services to take a job with United Way of the Midlands. Wallen’s last day will be Sept. 8.
He began working for HHS in December 2015 as chief of staff. He took over as the Children and Family Services director in August 2017.
During his tenure, the division inked a new contract for child welfare management in the Omaha area and reduced the number of children in out-of-home care. He maintained improvements in AccessNebraska, the state’s public benefits call center system, and worked to improve child care services.
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Meet the Nebraska state senators
Here are the 49 state senators of Nebraska's 106th Legislature. You can click here to find your state senator.
Nebraska has 49 state senators in the Legislature. Click through to find your state senator and others.
District 1: State Sen. Julie Slama
From: Peru
Party: Republican
District 2: State Sen. Robert Clements
From: Elmwood
Party: Republican
District 3: State Sen. Carol Blood
From: Bellevue
Party: Democratic
District 4: State Sen. Robert Hilkemann
From: Omaha
Party: Republican
District 5: State Sen. Mike McDonnell
From: Omaha
Party: Democratic
District 6: State Sen. Machaela Cavanaugh
From: Omaha
Party: Democratic
District 7: State Sen. Tony Vargas
From: Omaha
Party: Democratic
District 8: State Sen. Megan Hunt
From: Omaha
Party: Democratic
District 9: State Sen. Sara Howard
From: Omaha
Party: Democratic
District 10: State Sen. Wendy DeBoer
From: Bennington
Party: Democratic
District 11: State Sen. Ernie Chambers
From: Omaha
Party: Independent
District 12: State Sen. Steve Lathrop
From: Omaha
Party: Democratic
District 13: State Sen. Justin Wayne
From: Omaha
Party: Democratic
District 14: State Sen. John Arch
From: La Vista
Party: Republican
District 15: State Sen. Lynne Walz
From: Fremont
Party: Democratic
District 16: State Sen. Ben Hansen
From: Blair
Party: Republican
District 17: State Sen. Joni Albrecht
From: Thurston
Party: Republican
District 18: State Sen. Brett Lindstrom
From: Omaha
Party: Republican
District 19: State Sen. Jim Scheer
From: Norfolk
Party: Republican
District 20: State Sen. John McCollister
From: Omaha
Party: Republican
District 21: State Sen. Mike Hilgers
From: Lincoln
Party: Republican
District 22: State Sen. Mike Moser
From: Columbus
Party: Republican
District 23: State Sen. Bruce Bostelman
From: Brainard
Party: Republican
District 24: State Sen. Mark Kolterman
From: Seward
Party: Republican
District 25: State Sen. Suzanne Geist
From: Lincoln
Party: Republican
District 26: State Sen. Matt Hansen
From: Lincoln
Party: Democratic
District 27: State Sen. Anna Wishart
From: Lincoln
Party: Democratic
District 28: State Sen. Patty Pansing Brooks
From: Lincoln
Party: Democratic
District 29: State Sen. Kate Bolz
From: Lincoln
Party:Â Democratic
District 30: State Sen. Myron Dorn
From: Adams
Party: Republican
District 31: State Sen. Rick Kolowski
From: Omaha
Party: Democratic
District 32: State Sen. Tom Brandt
From: Plymouth
Party: Republican
District 33: State Sen. Steve Halloran
From: Hastings
Party: Republican
District 34: State Sen. Curt Friesen
From: Henderson
Party: Republican
District 35: State Sen. Dan Quick
From: Grand Island
Party: Democratic
District 36: State Sen. Matt Williams
From: Gothenburg
Party: Republican
District 37: State Sen. John Lowe
From: Kearney
Party: Republican
District 38: State Sen. Dave Murman
From: Glenvil
Party: Republican
District 39: State Sen. Lou Ann Linehan
From: Elkhorn
Party: Republican
District 40: State Sen. Tim Gragert
From: Creighton
Party: Republican
District 41: State Sen. Tom Briese
From: Albion
Party: Republican
District 42: State Sen. Mike Groene
From: North Platte
Party: Republican
District 43: State Sen. Tom Brewer
From: Gordon
Party: Republican
District 44: State Sen. Dan Hughes
From: Venango
Party: Republican
District 45: State Sen. Sue Crawford
From: Bellevue
Party: Democratic
District 46: State Sen. Adam Morfeld
From: Lincoln
Party: Democratic
District 47: State Sen. Steve Erdman
From: Bayard
Party: Republican
District 48: State Sen. John Stinner
From: Gering
Party: Republican
District 49: State Sen. Andrew La Grone
From: Gretna
Party: Republican
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That's right. Get out before more problems surface and while your resume is current.
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