Karla Dush, Director

Karla Dush has been working with youth and families who are involved in or at risk of being involved in the Juvenile Justice and Child Welfare Systems for over 25 years. Her expertise in program development and implementation has provided alternatives to care. Through a collective impact approach, she worked on juvenile justice reform for Douglas County. She assisted in the creation and implementation of the Lancaster County, Juvenile Diversion Program as well as the Douglas County, Day Reporting Center for adults. She also served as the Administrator for Economic Assistance with the Department of Health and Human Services.

Her years of experience have not only provided spaces to interact with youth and families, but they have also provided her with opportunities of continuous growth and development to ensure that ALL youth and families have equitable access to services prior to any system involvement.

Dush holds a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, with a minor in Sociology, from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. She received a Certificate of Public Management, from the University of Nebraska-Omaha.