Jennifer Carter serves as the Inspector General of Nebraska Child Welfare. She was appointed to the role in September 2020. The Office of Inspector General of Nebraska Child Welfare (OIG) provides legislative oversight and accountability for the child welfare and juvenile justice systems through system monitoring and review, mandatory investigations of child deaths and serious injuries, and recommendations for improvement. The OIG is housed within the legislative branch in the Nebraska Legislature’s Division of Legislative Oversight.
Ms. Carter received her undergraduate degree from Columbia University and her juris doctorate from Boston University School of Law. Following law school, Ms. Carter worked at the law firms of Cravath, Swaine & Moore and Sidley & Austin in New York City. She also served as law clerk to the Honorable Lawrence L. Piersol, Chief Judge for the U.S. District of South Dakota. In 2003, Carter moved to Nebraska and began her public interest career, spending 11 years at Nebraska Appleseed with various titles and duties, including staff attorney, Director of Child Welfare and Health Care Programs, and Director of Public Policy. In addition to litigation, consulting, and lobbying experience, Carter most recently served as legal counsel to the Health and Human Services Committee of the Nebraska Legislature.
Carter has also served on several boards including the Board of Directors HopeSpoke for which she served as President for two years, the Board of the Prairie Hill Learning Center for nearly 10 years, serving as President for four, and the Friends of Lied Board.
