The Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services says it will direct $19 million in one-time funds to two private agencies handling the state's foster care and other child welfare services.

Last November, the department began privatizing the services by transferring control of them to independent contractors. But since April, the state has lost three of its five contractors. Two of the companies said the state wasn't paying them enough.

Todd Reckling, who oversees child and family services for DHHS, says KVC Behavioral HealthCare Nebraska will receive $12 million and the Nebraska Families Collaborative will receive $7 million to serve families in 2011 and 2012.

Sarah Forrest with Voices for Children in Nebraska applauded the additional funding, but said she is not convinced the one-time funding will be adequate.