First Five Nebraska is an initiative of Early Futures Partnership
First Five Nebraska is an initiative of Early Futures Partnership
Nebraska Step Up to Quality helps child care providers who are committed to being the best they can be to give children the strong start we know is so important. As Step Up to Quality marks its third anniversary, they have debuted an interactive map on their website parents can access to learn the locations and ratings of participating programs in their area.
DHHS is required to oversee a child care Market Rate Survey every two years to set child care provider subsidy rates within the context of market conditions. The purpose is to ensure children receiving assistance through the Child Care Subsidy Program have access to the pool of providers equal to the access of provider-paying families.
Crete's Daisy Ortiz and daughter Kayla took part in Strolling Thunder, an event this summer aimed at drawing attention to legislation supporting babies, toddlers and their parents.
Parents' anxiety or apprehension about something easily influences their children through a mechanism early childhood research calls “social referencing.” Here are some ideas for parents to consider as they send children off for preschool or kindergarten this month.
Harvard University researchers are embarking on a longitudinal study to learn how informal and formal child care environments affect how children learn and grow.
Douglas County Attorney Don Kleine and Douglas County Sheriff Timothy Dunning released a new report on the critical influence quality early learning can have on a child's trajectory, particularly if the child is at risk. A strong start prepares children for success in school and reduces the chance they will drop out and become involved in crime later.
Science has demonstrated that children who are repeatedly exposed to adverse childhood experiences face severe developmental impacts. Instead of having children who expect to be well cared for and safe, we have children whose expectations of the world lead them to scan repeatedly for the possibility of danger, leaving their nervous system in a chronic state of alert and flooded with high levels of stress hormones.
The more time children under age 2 spend playing with smart phones, tablets, electronic games and other handheld screens, the more likely they are to begin talking later, according to research presented at the 2017 Pediatric Academic Societies meeting in May.
Fathers play a unique, powerful role in their children's physical, social-emotional and cognitive development.
The Nebraska Department of Education developed an online record system to support early childhood workers by housing their professional records in one place that follows them throughout their career, even as they change employers.
The Nebraska State Board of Education approved 11 new and expansion Early Childhood Education Program grants to provide access to high-quality early childhood education for approximately 270 at-risk 3- and 4-year-olds during the 2017-18 school year.
The first session of Nebraska's 105th Legislature adjourned Sine Die on May 23, Senators tackled many important issues and introduced nearly 700 bills, but the session was dominated by efforts to achieve a balanced budget despite significant revenue shortfalls. See our report on bills we identified as high-priority during this legislative session.