First Five Nebraska is an initiative of Early Futures Partnership
First Five Nebraska is an initiative of Early Futures Partnership
In early January 2026, the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) at the Department of Health and Human Services published a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) aimed at amending the Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF) regulations, the primary federal...
Despite what promises to be a challenging year ahead for both state and federal lawmakers, one issue continues to unite Nebraskans across political lines: the care and well-being of our youngest kids. In a new Nebraska Examiner op-ed, First Five Nebraska Deputy...
Jill Bomberger spoke at Governor Pillen's proclamation ceremony recognizing Head Start's 60 anniversary and designating October as Head Start Awareness Month I remember one neighbor who said, “Head Start saved my life.” She came to Head Start during a crisis, in need...
The 2025 Thriving Children, Families, and Communities Conference in Kearney was a resounding success, bringing together nearly 500 diverse participants—from child care providers to business leaders and policy advocates. Hosted by the Community for Kids team, this...
Editor's Note: When this blog was published, the Nebraska Child Care Market Rate Survey Report 2025 (MRS) was not publicly available. It has been released since then and First Five Nebraska will provide additional analysis and commentary on the 2025 MRS soon. New...
If you’re reading this blog, chances are child care impacts you, oh wait, child care impacts and touches every Nebraskan. You know this already though, this is why you’re reading First Five Nebraska’s blog. Have you thought specifically about how much our economy...
Child care has finally taken center stage in national conversations. Advocates, community leaders, employers and lawmakers now recognize that child care is not just a family concern—it’s a cornerstone of our economic infrastructure. But after years of raising...
This blog post is being updated as bills move through the legislative process. We are now more than halfway through the legislative session. Hearings have concluded, and full-day floor debate has begun. Speaker Arch, state senators and committees have identified their...
Kelly Mackling is clinical nurse manager at the Visiting Nurse Association in Omaha. She testified before the Nebraska Legislature’s Health and Human Services Committee in support of LB22, State Senator George Dungan's bill to allow home visiting programs to bill...
Dez Brandt is program manager of Healthy Families America home visiting program in the Panhandle Public Health District. She testified before the Nebraska Legislature’s Health and Human Services Committee in support of LB104, State Senator Jane Raybould's bill...
The full $15 million reserved by the State of Nebraska for the refundable Child Care Tax Credit has been reserved within just seven weeks of the application period opening in January. Parents and legal guardians of young children have requested more than $19.3 million...
Members of the Nebraska Early Childhood Policy Leadership Academy (PLA) Class 6 spent the day at the Nebraska Capitol February 5th engaging with their State Senators. Their focus? Advocating for key bills and policies that impact maternal health and child care—two...