If your school district has not yet invited public input on the distribution of its forthcoming Emergency and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) funds, you may still have an opportunity to advocate using them to promote...
Category: Families
Sixpence grants awarded to 11 communities
Congratulations to eleven communities across Nebraska that were recently awarded new Sixpence grants to fund high-quality early childhood programs to serve more of our state’s most vulnerable infants and toddlers. The grants were made possible through an increase in...
Expanded child tax credit aimed at cutting child poverty
The child tax credit was enacted more than 20 years ago to help parents with the everyday expenses of raising children. The 2021 American Rescue Plan expands the credit amount for one year, from $2,000 per child to $3,600 for younger children and $3,000 for older...
How involved fathers improve kids’ well-being
An abundance of research shows the many ways children benefit from involved fathers, especially during their earliest developmental years. Kids who grow up with engaged dads have stronger cognitive, motor and verbal skills, increased confidence and attachment, enter...
Resource helps new and expectant parents guide children’s early development
Learning Begins at Birth, an updated guide for new and expectant parents is being distributed statewide through Nebraska birthing hospitals, WIC and public health centers, nonprofits, home-visiting initiatives and other organizations. It’s available in English,...
First Five Nebraska, DED highlight early childhood efforts to market Nebraska
We recently partnered with the Nebraska Department of Economic Development in reaching out to prospective Nebraska residents, business owners and working parents about how early childhood education contributes to 'the good life'.
Early childhood programs’ success, community vitality focus of conference
Nearly 700 civic, business and education leaders, from 99 Nebraska communities, 20 states and Washington, D.C., came together for the third annual Thriving Children, Families, and Communities conference Monday to focus on quality early childhood programs, which became even more critical with the pandemic and their connection to community economic development and vitality.
School readiness tax credit program revised to benefit more child care providers
Governor Ricketts signs LB266 into law, giving self-employed child care providers and those classified as S-Corps access to the school readiness tax credit, as intended in the original legislation.
A mother’s love is good for a child’s brain
Mothers’ support during children's preschool years is linked to robust growth in the area of the brain involved in learning, memory and stress response.