First Five Nebraska is an initiative of Early Futures Partnership
First Five Nebraska is an initiative of Early Futures Partnership
The shortage of child care, particularly in Nebraska’s rural areas and under-resourced communities, is well documented. But what is less well known is that the problem is exacerbated by scale. Child care settings that enroll 12 or fewer children, licensed as Family...
State Senator John Fredrickson, representing District 20 in central west Omaha, introduced LB856, which excludes all earned and unearned income for child care subsidy applications if the applicant or household member is self-employed at a licensed child care program...
The Second Session of the 108th Nebraska Legislature convened January 3 for a 60-day session. In his State of the State address to lawmakers, Governor Pillen prioritized property taxes, regulatory barriers and affordable housing, and also emphasized the importance of...
Apprenticeship programs are emerging as a viable recruitment and retention tool for the early childhood workforce. First Five Nebraska thanks State Senator Robert Dover (District 19) for introducing LR251, an interim study looking at how apprenticeships could be used...
The Nebraska Legislature’s Health and Human Services Committee heard testimony on LR154, introduced by State Senator Jen Day (District 49) to examine maternal care deserts in Nebraska and to highlight this critical issue in our state. State senators heard how...
State Senator Eliot Bostar (District 29) is the inaugural recipient of the Nebraska Early Childhood Policy Champion Award at a presentation ceremony at the State Capitol. The award was founded this year by First Five Nebraska and will be presented annually to...
The Nebraska Legislature’s Health and Human Services Committee heard testimony October 11 on two interim studies, Legislative Resolutions LR151 and LR191. Interim studies are conducted after the Legislature has adjourned sine die and give senators and committees the...
Alert: Submit an online comment to the Nebraska Legislature by noon Central Time on October 10, 2023 The Nebraska Legislature’s Health and Human Services Committee will hold a hearing October 11 on interim study LR191, introduced by State Senator Teresa Ibach to...
Last week, First Five Nebraska joined the Nebraska Chamber of Commerce & Industry, Nebraska Departments of Education and Economic Development, Nebraska Economic Developers Association and a wide array of early childhood organizations and community groups in...
First Five Nebraska has launched the Child Care and Public Transit Dashboard, a first-of-its-kind interactive resource that maps the proximity of child care programs to public transit routes and stops in Douglas, Lancaster and Sarpy counties. The dashboard was...
On the first day of kindergarten, the child who is ready to learn is not necessarily the one who can count to 20 or name all the colors in the rainbow, rather it’s the child who can pay attention, take turns, get along with others and follow directions.
The critical role access to affordable, quality child care plays in parents’ ability to work and communities to flourish has been at the forefront of the public conversation in Nebraska and the nation recently. While we need to pay attention to the immediate urgency...