First Five Nebraska is an initiative of Early Futures Partnership
First Five Nebraska is an initiative of Early Futures Partnership
LB1203, which would use a portion of Nebraska’s $1 billion allocation of American Rescue Plan Act (APRA) dollars to strengthen the state’s early childhood system, was heard by the Legislature’s Appropriations Committee this week. The bill was introduced by State...
At the open house and celebration of Boone Beginnings in Albion on November 7, I realized something: I miss the power of celebrating the completion of a major community project. As a former economic development director, I experienced the opportunities of seeing...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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,...
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'.
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.
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.
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.