Blog
How fathers’ engagement contributes to their children’s development
Findings from the rapidly growing science of brain development in early childhood show the positive, lifelong impact fathers can have by being engaged early in their children’s lives. Here are 10 facts about father engagement.
2 new Sixpence grants connect child care providers, schools to promote quality early learning
Nebraska works toward an early childhood integrated data system
It's becoming increasingly important that Nebraska stakeholders have access to early care and education data to help make decisions about how best to prepare our young children for success. FFN Policy Research Analyst Ben Baumfalk and the Early Childhood Data Coalition are working to develop an integrated data system that will collect and maintain information from various early childhood programs and services.
Healthy digital media use habits for babies, toddlers & preschoolers
The American Academy of Pediatrics’ website HealthyChildren.org outlines healthy digital media use for babies, toddlers and preschoolers.
Jen Goettemoeller departs First Five Nebraska
Senior Policy Associate Jen Goettemoeller leaves First Five Nebraska today after working more than a decade to improve the lives of Nebraska's young children at risk.
Senators begin work on interim studies
Nebraska Senators introduced 108 Interim Study resolutions at the end of the recent Legislative session. We've indentified those that have potential to affect early childhood issues and will keep you updated on their progress.
Happy 30th anniversary Nebraska Family Child Care Association!
NFCCA promotes family child care as a profession, where child care providers can network, have a statewide voice in legislative matters and earn in-service training hours in early childhood education.
Nebraska Legislature: 2018 early childhood policy highlights
The 105th Nebraska Legislature, Second Session, adjourned sine die April 18. To balance the state budget, Governor Ricketts introduced across-the-board cuts resulting in early childhood programs receiving a 2% cut for FY2018-2019 and a 4% cut the following year. Here's our session-end report detailing specific bills impacting early childhood this session.
Why you should read that book to a child one more time
Do you feel dread when asked to read the same book to a young child over and over? Take heart, researchers say you're helping the child in important ways when you do.
Cuts to quality early childhood funding pose a risk-vs.-gain problem for taxpayers
Nebraska’s Corrections system has been the subject of urgent discussion in the Legislature given its insufficient facilities, prison rioting and workforce instability. Reducing state funding for Sixpence and other quality early childhood programs represents a very small savings to taxpayers in the larger scheme of things. If even a few young children at risk eventually drift into the Corrections system, it will be too late to ask ourselves if those savings were worth it.
Adam Feser Joins Policy Staff
We’re happy to introduce our new Policy Associate, Adam Feser. Adam most recently served as Executive Director of Advocacy Partnership for People with Special Needs,
Legislature Advances Budget Bill with Cuts to Early Childhood Programs
Bill contains cuts to the Sixpence Early Learning Fund, the Early Childhood Grant Program and Step Up to Quality. The small gains obtained from reductions to early care and education are likely to be lost by resulting future increased costs of special education services, grade retention and youth detention/rehabilitation services.