First Five Nebraska

The availability of affordable childcare remains a significant challenge in Lincoln and across Nebraska and the country. Don't miss this important conversation March 24 at 6 p.m. CT on the UNL campus on efforts underway in the Legislature to address the childcare crisis. Learn more and register: loom.ly/kdFUtig #Nebraska #ChildCare #NEleg

As we come to the close of Child and Adult Care Food Program Week, we celebrate the impact CACFP has in providing nutritious meals and snacks to kids in care across #Nebraska, and the providers who recognize the importance of healthy, fresh food for children's growth and development. A resolution in the Legislature would reimburse family childcare homes participating in CACFP at the same rate as other providers. We support #LR296 and thank State Senator @BobHallstrom for introducing it. #NEleg #CACFPWeek #ChildCare

𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐞𝐝𝐨𝐫𝐞𝐬 𝐝𝐞 𝐜𝐮𝐢𝐝𝐚𝐝𝐨 𝐢𝐧𝐟𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐥: Únanse hoy, 24 de marzo, a las 13:30 (hora central) a una conversación de una hora por Zoom, exclusiva para proveedores, donde los educadores de la primera infancia podrán conocer de cerca las novedades en las políticas públicas estatales que impactan directamente en el cuidado infantil. También podrán hacer preguntas al equipo de políticas y defensa de FFN y obtener información y oportunidades exclusivas para ustedes como proveedores. Su voz y liderazgo son esenciales para impulsar un cambio significativo ante los legisladores estatales. Se proporcionará interpretación al español. Regístrense aquí: loom.ly/tXFu0Fk #NEleg #ChildCare #EarlyChildhoodWorkforce

𝐂𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐂𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐯𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬: Join us next Tuesday, March 24 at 1:30 p.m. CT, for a providers-only Zoom conversation on advances in public policy in the Unicameral that directly impact childcare providers. You'll also have the opportunity to ask questions of First Five Nebraska's policy and advocacy team. Your voice and leadership are essential to driving meaningful change on important issues this legislative session! Spanish interpretation will be provided. Register here: loom.ly/f2Q3gv8 #Nebraska #NEleg #ChildCare

𝐐𝐮𝐢𝐜𝐤 𝐔𝐩𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐞: State Senators continue to debate the budget bills this afternoon. Please contact your senator and let them know how important it is to make the current level of childcare assistance permanent. Here is the NEW link for this afternoon's session: nebraskapublicmedia.org/en/series-medi… Find your senator: nebraskalegislature.gov/senators/senat… #Nebraska #NEleg #ChildCare

𝐀𝐋𝐄𝐑𝐓: State Senators are discussing the state budget bill NOW. Please 𝐂𝐎𝐍𝐓𝐀𝐂𝐓 𝐘𝐎𝐔𝐑 𝐒𝐄𝐍𝐀𝐓𝐎𝐑 𝐍𝐎𝐖 and ask them to maintain childcare assistance in the bill. Find your senator: nebraskalegislature.gov/senators/senat… Watch debate: nebraskapublicmedia.org/en/series-medi…

The Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) reimburses childcare providers for nutritious meals and snacks they serve to our youngest kids. Its benefits go well beyond just feeding children—it promotes healthy eating habits, supports growth during children's critical developmental years and offers economic benefits for families, providers and communities. Learn more: loom.ly/0Rnom_8 #CACFP #ChildCare #Nebraska

Shout out to all the family home childcare providers in #Nebraska nourishing little bodies and minds through the Child and Adult Care Food Program! Thank you for your commitment to serving nutritious meals that set kids up for a healthy future. #CACFPWeek2026 #ChildCare #LR296 #NEleg

Tammy Day is one of the owners of Norfolk’s @daycos, a business services company focused on the transportation industry. Read her letter to the editor, published in the @NorfolkNews, on why childcare assistance is so critical for Nebraska communities: “Local companies, like ours, need employees, and employees need reliable, quality childcare to work. When that system breaks down, the local economy feels it. Businesses experience more turnover, more missed shifts and more difficulty filling open positions. Parents are forced to scale back hours or leave the workforce altogether.” Read it here: bit.ly/4cV4SCG #Nebraska #NEleg #ChildCare

Call your state senator and tell them to support childcare assistance, which has been included in this year’s state budget. Childcare assistance helps parents work. It’s that simple. When families can afford safe, reliable care, they can show up to their jobs, support their families and contribute to the economy. When they can’t, everyone feels the impact. Supporting childcare assistance supports working families and a stronger workforce. Learn the impact: loom.ly/1tZjPIE #ChildCare #Nebraska

The #MMHFORUM is nearly here! This session will explore emerging data and the unique #maternalmentalhealth challenges facing specific populations, including mothers affected by eating disorders and those in military communities. Register: policycentermmh.org/forum/ @MMHLA2

The #MMHFORUM is almost here! This moderated session features the latest #maternalmentalhealth screening and treatment and suicidality data, as well as child care and paid leave data and @BPC_Bipartisan policy solutions. Register now: policycentermmh.org/forum/

Las familias de Nebraska gastan aproximadamente el 14% de sus ingresos en cuidado infantil. Este año, podrían perder la asistencia para el cuidado infantil. Dígale a su senador que la asistencia protege a las familias. Mapa: bit.ly/4s3nSUa Más: bit.ly/4untWsi

Childcare assistance: ✅ Allows parents to work without most of their income consumed by childcare costs. ✅ Helps businesses keep workers who might otherwise be forced out of the workforce. ✅ Supports a strong economy. Learn more: loom.ly/Rl4bnkM #ChildCare #PassLB304

This year's Nebraska Early Childhood Policy Leadership class met for their final workshop in Kearney Wednesday for a day that featured insightful capstone project presentations, graduation ceremony and a celebratory dinner. Congratulations to this incredible group of leaders! They now join the PLA alumni network across the state—champions working every day to improve the lives of Nebraska's youngest children and their families. #NECPLA #PLA #NCLeaders #Nebraska

Only 2 wks left to submit a session proposal for the Thriving Children Conference! Your proposal might include: 💡 Data others can use 💡 Ideas to bring people together to tackle challenges 💡 Information about funding early childhood initiatives More: lnkd.in/g3VDBd9i

Will we see you at CYFS's Early Childhood Research Summit? It brings together early childhood experts to share research and practices that make a difference for kids. 𝐖𝐡𝐞𝐧: April 28 𝐖𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞: Nebraska Innovation Campus in Lincoln 𝐑𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫: loom.ly/dsqpmVw

𝗧𝗛𝗔𝗡𝗞 𝗬𝗢𝗨 members of the Nebraska Health and Human Services Committee for advancing #LB304 to the floor and the Appropriations Committee for providing funding to support continuing childcare assistance. This important next step will help make sure childcare remains within reach of more Nebraska families. We once again thank Senator Wendy DeBoer for her leadership and we now ask the Legislature to get this across the finish line. Learn more about LB304: loom.ly/Y8M8tlY #NEleg #Nebraska #ChildCare

Should you submit a proposal to speak at the Thriving Children, Families and Communities Conference? If you have experience with tools, data or stories that have strengthened early childhood in your area, then YES! Submissions due on March 26. Learn more: loom.ly/L2oFX28

There's still time to register for the two-day virtual forum on #MaternalMentalHealth March 17-18. See the agenda: bit.ly/4rnNVEo Register: bit.ly/4sxPwsd