First Five Nebraska

10/14/2026

We're excited to share some big news: First Five Nebraska has a new home!

Beginning this week, all the features and resources housed on First Five Nebraska's website have officially moved to our new online location on the Early Futures Partnership website at earlyfutures.org.

You'll still find all the FFN tools and information you rely on—including our public policy updates, child care affordability calculator, blog and more—now alongside information about our sister initiative, Communities for Kids.

Visit FFN at our new home at earlyfutures.org and explore the work we're doing to build stronger systems to support young children and families.

10/14/2026

Sydney and Mike Jensen of Lincoln were featured in an “Affording America” segment on NBC News this week. The couple thought they were on solid financial footing until a series of unexpected expenses, including car repairs and a new furnace, pushed their costs past their income. Included in their expenses, they say, is paying at least $2,000 a month for childcare.

Mike works in the tech industry and Sydney teaches at Lincoln High, and is a former Nebraska Teacher of the Year. Despite having stable, respected careers, the couple finds themselves falling behind.

"I feel like we did all the right things," said Sydney. "We both have full-time jobs and yet we are still struggling." Watch here: loom.ly/qF4gxrs

Sydney and Mike Jensen thought they were on solid financial footing. Their cars were paid off, the mortgage was under control … they both had full time jobs. Then came a series of unexpected expenses and like so many families, their costs now exceed their earnings. They want their two young childr...

10/13/2026

State Senator Bob Hallstrom's Legislative Resolution has been officially submitted as a memorial to Congress and referred to committee. A memorial is a formal request, usually sent by a state legislature, asking the U.S. Congress to take a specific action. LR296 urges reimbursing all family home childcare providers in the Child and Adult Care Food Program at the same rate regardless of their location. Providers currently are classified as Tier I or Tier II based on eligibility rules, with Tier II being reimbursed at a lower rate despite serving prioritized lower-income families.

We thank the advocates who championed year-round healthy food access for Nebraska's youngest children. Testifiers at the hearing for during this year's legislative session were (from left): FFN Policy Advisor Mitchell Clark; Carrie Sullivan, executive director of the Provider's Network Inc. Child Care Food Program; Senator Hallstrom; Taylor Furnas, owner of Taylor’s Tiny Friends family childcare home in Syracuse; and Erika Felt, owner of The Playschool House family childcare home in Omaha.

10/13/2026

Consider signing on to the Child Care Can campaign as an organization or as an individual Child Care Champion. Learn more at ChildCareCan.org

More than one-third of Nebraska parents with young children (34%) report being unable to pay for necessities (such as food and housing) due to child care costs, rising to nearly half (48%) among families earning under $100,000.

That’s why Nebraskans must address our child care challenges. Our state can’t compete if families can’t afford what they need to live.

Learn more from Kidsights Data at the University of Nebraska Medical Center:https://www.unmc.edu/publichealth/_documents/research/multi-disciplinary-programs/kidsights/kidsight-databrie-childcare.pdf

10/12/2026

Don't miss the release of this new report at the Lincoln Chamber on October 21. Produced by FFN and sponsored by the City of Lincoln Government, Lancaster County, Nebraska, Lincoln Chamber of Commerce and Lincoln Littles, it examines the economic impact of insufficient childcare in Lincoln and Lancaster County. Register here: https://www.lcoc.com/event/13508458-growing-with-care

Join us for Growing with Care: Child Care and Economic Opportunity in Lancaster County as we explore a new community-wide report from First Five Nebraska on the economic impact of child care access in our community.

📅 Wednesday, Oct. 21
⏰ 8:00–9:30 AM
📍 Lincoln Chamber of Commerce

Register today! 🔗 https://www.lcoc.com/event/13508458-growing-with-care

10/09/2026

10/09/2026

Learn more at childcarecan.org!

Working parents need reliable child care to participate in the workforce. Employers need those workers to operate and grow. Communities need families to live, work, and build their lives there. Affordable, quality child care helps parents work, employers attract and retain talent, providers build sustainable businesses, and communities compete for families and workers.

That makes child care not only a family issue, but a workforce and economic development issue.

10/08/2026

Community leaders and policy experts, including Early Futures Partnership's Katie Bass, tackled Nebraska's childcare crisis this morning at Lincoln Littles' Early Childhood Summit.

Previewing a report to be released October 21, Bass said local families pay over $15K annually for childcare for one child while the average income for care providers averages about $28K annually.

Keynote speaker Elliot Regenstein also said many K-12 educational challenges stem from gaps in early childhood support, and urged Nebraska to follow other states in establishing state-level infrastructure and funding.

Thank you to Lincoln Littles for hosting this event!
Lincoln Littles

At the fourth annual Early Childhood Summit hosted by Lincoln Littles, advocates discussed the role the state needs to play in solving the childcare crisis that is leaving families struggling.

10/08/2026

Early Futures Partnership's Katie Bass previewed a new report at Lincoln Littles' annual Early Childhood Summit this morning. Four organizations—the City of Lincoln, Lancaster County, the Lincoln Chamber of Commerce and Lincoln Littles—have come together to sponsor the report produced by First Five Nebraska. Set to be released October 21 at the Lincoln Chamber of Commerce, the report examines the economic impact of insufficient childcare in Lincoln and Lancaster County.

Thank you, Lincoln Littles, for all your work to improve conditions for Lincoln's youngest children and their families, including providing childcare tuition assistance for families who earn too much to receive childcare subsidies, but cannot afford the full cost of care.
City of Lincoln Government Lincoln Chamber of Commerce Lancaster County, Nebraska

10/07/2026

Thank you Nebraska State Senator Stan Clouse for your support of Head Start, and for encouraging your constituents to submit a comment on proposed changes to Head Start during the recent comment period.

If adopted, these changes would replace high national standards for Head Start with a patchwork of state regulations, leaving classroom quality and child safety to vary dramatically depending on where a child lives.
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