Early Futures Partnership

05/19/2026

As initiatives of Early Futures Partnership, First Five Nebraska and Communities for Kids advocate for policies that put meaningful relief within the reach of the families, programs and professionals who need it most. That's what happens when a deep knowledge of communities' early childhood needs informs determined policy action.

This Give to Lincoln Day, support the work that's moving the needle on the early childhood issues that affect Nebraskans in every part of the state. Your gift between now and May 28 unlocks a share of a $650,000 match fund and identifies you as a Founding Donor to Early Futures Partnership: https://givetolincoln.com/nonprofits/early-futures-partnership

05/19/2026

05/15/2026

Cancelling your registration will remove your access to the event. If you proceed, you will no longer be able to participate or access event-related materials.

05/15/2026

At Early Futures Partnership, we know sustainable solutions to local child care challenges don't happen without community insight, experience and innovation. Through our Communities for Kids initiative, we work alongside 89 community collaborations statewide—helping local leaders unlock the resources, relationships and ideas that drive right-sized solutions to their specific child care needs.

When communities have the right support, good things happen for children and families. This month, you can be part of that progress. Support Early Futures through Give to Lincoln Day to strengthen early care and education opportunities for all Nebraskans. Make your gift here: https://givetolincoln.com/nonprofits/early-futures-partnership

05/12/2026

What does meaningful policy change look like? It looks like thousands of Nebraska families becoming newly eligible for child care assistance they would not have been able to access before.

First Five Nebraska and Communities for Kids, Early Futures Partnership's founding initiatives, championed groundbreaking pieces of legislation that first changed income eligibility for child care assistance, then made those changes permanent. Help promote policy change that's making a real difference in Lincoln and throughout Nebraska by supporting Early Futures' Give to Lincoln Day campaign: https://givetolincoln.com/nonprofits/early-futures-partnership

05/08/2026

Practice + Policy = Progress. It's how we make positive change happen for Nebraska's youngest children. This month, you can join Early Futures Partnership and its founding initiatives—Communities for Kids and First Five Nebraska—in our work to build a stronger early childhood ecosystem for Lincoln and communities throughout the state.

Get involved by making a contribution through our giving page at https://givetolincoln.com/nonprofits/early-futures-partnership

05/08/2026

Today is National Provider Appreciation Day, and this editorial from our colleagues at Nebraska Early Childhood Collaborative says it perfectly. Child care providers are the workforce behind the workforce, and we know that gratitude for their critically important work must be paired with meaningful action. Nebraska's child care system is infrastructure—it's time we treated it that way.

On May 8, Nebraskans celebrate Provider Appreciation Day, a moment to say thank you to the childcare professionals who make many of our daily lives possible. But gratitude alone is not enough. If we are serious about Nebraska’s economic future, we need to recognize childcare providers for who they...

05/05/2026

When our youngest children thrive, we all thrive.

Early Futures Partnership helps build the community and public policy infrastructure kids need to get the strongest possible start in life.

Join us in advancing the work of Early Futures and its founding initiatives—Communities for Kids and First Five Nebraska—by donating through our giving page on the Give to Lincoln Day website between now and May 28. Visit https://givetolincoln.com/nonprofits/early-futures-partnership

04/29/2026

Early Futures was proud to be a sponsor of the 2026 CYFS Early Childhood Research Summit this week, a truly notable gathering of thought leaders in early childhood research, practice and policy. Early Futures staff presented or co-presented at four of the day's breakout sessions focused on the Kidsights Data initiative, Nebraska Early Childhood Data Coalition, Knowledge Network for Early Childhood Education Workforce and 2026 early childhood legislation.

04/17/2026

The passage of into law is a major development in keeping affordable child care within the reach of more Nebraska families. But it's also a testament to what can be achieved when the experience, insight and initiative of Nebraska's early childhood champions and communities align with strategic, results-driven policy leadership. We're proud to stand alongside all those who collaborated in supporting this landmark legislation!

LB304 is officially law! Thank you Governor Pillen and state senators for supporting Nebraska's working families. By making the current childcare assistance threshold permanent, this law will help more families afford care, support parents in staying in the workforce and ensure children have the strong start they deserve.
Governor Jim Pillen

04/10/2026

The passage of on Final Reading today is a crucial development in the wellbeing of Nebraska's families, communities and economy. Thanks to state lawmakers and their constituents who stood in support of LB304, access to affordable will remain within reach of thousands of hardworking families with young children.

We did it — LB304 has officially passed!

This means thousands of Nebraska families can continue to access affordable child care, so parents can work with peace of mind knowing their children are in safe, supportive environments where they can learn and grow.

This didn’t happen by chance: it was a true collective effort. Thank you to everyone who called, emailed, showed up, and spoke out. Your voices made a difference.

We’re also grateful to the state senators who recognized the importance of this bill for Nebraska’s families and workforce, and to Senator DeBoer for championing as her priority bill this session.

On behalf of families and young children across Nebraska: thank you.