August 2021

FFN report focuses on early care and education financing strategies As the pandemic continues to highlight the critical need for stable, well-funded, quality child care to keep parents working and businesses thriving, FFN's latest report outlines possible financing strategies to help stabilize Nebraska's early childhood system.

FFN partnered with the Children's Funding Project on "Innovative Financing Solutions to Expand Quality Early Care and Education in Nebraska." The report looks at a number of funding models involving both state and private partnerships to improve quality, access and equity in early childhood programs. While federal COVID-19 relief funds will help, Nebraska needs to identify long-term, dedicated funding support to strengthen and grow the state's early childhood infrastructure. It's essential for communities' economic growth and vitality, and the healthy development of our youngest children. Read the report

Jodi-Renee Giron joins FFN staff We're thrilled to introduce Jodi-Renee Giron, who joins our staff as Grassroots and Outreach Advisor. She'll step in to lead our Early Childhood Policy Leadership Academy when Becky Veak retires later this month. Jodi-Renee has broad experience in community organizing and outreach, most recently as a member of the Community Learning Centers team in Lincoln Public Schools. She also currently serves on Nebraska Extension's Health Equity Task Force. Welcome Jodi-Renee! Learn more

Expanded child tax credit aimed at cutting child poverty Expanded Child Tax Credit payments—a component of the American Rescue Plan Act—are expected to lift more children out of poverty, with some of the largest impacts among Black, Hispanic and Native American children. Learn more More on this topic: Parents report drop in food insufficiency after first child tax credit payment

Breakout sessions at the 2021 Thriving Children conference have been announced, and among the topics are economic development and community vitality, early childhood programs and policy, research and evaluation. Bina Patel Shrimali, community development research manager at the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco, will be a keynote speaker at this year's conference. She leads research on structural barriers to economic opportunity for low-income communities and communities of color, focusing on advancing healthy and resilient communities, a thriving labor force and inclusive financial systems. We hope you'll join us Sept. 27 for this free, virtual event!  Learn more | Register for 2021 Thriving Children

Child care professionals play a critical role FFN Strategic Partnerships Advisor Mike Feeken spoke in York recently about early childhood infrastructure and community development: “I think of child care providers as entrepreneurs and business owners who enable our workforce. COVID really taught us child care is essential. And if you want to attract people to your town, childhood programs are a part of that strategy. Unfulfilled jobs create obstacles for economic growth and costs for businesses to replace those employees.” Learn more Communities for Kids tackles child care challenges Finding child care is a challenge for Nebraskan families, and one significant reason is Nebraska's low unemployment rate. Here's a look at what Communities for Kids is doing in Bertrand, Overton and other locations to address this issue. Communities for Kids is a Nebraska Children and Families Foundation initiative that works with communities to create and improve early care and education for children birth through age 5. Learn more

‌ ‌ ‌ ‌

Visit our website