May 2022
First Five Nebraska's policy team is looking forward to partnering with state senators on interim studies in the coming months. Interim studies, which are conducted after the Legislature adjourns its session sine die, give senators and legislative committees the opportunity to delve deeper into topics of policy interest, and frequently lead to future legislation. This year's studies are:

LR266 Investigate processes relating to child abuse and child neglect reports in licensed child care facilities. (Senator Jen Day)

LR327 Explore severe maternal morbidity and make recommendations to improve quality of care for mothers and babies. (Senator Tony Vargas)

LR367 Examine home visitation for families in Nebraska. (Senator Wendy DeBoer)

LR378 Research the process for determining the reimbursement rate for Nebraska's child care subsidy program and whether rates cover the cost of providing quality care. (Senator Jen Day)

LR415 Examine the lack of access to quality and affordable health insurance for Nebraska's early childhood workforce, and potential solutions. (Senator Mike Jacobson)



Follow our social media pages for updates: Facebook | Twitter | LinkedIn
Video series: Using LB840 funding to build child care capacity

In the second video in our series on using LB840 funds to boost child care quality and access in Nebraska communities, Milva McGhee with the McCook Economic Development Corporation shares how her community is using this funding option to incentivize child care providers through training opportunities and quality improvement initiatives.

First Five Nebraska's Strategic Partnerships Advisor Mike Feeken hosts this series of short videos exploring how communities can use Local Option Municipal Economic Development Funds to expand or establish local child care. Created with passage of LB840 by state senators in 1991, the bill language was amended in 2019 to include early childhood care and education programs as qualifying businesses.

Low unemployment rates mean an extremely tight labor market for employers. Any serious workforce attraction and development strategy has to take into account the needs of hardworking parents.

Kawasaki in Lincoln developed non-traditional shift schedules, making it possible for employees to provide for their families and care for their children while enabling the company to stay competitive. Watch the story on CNN Business
Loan forgiveness offered
for eligible EC professionals

Early care and learning educators in Nebraska could be eligible for a federal student loan forgiveness program, even if they weren't eligible before.

The U.S. Department of Education made major changes to the program for a limited time in response to the COVID-19 national emergency. The deadline to apply is October 31. Watch a recorded webinar for early childhood educators
FFN's Mike Feeken
is new
NEDA president

Congrats to Strategic Partnerships Advisor Mike Feeken who will serve as president of the Nebraska Economic Developers Association (NEDA) for 2022-2023.

Feeken worked in the economic development field for many years before joining FFN, and his focus now is on the role early childhood plays in building strong communities. Under his leadership, we look forward to collaborating closely with economic development leaders statewide to advance early childhood initiatives.

Feeken hosted a discussion at the recent NEDA conference on the integral role early care and learning programs play in communities' ability to attract and anchor families with young children.