Nebraska Growing Readers Books Make a Difference in an Unexpected Way

The Nebraska Growing Readers (NGR) program, which is a collaboration between Nebraska Children and Families Foundation, the Nebraska Department of Education, the Statewide Family Engagement Center, and Unite for Literacy, has aimed primarily at providing free books for licensed childcare providers who can share them with their families, but the books have also been distributed to other organizations where children and families can access them. Al-Hindi said he learned of the program in December of 2023 when Nghia Le, the Director of the Learning Center, showed him the books, which they thought could be useful for the adults in ESL classes to use.

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Posted in Early Childhood

Walk with Me: Rooted in Relationships Work in North Omaha

With trust and local ownership, has come a sincere interest in the work Rooted in relationships is doing and a desire to sustain that work within North Omaha. Temeshia Qualls says that she has seen the pieces of the puzzle come together with Rooted work and feels something meaningful is being passed on to the families they work with. But Debra Nared asks an important question: “we may have an opportunity to be a part of something bigger than us, but what happens afterward?”

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Posted in Early Childhood

Taking on the Grand Challenges of the Early Childhood Profession

TransformED accents Rooted in Relationships’ mission to collaborate with communities and with other state entities so as to build stronger infrastructure for early childhood mental health. As Bradley puts it, “It’s imperative to continue to collaborate with other initiatives and programs that support child care providers and the rest of the early childhood workforce. If we can figure out how to integrate practices, we can reduce redundancy and maximize impact.” What better way then for Rooted to celebrate its first 10 years and to set off on the next 10 years of working with communities and with state partners.

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Posted in Early Childhood

150,000 Reasons to Celebrate: Youth Advocacy at Nebraska Children and Families Foundation’s Legislative Days

The voices of Nebraska’s youth proved to be a powerful force, swaying Governor Jim Pillen to support crucial legislation impacting food security for 150,000 children in Nebraska. The young advocates, representing communities across Nebraska, presented compelling arguments at Legislative Days, ultimately influencing the governor’s decision. Their success highlights the transformative impact of youth advocacy in shaping policy.

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Posted in Legislature, Middle Childhood, News and Events, Systems, Teen/Early Adulthood

The Turtle Who Took Down a Tantrum

In January, Tucker Turtle Came to visit North Platte preschools and the local library as part of Rooted in Relationships’ work to teach children how to self-regulate emotions.

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Posted in Early Childhood

From Lincoln to Valentine, Youth Voice Shapes Local Afterschool Programs in Nebraska

The Beyond School Bells (BSB) Youth Leadership Council (YLC) in Nebraska empowers high school students to make a difference in their afterschool programs. The council creates and proposes projects to enhance afterschool activities and address unmet needs.

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Posted in Middle Childhood, News and Events

Gering C4K Is Top of the Heap

On November 13, 2023, high school students broke ground on a project that Superintendent Regan called “a historic moment for Gering Schools.” On the campus of Northfield Elementary , Gering High School trade students launched the build of a new 5,000-square-foot facility that will house 4 preschool classrooms.

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Posted in Early Childhood

Getting to the Roots of Rooted in Relationships: 10 Years of Community-Building Success

Rooted in Relationships celebrates ten years of connecting with Nebraska communities to build infant mental health infrastructure, collaborate with providers and parents to provide coaching and training for the pyramid model, and highlight childcare professionals and the important work they do.

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Posted in Early Childhood

Finding Voice in the Stars: Caitlynn’s Journey of STEM Empowerment

This is a story of empowerment. Learn how STEM and afterschool programming impacted the life of a Lincoln teen.

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Posted in Middle Childhood, Teen/Early Adulthood, Uncategorized

Celebrating a Year of Progress: 2023 Achievements at Nebraska Children

As we reflect on a year of achievements and meaningful milestones, Nebraska Children would like to extend our gratitude to our invaluable partners and generous donors who have been instrumental in making this year a success. Your support, dedication, and collaboration have been the driving force behind fostering stronger communities, empowering youth, and creating lasting change across Nebraska.

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Posted in News and Events, Uncategorized

Calming Corners Make a Difference for Childcare Providers

In the fall of this year, Nebraska Children worked closely with Lakeshore to offer early childhood providers in Nebraska free Calming Corners materials. When licensed Family I and II and Center-based providers completed a 1-hour NDE Cozy Corner training course and submitted basic demographic information, they were eligible to receive free materials from Lakeshore. The initiative continues and will offer licensed providers further chances to enroll as long as the kits last.

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Posted in Early Childhood

Fostering Sibling Bonds: The Impact of Camp Catch-Up’s Winter Event

Camp Catch-Up, offered by Nebraska Children and Families Foundation, offers sibling groups separated by foster care an opportunity to reconnect and strengthen bonds. The inaugural winter camp, filled with activities and crafts, served as a meaningful reunion space and time for its campers. The camp fosters both active and quieter moments to engage campers, such as a collective painting project reflecting their time at the camp and a gift-exchange ritual, bolstering family ties. Volunteers, including past campers, contribute towards creating a nurturing environment for the children.

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Posted in Middle Childhood, News and Events, Teen/Early Adulthood, Uncategorized

A Land of Weird Potatoes: The Valley Child Development Center Awarded $25,000 Grant to Continue Enhancing Edible Schoolyard Project

The Valley Child Development Center opened in the farming community of Red Cloud in 2018. The Center quickly found a niche when a board member’s niece, Bri and her husband Bruce, who lived in California, learned of the Edible Schoolyard, a program developed by food activist and chef Alice Waters to offer “students experiential learning opportunities that deepen their relationship with food, facilitate learning the skills of cooking and gardening” (edibleschoolyard.org).

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Posted in Early Childhood, Uncategorized

Marin Johnson and Ja’Nae Smith Receive Adulting Support from Project Everlast

Marin Johnson and Ja’Nae Smith are two young people who grew up in Omaha and found themselves thrust into independence without the family supports that make the transition easier. As Smith put it, “it’s hard when you don’t have that parental support system.” Had it not been for their discovery of Project Everlast, their journey to adulting might have been quite different.

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Posted in Teen/Early Adulthood

Reflecting on a Year of Positive Change at Changemakers

Earlier in October, Nebraska Children had the privilege of hosting Changemakers, an annual gathering to celebrate the positive impacts happening throughout Nebraska.

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Posted in News and Events

Fremont Sixpence Car Seat Check Part of Larger Community Outreach

A recent car seat check held by Sixpence of Fremont, in coordination with Dodge County Head Start and Three Rivers Health Department, revealed that when it comes to car seats, things aren’t as simple as they seem.

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Posted in Early Childhood

Perla Jaimes’s Long Trip to School and How Sixpence Helped Her along the Way

In some ways this story begins as a trip to school. Perla Jaimes describes walking with her mother and younger sister. She remembers it was dark; she remembers it was cold. And on the other end of this walk a new school waited.

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Posted in Early Childhood

Tucker Turtle Promotes Social Emotional Development in Lincoln County

If you’re interested in bringing your children to hear the story and in receiving a copy of the book, join the Rooted team, community representatives, and, yes, Tucker, for a morning or an afternoon of tucking, breathing, and thinking at the North Platte Library.

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Posted in Early Childhood

But Seriously, a Communities for Kids Convening

“Women tend to laugh more and live longer than men,” says the woman on the stage. She’s gray-haired, bespectacled. She looks like a grandmother or a principal, and indeed she was an educator in the past. She moves away from

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Posted in Early Childhood

Nebraska Children Supporters Show Their Wild Hearts at the Perfect Pour Event!

The heart of Nebraska beats strong with a community that is fiercely dedicated to the well-being and growth of its children. This spirit was on full display at the 7th Annual Perfect Pour event, where Nebraska Children and Families Foundation

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Posted in News and Events

Sip for a Cause at Perfect Pour: Wild At Heart

Perfect Pour, Wild at Heart is a craft cocktail tasting benefiting Nebraska Children, presented by Friends of Nebraska Children. This event will showcase the creativity and expertise of local mixologists who will be crafting their finest concoctions using the renowned Monkey 47 – Schwarzwald Dry Gin. Tickets are limited.

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Posted in News and Events

It Takes a Village

Tierra Harper, Nebraska Early Childhood Collaborative’s (NECC) Early Childhood Community Coordinator for Douglas County who works in tandem with Nebraska Children’s Communities for Kids, says much of her work is designed to build a community within a community. She describes

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Posted in Uncategorized

Camp Catch-Up: Reconnecting, Sharing, and Creating Lasting Memories

Designed to bring siblings separated through foster care placements back together, Camp Catch-Up offers an opportunity to reunite with these siblings. For some, it has been quite a long time since they have seen their siblings. Often years. 

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Posted in Middle Childhood, Teen/Early Adulthood

NAIMH Endorsements Recognize Expert Care

In their recent outreach, the NAIMH has emphasized one very important phrase, “You are an Expert.” In an environment where the babysitter myth still persists, Bradley says endorsements instill a sense of professionalism among early childhood professionals. “They’ve worked hard to provide quality care and do the training. We should recognize them for their work,” she says.

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Posted in Uncategorized

Beyond School Bells Youth Leadership Council Lifts Youth Voice in Nebraska

Created to raise youth voice specifically in the afterschool and summer education space in Nebraska, the Beyond School Bells (BSB) Youth Leadership Council (YLC) lifts youth leadership to positively impact community change. Beyond School Bells (BSB), an initiative of Nebraska

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Posted in Middle Childhood, News and Events, Teen/Early Adulthood

The future of afterschool in Nebraska is bright: Nebraska’s ELO Innovation Invitational

by Jeff Cole, Network Lead, Beyond School Bells Engaging, playful, inspiring, purposeful, youth-centered, hopeful, fun – the future of afterschool and summer learning in Nebraska is bright.  That is the overarching takeaway from the first-ever Nebraska ELO Innovation Invitational. Nebraska

Posted in Middle Childhood, News and Events, Uncategorized

A State of Innovation

It feels like something from David Cronenburg’s The Fly. A young man stands in the middle of a room; his eyes bulge from his head, black and shiny. But this isn’t human turned insect and those aren’t eyes, although what’s

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Posted in Cradle to career, News and Events, Teen/Early Adulthood

Early Childhood Champions Boost Professionals

Christina Sigbornson knew from a young age that she wanted to teach but wasn’t sure with what age group.  Even though she thought it would be elementary students, she began working at a child development center while in college. That’s

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Posted in Early Childhood

Regional Coaching Buildout Provides Needed Structure

Tracy Went emphasizes the growth of coaching across the state, but asks an important question, “there is so much coaching going on and though so many supports exist, there is always more need. How can we continue to build those

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Posted in Early Childhood

Chloe Mcshannon Uses Lived Experience to Positively Influence K-12 Students’ Lives 

One of the best things about Nebraska Children and Families Foundation is the people. Nebraska Children is made up of passionate people dedicated to making positive change.   Most recently, Chloe Mcshannon has embodied the role of a young leader. As

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Posted in Teen/Early Adulthood, Uncategorized

Nebraska Children Celebrates 25 Years of Positive Change, Special Guests, and Generous Supporters at Changemakers Luncheon 

On Tuesday, October 25, Nebraska Children hosted Changemakers, our yearly celebration of people who positively transform children’s lives. We had many people, organizations, and entities to thank.   What makes Changemakers so unique, however, is the fact that Nebraska Children has

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Posted in News and Events, Uncategorized

GetConnected 2022 Welcomes Learning Leaders and a Passion for Spreading Expanded Learning Throughout the State

Beyond School Bells (BSB), Nebraska Children and Families Foundation’s afterschool network, and partners continue to create quality expanded learning programs (ELOs) throughout the state. Luckily, we aren’t alone in our work. On September 19, hundreds of afterschool learning leaders gathered

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Posted in Uncategorized

Shift Happens: Communities for Kids Reflects on Thriving Children 2022

When it comes to change, Buffett Early Childhood Institute’s Thriving Children, Families, and Communities Conference demonstrates it. So do childcare providers. So do we. Early childhood professionals had to constantly swerve throughout the pandemic to accommodate ever-changing needs. This yearly

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Posted in Uncategorized

Gabby Shares Her Good News and Sixpence Partnership Takeaways!

As a participant in Sixpence home visits, Gabby and her son Kaden had fun and learned from an early childhood expert. An integral part of Sixpence, home visits provide parents with the opportunity to work with highly skilled professionals. The home visitors support the families to assess and work through children’s developmental milestones and teach parents to become their child’s best champions and, most important, teachers. Read more about this Nebraska Children initiative.

As a participant in Sixpence home visits, Gabby and her son Kaden had fun and learned from an early childhood expert. An integral part of Sixpence, home visits provide parents with the opportunity to work with highly skilled professionals. The home visitors support the families to assess and work through children’s developmental milestones and teach parents to become their child’s best champions and, most important, teachers. Read more about this Nebraska Children initiative.

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Posted in Early Childhood, News and Events

Passion Projects: Young People LEAD the Summer to Make their Voices Heard!

Together, resilient young people and our organization create positive outcomes, especially during retreats like LEAD the Summer, where young people use their voices to create a better Nebraska. Read how resilient young people and our organization create positive outcomes, especially during retreats like LEAD the Summer, where young people use their voices to create a better Nebraska.

Thanks to the Nebraska Children Youth Advisory Board and our Assistant VP of Policy and Leadership, Lincoln Arneal, the CYI Youth Advisory Board, and many young leaders, we finished the third year of LEAD the Summer! First, we’d like to tell you a bit about CYI. A Nebraska Children initiative, CYI works with young people between 14-26 who experienced foster care, child welfare, homelessness, human trafficking, juvenile justice and probation, and other challenges.

Together, resilient young people and our organization create positive outcomes, especially during retreats like LEAD the Summer, where young people use their voices to create a better Nebraska. Read how resilient young people and our organization create positive outcomes, especially during retreats like LEAD the Summer, where young people use their voices to create a better Nebraska.

Posted in News and Events, Systems, Teen/Early Adulthood

Auburn Sixpence CCP Shines a Spotlight on Local Providers 

Childcare providers are a shining example of indispensable professionals. They care for our children so parents can work. They create stimulating, educational, and memorable learning experiences for children during the most critical times of their lives. And unfortunately, they are often overlooked, under-compensated, and left in the dark. Nebraska Children and Families Foundation and partners like Auburn Sixpence help families thrive. Sixpence, one of our early childhood initiatives, aims to promote this mission, especially for children 0-3.    

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Posted in Early Childhood, News and Events

Auburn Sixpence CCP Updates: What a Year it’s Been!  

There’s no better indicator of community well-being than a real-life partner’s story! Today, we asked Auburn Sixpence Program Coordinator Tyson Wessels and Sixpence CCP Coach Anne Bennett to fill us in on all the great work they’re doing to support Auburn, Nebraska’s child care providers! Find out the exciting things that Auburn Sixpence is accomplishing.

There’s no better indicator of community well-being than a real-life partner’s story! Today, we asked Auburn Sixpence Program Coordinator Tyson Wessels and Sixpence CCP Coach Anne Bennett to fill us in on all the great work they’re doing to support Auburn, Nebraska’s childcare providers! Find out the exciting things that Auburn Sixpence is accomplishing.

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Posted in Early Childhood, News and Events

Schuyler Sixpence Success: Children Sing the Song of Thriving Throughout Nebraska   

"Sixpence has also favored autonomy and security within our family, as well as an increased ability of creativity and imagination in my children. Sixpence has helped me create stronger ties with my children and society as a parent." Read more about Andrea's positive takeaways from our Sixpence program!

“Sixpence has also favored autonomy and security within our family, as well as an increased ability of creativity and imagination in my children. As a parent, Sixpence has helped me create stronger ties with my children and with society.” Read more about Andrea’s positive takeaways from our Sixpence program!

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Posted in Early Childhood, News and Events

Meet the New Face of Camp Catch Up: Chloe Mcshannon!  

When Chloe Mcshannon ran away from her foster care placements as a teenager, one day she realized that if she didn’t return to school, she’d miss her final exams. That, among many other turning points, led this remarkable young woman to where she is today—as a Camp Catch-Up intern. Read more about this remarkable young woman.

When Chloe Mcshannon ran away from her foster care placements as a teenager, one day she realized that if she didn’t return to school, she’d miss her final exams. That, among many other turning points, led this remarkable young woman to where she is today—as a Camp Catch-Up intern. Read more.

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Posted in News and Events, Systems, Teen/Early Adulthood

Tyeisha Thompson Reveals the Importance of Intentional Spaces for Young People Who Experienced Foster Care and Shares Her Journey of Overcoming the System 

Tyeisha Thompson, a CYI participant and recipient of the prestigious LEAP grant, talks about how she uses her design passion and newfound support to create new, safe spaces for young people like her who experienced foster care.

Tyeisha Thompson, a CYI participant and recipient of the prestigious LEAP grant, talks about how she uses her design passion and newfound support to create new, safe spaces for young people like her who experienced foster care.

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Posted in News and Events, Systems, Teen/Early Adulthood

To Taiwan and Beyond: Beyond School Bells’ Think Make Create™ Trailer Takes Nebraska Expanded Learning Opportunities across the Globe

Learning can veer into countless directions and exciting terrains.

Afterschool provides that space, not only throughout Nebraska but the world. As you probably know, we all learn differently, but we know one thing for certain: when we are engaging ourselves and our children, our capacity for success is limitless.

In a rapidly changing, fast-paced world, our great state needs to retain and grow young, driven, and innovative professionals. There’s simply no better place than afterschool – wherever you may be – to partake in quality learning that can spark future careers.

Find out how Nebraska Children’s afterschool initiative, Beyond School Bells’ Jeff Cole and his daughter created a formidable team that’s taking afterschool halfway across the world, all the way to Taiwan and back!

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Posted in Middle Childhood, News and Events

Beyond the Books: Beyond School Bells and Young Entrepreneurs of the Future Omaha Help K-12 Students Work Toward their Dreams 

Thanks to afterschool programming, we can expand beyond traditional school hours and well into the afternoons and evenings. While parents can work, they can also rest assured that their children and teens are safe, engaged, and learning life skills! Beyond School Bells (BSB), Nebraska’s statewide network of afterschool professionals, works tirelessly with their equally energetic partners, including Bre and Travis of Young Entrepreneurs of the Future Omaha (YEF), to support their efforts to create quality expanded learning opportunities (ELOs) across the state.    

In 2018, when married couple Breann and Travis Hines began the Omaha, Nebraska-based nonprofit, Young Entrepreneurs of the Future Omaha (YEF), they set out on a mission. Their goals were to inspire the vision of youth entrepreneurship and develop self-reliance

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Posted in Middle Childhood, News and Events

Communities of Hope: Celebrating Nebraska’s Progress Towards Well-being and a Vision for the Future

After a 2-year delay, Bring Up Nebraska partners were finally able to gather in Lincoln to celebrate how Nebraska has become a national leader on building a community-based well-being system! On April 13-14, leaders from many of the community collaboratives across the state met with state and national partners in Lincoln.

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Posted in News and Events

The Power of Partnerships; the Essence of Failure: Beyond School Bells, Young Entrepreneurs of the Future, and VentureLab Empower Youth  

Meet our new generation of businesspeople!

Girls create DJing businesses. Kids embody different food truck roles. Youth operate socially-conscious clothing brands and learn braiding, cosmetology, budgeting, and pricing, all thanks to your support of our Beyond School Bells initiative, VentureLab, and Young Entrepreneurs of the Future Omaha!

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Posted in Middle Childhood, News and Events

In Living Watercolor: Grai Gray Paints a Vibrant Future of Resilience with Connected Youth Initiative Supports  

Grai Gray (they/them) is making a name for themselves in every area of their lives. From featuring a watercolor piece in the University of Nebraska Omaha’s (UNO) spring juried art show to doing digital illustrations, Grai keeps their world busy and colorful.   

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Posted in News and Events, Systems, Teen/Early Adulthood

Pretty Fire: Loup Valley Childhood Initiative and Partners Light Up the Stage with a Play and Dinner to Honor Childcare Providers 

When the Loup Valley Childhood Initiative (LVCI) decided to host almost 30 early care providers for the Crane River Theatre’s moving play, Pretty Fire, the team sought to celebrate providers and a love for the performing arts. LVCI is a community-driven team that works with Nebraska Children and Families Foundation’s Communities for Kids (C4K), our early childhood initiative that provides technical expertise, supports, and solutions that suit each location’s early care and education needs for children birth-5.  Read more about their innovative approach to honoring childcare providers.

When the Loup Valley Childhood Initiative (LVCI) decided to host almost 30 early care providers for the Crane River Theatre’s moving play, Pretty Fire, the team sought to celebrate providers and a love for the performing arts. LVCI is a community-driven team that works with Nebraska Children and Families Foundation’s Communities for Kids (C4K), our early childhood initiative that provides technical expertise, supports, and solutions that suit each location’s early care and education needs for children birth-5.  Read more about their innonative approach to honoring childcare providers.

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Posted in Early Childhood

Nebraska Child Abuse Prevention Fund Board Recognizes Nebraska Children’s Community Collaborative Partners in Supporting Thriving Families  

April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month, which marks a time when Nebraska Children and Families Foundation reaffirms our commitment to prevention. As we work toward a thriving Nebraska, we and our community partners strengthen families by preventing problems before they start. Read how you can get involved in community collaboratives to strengthen children and families!

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Posted in Early Childhood, News and Events

“No More Band-aids”: Community Partnerships Build Better Early Childhood Systems

There may be truth to the old adage, “it takes a village,” when it comes to developing quality early childhood care systems. After all, the National Institute for Children’s Health Quality concluded that the coordinated systems needed to impact families’

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Posted in Early Childhood, Uncategorized

Christen Million Shares Why We Need to Close the Gap of Systemic Inequities

   Christen Million, one of Nebraska Children's experts, reflects on her passion for working with children, along with her future plans.

“I always knew I wanted to work with children. My vision for what that looked like changed and grew throughout my undergraduate program and the beginning of my career. Ultimately, everything led me to exactly where I needed to be, which is currently an Assistant Vice President of Early Childhood Mental Health with the Rooted in Relationships initiative at Nebraska Children and Families Foundation, and one of the co-leads for the Nebraska Pyramid Leadership Team.”
  
Christen Million, one of Nebraska Children’s experts, reflects on her passion for working with children, along with her future plans.

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Posted in Early Childhood, News and Events

Full-Service Community Schools Deliver an Innovative Approach to Supporting Students, Teachers, and Families Alike!   

Nebraska Children and the Nebraska Department of Education are addressing pandemic-related setbacks through the Together, Better Initiative, a deliberate series of efforts geared toward strengthening students and families in the most essential ways. Among these efforts is the piloted project, Full-Service Community Schools (FSCS).  

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Posted in Early Childhood, Middle Childhood, News and Events, Teen/Early Adulthood
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