This op-ed originally ran in the Lincoln Journal Star on 9/25/2026. Nebraska needs more nurses. Nebraska needs more teachers. Walk into a nursing program or a teacher-prep classroom, and you’ll notice the same thing: almost no men. That’s a missed…
Blog Archives
Imagining the Future: Older Youth Convening Brings Nebraska Partners Together for Shared Vision
Nebraska Children and Families Foundation’s Connected Youth Initiative recently hosted the Imagining the Future: Older Youth Convening, gathering 50 participants to enhance support for older youth in foster care. Young leaders emphasized the importance of community, connection, and adult support. The meeting underlined collaboration’s role in fostering positive outcomes for young people in Nebraska.
Tagged with: connected youth, foster care, news, systems change, youth leadership
Posted in Systems, Teen/Early Adulthood, Uncategorized
Posted in Systems, Teen/Early Adulthood, Uncategorized
When Young People Find Their Voice, Everyone Wins
Why Teaching Youth Advocacy Is So Important Imagine standing in front of your state’s governor at sixteen years old, presenting a carefully researched argument about a bill that could change lives — and doing it with confidence, evidence, and heart.…
From Care to Coach: Tyeisha’s Story Shows the Power of Connection
What if the person who once needed support became the one offering it? That’s exactly what happened to Tyeisha Thompson. As a young person navigating challenges as she transitioned to adulthood, she felt alone—like no one could understand her story.…
Tagged with: coaching, connected youth, connected youth initiative, connected youth nebraska, youth leadership
Posted in Teen/Early Adulthood, Uncategorized
Posted in Teen/Early Adulthood, Uncategorized
Unearthing Stories: How Nebraska Growing Readers Brings Science and Literacy Together
When children pick up a picture book about paleontologists digging for fossils, they’re not just learning vocabulary or learning to read—they’re discovering that science happens right in their own backyard. That’s exactly what happened when two Nebraska women collaborated to…
Tagged with: books, Early Childhood, early literacy, Nebraska Growing Readers, reading
Posted in Early Childhood, Uncategorized
Posted in Early Childhood, Uncategorized
Rooted Year in Review: Building Stronger Foundations for Nebraska’s Youngest Learners
What happens when childcare providers receive the right support at the right time? Teresa Dressman, a family childcare provider in Superior, was ready to walk away from her career—overwhelmed and uncertain. Today, she’s mentoring others, presenting at conferences, and empowering…
Tagged with: childcare, childcare expulsions, children, early care and education, Early Childhood, early childhood development, education, emotional development, expelled from childcare, family, Parenting, pyramid model, Rooted in Relationships, social development
Posted in Early Childhood, News and Events
Posted in Early Childhood, News and Events
Walking Together for Recovery and Safe Beginnings in North Platte
guest blog by Jessica Vogt, CoordinatorFamilies 1st Partnership (community collaborative providing services to Arthur, Chase, Dundy, Frontier, Furnas, Hayes, Hitchcock, Keith, Lincoln, Perkins, and Red Willow Counties) In September, Families 1st Partnership hosted a Recovery Walk in North Platte to…
Why Nebraska Is Investing in Boys and the HEAL Economy
Nebraska is launching the Boys in HEAL initiative to engage boys in careers within healthcare, education, and literacy. By focusing on experiential learning and mentorship, the program aims to counter declining male representation in these essential fields, promote purpose-driven career choices, and ultimately strengthen communities while addressing workforce shortages.
Tagged with: afterschool, beyond school bells, education, HEAL professions, health, healthcare, mental health, teaching
Posted in Cradle to career, Middle Childhood, Teen/Early Adulthood, Uncategorized
Posted in Cradle to career, Middle Childhood, Teen/Early Adulthood, Uncategorized
Does Your Face Light Up?
by Sami Bradley, MaED. LIMHP, IMH-E®Vice President, Early Childhood Mental HealthNebraska Children and Families Foundation | Rooted in Relationships We spend a lot of time wondering what builds our children’s self-esteem. Is it the praise we give them? Is it…
The Treasure of Literacy
Erika Fink is a part of a recent Nebraska Growing Readers (NGR) Writers Workshop held for Sixpence home visitors and staff, Rooted in Relationships coaches, and other early childhood partners. NGR, which is a Nebraska Children and Families Foundation initiative, holds these workshops to encourage the production of local content that will be meaningful to the state’s children, families, and communities.
