Blog Archives

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

Posted on April 7, 2022 by Nebraska Children — Leave a comment

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.

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

Posted on April 7, 2022 by Nebraska Children — Leave a comment

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!

Stick Creek Kids and Communities for Kids Open the Doors to Quality Early Childhood Care and Education

Posted on March 18, 2022 by Nebraska Children — Leave a comment

Stick Creek Kids and Nebraska Children and Families Foundation’s Communities for Kids have worked hard to arrive at their destination: more quality early care and education in Nebraska. Surprises, lessons, and discoveries were all part of seeing Stick Creek Kids brought to reality. But whenever the water levels rose, the community rose up as well.

In-Home and Center-Based Providers Agree: Circle of Security Classroom™ Promotes Healthy and Secure Relationships!

Posted on February 22, 2022 by Nebraska Children — 1 Comment

Imagine feeling free to try new things and explore, then being able to re-enter in for reassurance, support, and anything else you need before you set back out again. The whole time, knowing that no matter what you did or where you went, there was always that safe base for you to come back home. Read how our early childhood mental health experts and partners work throughout Nebraska to implement the Circle of Security Classroom (COSP-C™) approach, which helps teachers and childcare providers forge supportive bonds with children!

Mission and Ministry: Kenesaw Opens its New Childcare Center, Thanks to its Committed Residents and Communities for Kids

Posted on June 9, 2021 by Nebraska Children — Leave a comment

Whether you’re a believer in fate, divine intervention, or hard work, Adams County Communities for Kids blends these elements. Find out how patience and faith created the perfect childcare center at the perfect time. Read more.

Chasing Down and Living the Dream: Thanks to the Whole Community, Stick Creek Kids Opens its Doors! 

Posted on April 28, 2021 by Nebraska Children — Leave a comment

Welcome to Wood River, Nebraska. Their Communities for Kids (C4K) core team is proud to announce the opening of their childcare center, Stick Creek Kids. But like most dreams, the team hasn’t always walked on a smooth path. But rather than backing down, they embarked on the challenging road. Together, with the help of their community, the center’s doors will open.  Read more about how this community accomplished this remarkable feat.

Early Childhood Event Builds Bilingual Partnerships Between Providers and Families

Posted on April 15, 2021 by Nebraska Children — 1 Comment

On Saturday, April 24, from 9:00-10:00 a.m. the counties will hold back-to-back Zoom sessions, one in English and one in Spanish, to inspire conversations about the bi-lingual experience in childcare. The event, titled “Supporting Spanish Speakers in Early Childhood,” offers providers insight into Latinx cultures and invites Spanish-speaking families to better understand the requirements of the American educational system and to engage actively with the providers who care for their children. Read more about this event!

Prevent Child Abuse Nebraska Recognizes Every Community’s Role in Supporting Thriving Families

Posted on April 12, 2021 by Nebraska Children — Leave a comment

On April 2nd, several Bring Up Nebraska partner organizations, and including First Lady Susanne Shore and DHHS CEO Dannette Smith met to plant blue pinwheels on the lawn of the Governor’s Residence.

Governor Ricketts signed a proclamation declaring April Child Abuse Prevention Month in Nebraska. Here, DHHS CEO Dannette Smith (left) poses with First Lady Shore (right) who is holding the proclamation.

Tagged with: Bring Up Nebraska, child abuse, Child Abuse Prevention, child well being, dhhs, prevent child abuse, Susanne Shore
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The New Nebraska: How Loup Valley Childhood Initiative Continues to Create Communities for Kids

Posted on November 24, 2020 by Nebraska Children — Leave a comment

Long before COVID, Ord has proven to be a place of reinvention. Most recently, one of the town’s most pressing projects has been to address the childcare scarcity. Some of the women behind this effort are Loup Valley Childhood Initiative core leaders and Ord residents, Melani Flynn, Katie Walmsley, and Kristina Foth. Read more about how these women and their community work to create quality childcare.

You Are Not Alone: Dawson County’s Early Childhood Professional Learning Series Provides Reassurance and Resolve for Motivated Staff

Posted on November 6, 2020 by Nebraska Children — Leave a comment

Many professionals, especially those who work in early childhood education and care, but also teachers of every age tend to shoulder a tremendous amount of responsibility. You walk into a classroom, make decisions, then hope that you did the right things. The truth is, no matter how skilled, every talented professional will occasionally feel alone or overwhelmed. These are the moments when the Early Childhood Professional Learning Series can help. Read more about early care providers Arlie Herrick and Dee Coble’s experiences in participating in the Series.