Folks in the Norfolk area: State Senator Rob Dover is holding a community conversation about #ChildCare on Saturday, 10/24, starting at 9 a.m. FFN is a sponsor of this event, along with Norfolk Family Coalition, Norfolk Area Childcare and Northeast Community College. We hope to see you there! #Nebraska

A landmark new report released by First Five Nebraska yesterday, “Growing with Care: Child Care and Economic Opportunity in Lancaster County,” reveals staggering numbers: Inadequate childcare costs Lincoln and Lancaster County $288.8 million in business output and $264.2 million in lost labor income annually. Report author Dr. Katie Bass, Director of Policy Research at Early Futures Partnership, which includes First Five Nebraska, emphasized that turning these numbers around will require a balanced strategy. "Strengthening the childcare system will require data-driven solutions that take access, affordability and quality into account in equal measure," said Bass. She noted that the report was produced by bringing together the childcare industry, the broader business community, the city and the county, demonstrating that area leaders are ready to take action. #ChildCare @LincolnChamber @LancasterCo_Ne @CityOfLincoln @LincolnLittles Learn more: loom.ly/z-qvEOY

"There is an estimated impact of nearly $289-million in business output, including direct and multiplier effects, on the impacts of a child care gap in Lincoln and Lancaster County. The report called “Growing with Care: Child Care and Economic Opportunity in Lancaster County” from First Five Nebraska also shows an estimated loss of $264 million in lost labor income because of inadequate child care. It also evaluated the current child care system through access, affordability and quality." kfornow.com/inadequate-child…

"On paper, childcare capacity in Lancaster County looks steady. Capacity is growing at childcare centers, which is masking the loss of smaller providers, according to a report. The number of family home childcare providers has fallen 35% in recent years." The smaller, home-based providers are often more affordable for families. The report, "Growing with Care: Child Care and Economic Opportunity in Lancaster County," by First Five Nebraska was sponsored by the @LincolnChamber, @LancasterCo_Ne, @CityOfLincoln and @LincolnLittles. #ChildCare 1011now.com/2026/10/21/repor…

"Lincoln's economy is suffering—to the tune of hundreds of millions of dollars—as a result of an inadequate childcare system, and a new report digs into why that's the case. Katie Bass, co-author of 'Growing with Care' by First Five Nebraska, said it's time to find data-informed solutions to the childcare crisis. 'Not only is there a cost to action, there's a cost to inaction...If the system cannot meet the needs, our economy will suffer overall.' " journalstar.com/news/local/e…

Thank you to the Lincoln Chamber of Commerce, City of Lincoln, Lancaster County and Lincoln Littles for hosting the release of "Growing with Care: Child Care and Economic Opportunity in Lancaster County" today. FFN's new report examines childcare in our area and the impact of inadequate care options for local families, businesses and communities. The findings are clear: Investing in childcare solutions is essential for building a stronger workforce and economy. Learn more: bit.ly/4siDvbd #ChildCare #Nebraska @LincolnChamber @LancasterCo_Ne @CityOfLincoln @MayorLeirion @SeanRFlowerday @LincolnLittles

"Inadequate child care costs Lancaster County an estimated $288.8 million annually in business output, according to a new report released Wednesday that documents the effects on working families, employers and the local economy. The estimate includes direct economic losses and ripple effects through the economy. The report separately estimates $264.2 million in lost labor income, a reduction of 1,115 jobs in Lancaster County and $10.44 million in lost Nebraska income tax revenue. The findings come from 'Growing with Care: Child Care and Economic Opportunity in Lancaster County', a First Five Nebraska report sponsored by the City of Lincoln, Lancaster County, the Lincoln Chamber of Commerce and Lincoln Littles. klin.com/2026/10/21/report-i…

New polling conducted on behalf of First Five Nebraska and the First Five Years Fund highlights an overwhelming bipartisan consensus: Childcare is a critical workforce and economic issue in Nebraska, and voters want action. Key takeaways from the poll: 73% say childcare is a crisis or major problem for working families. 76% support a state child tax credit, with 74% backing an expanded credit for families with children ages birth to age 5. 70% agree that expanding access to childcare directly strengthens Nebraska's workforce and economy. Strong bipartisan support continues for Head Start and the federal Child Care Modernization Act. Learn more in our blog post and click the Nebraska Polling Memo link for additional polling results: loom.ly/nKeVFJA To find all our blog posts at our new online home at earlyfutures.org, click on the News tab top right on the home page. #ChildCare #Nebraska #HeadStart

A special thank you to former State Senator Annette Dubas for delivering the keynote on the power of grassroots advocacy at this year's Policy Leadership Academy kickoff! With a passion for public service, Dubas previously served as the first executive director of the Nebraska Association of Behavioral Health Organizations. Today she continues her work as the central Nebraska director of programming for NAMI Nebraska, where she champions education, support and advocacy for individuals and families navigating mental health conditions. @NebraskaNAMI #Nebraska #NEleg

The 8th cohort of the Nebraska Early Childhood Policy Leadership Academy (PLA) kicked off in Kearney this week! Over the next five months, these emerging leaders will build their skills in grassroots advocacy, early childhood policy and leadership. Day One covered the roots and cycle of effective advocacy, how to build momentum for early childhood issues and how to research, interpret and use local data in their advocacy work. Huge thanks to our first-session speakers: Jodi-Renee Girón, PLA coordinator and FFN's grassroots and advocacy advisor; Dr. Katie Bass, director of policy research at Early Futures Partnership; Annette Dubas, former state senator and central Nebraska director of programming for @NebraskaNAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness); and Maddie Gates, community engagement lead at @LincolnLittles. #PLA #NECLeaders #Nebraska @earlyfutures

The number of childcare workers in Nebraska from the first quarter of 2025 to the first quarter of 2026 looked like there was very little change. However, during that time, 4,265 workers left the industry and 4,083 workers entered it. That's a significant turnover rate. Looking at a single number can hide major changes, which is why considering hiring, turnover, retention and separation together give a better indication of the health of an industry. In a guest blog post for FFN, the Nebraska Department of Labor breaks down how these rates are measured and why examining hiring, turnover, retention and separation gives a clearer picture of the childcare industry as a whole. Learn more: earlyfutures.org/news/behind… #Nebraska #ChildCare

We're excited to share some big news: First Five Nebraska has a new home! Beginning this week, all the features and resources housed on First Five Nebraska's website have officially moved to our new online location on the Early Futures Partnership website at earlyfutures.org. You'll still find all the FFN tools and information you rely on—including our public policy updates, child care affordability calculator, blog and more—now alongside information about our sister initiative, Communities for Kids. Visit FFN at our new home at earlyfutures.org and explore the work we're doing to build stronger systems to support young children and families.