Access to quality early childhood education is a game changer for children, families, and communities. But, Nebraska is at risk of falling behind. Families struggle to find child care, as 91% of communities with licensed child care programs do not have enough space to meet the demand. Making this challenge even harder for families and communities, early educators are leaving the profession at an alarming rate. Skilled early childhood teachers are critical to quality learning—and a thriving future—for Nebraska’s children. It’s up to us to make sure they are appreciated, supported, and recruited to serve our children, families, and state.
The goal of We Care for Kids/Por todos los niños is to build support for quality early childhood education in Nebraska – helping every Nebraskan understand that this issue impacts them. We Care for Kids provides cohesion amongst Nebraska’s networks that support early childhood and amplifies our collective efforts. Nebraska Extension is a critical campaign partner, helping the campaign reach thousands of Nebraskans in just a few short months by supporting a variety of outreach efforts and being “boots on the ground,” sharing information with communities across the state from Scottsbluff to Omaha.
Together we can:
• Raise up the stories and experiences of early childhood educators to clearly make the case for quality early childhood education in Nebraska.
• Direct families to resources and empower them to advocate for quality early childhood education for all the children in their community.
• Collaborate, provide resources, and strengthen existing networks that are already on the ground in support of early childhood education.
November 1 will mark the first monthly We Care for Kids Day, with regular celebrations recognizing the importance of quality early childhood education in Nebraska. Each month has a slightly different focus to emphasize that all members of our communities can support early childhood education. Starting in November, we will be giving extra thanks to early childhood educators who wake up every day to provide quality education to our youngest Nebraskans. Help us thank early childhood educators using a customizable thank you template. Be sure to share the template with families and community members so we can thank as many early educators as possible!
Visit https://nebraskacaresforkids.org/ to learn more.
Kara Ficke, Campaign Manager
More details at: https://nebraskacaresforkids.org/