Since 1965, Head Start in Nebraska has been an integral community partner in breaking generational poverty by promoting school readiness for young children and whole-family empowerment. Head Start is a federally funded, locally delivered program providing early learning, health, nutrition and family support services to income-eligible children from birth to age 5 and expectant families. The system operates through two primary program models: Early Head Start (EHS) serving pregnant women and children under age 3, and Head Start Preschool (HS), serving children ages 3 to 5.
Head Start in Nebraska currently serves 5,425 children , 136 expectant mothers and 4,834 families across 64 of the state’s 93 counties at no cost to families. However, there is an unmet need for 16,305 eligible children. Head Start provides 7% of rural and 4% of urban child care across the state.
Read the full Issue Brief for an overview of key populations served, program structure and federal funding, workforce capacity and challenges and policy recommendations related to Head Start in Nebraska.