News Rachel Bythwood Ayers News Rachel Bythwood Ayers

Facing child care crisis, rural providers band together to stay open.

Nearly 4 million children in the United States can't get into a licensed child care center, costing states about $1 billion per year in lost economic activity from parents missing work or stepping away from jobs to support their families. Jonathan Vigliotti reports from rural Nebraska, where one community pooled its resources into one central location.

Read More
News Rachel Bythwood Ayers News Rachel Bythwood Ayers

What unites Nebraskans? Supporting children and families.

Despite what promises to be a challenging year ahead for both state and federal lawmakers, one issue continues to unite Nebraskans across political lines: the care and well-being of our youngest kids.

In a new Nebraska Examiner op-ed, First Five Nebraska Deputy Director Elizabeth Everett highlights recent research showing that nearly three quarters of Nebraska voters believe families with young children are struggling—and 60% say government is doing too little to help. Across the political spectrum, Nebraskans support programs that strengthen families and don’t want to see them cut.

Read More
News Rachel Bythwood Ayers News Rachel Bythwood Ayers

Nebraska faces potential child care crisis as subsidy sunset looms.

LINCOLN, Neb. (KOLN) — Only around 50 days remain until Nebraska’s state senators gather for the next legislative session, and while facing down a massive budget shortfall is likely to demand the majority of their attention, it’s certainly not the only topic up for debate.

State Sen. Wendy DeBoer of Omaha introduced legislation in the last session to get rid of the sunset date for federal child care subsidies, set to expire Oct. 1 of next year.

Without an extension, families could see a major jump in their child care costs.

Read More