Child Care in Nebraska

How Community Support Can Make A Difference

Activating the Business Community

“It can’t just be policy. It can’t just be private enterprise. It’s got to be a combination of them,” Medwick said.

First Five Nebraska deployed a project called the Nebraska Employer Early Childhood Accelerator to consult employers on addressing child care needs in their workforce.

Lincoln Littles also offers consulting services for businesses, which can include a survey for employees to better understand child care needs within a company. The business can then choose to invest in child care services in various ways, including subsidizing care or partnering with nearby child care facilities.

Brandt said support for working parents doesn’t have to translate to cost either, adapting flexible work schedules, avoiding meetings at 8 a.m. and simply understanding the needs of parents to create balance can go the distance.

Child Care Workforce –Not ‘Just Babysitters’

As Medwick puts it, “Nobody who goes into the child care profession gets rich off of it.”

Despite how well-intentioned a child care provider is, if they can’t make a living, they are undoubtedly going to look elsewhere for employment.

LILLI JAMES, AN EARLY EDUCATOR AT THE UNL CHILDREN’S CENTER IN LINCOLN, NE PROVIDES A HANDS-ON, EXPERIENTIAL APPROACH TO LEARNING THAT IS BASED ON THE NEEDS AND CURIOSITY OF YOUNG CHILDREN. WE CARE FOR KIDS IS A CAMPAIGN IN THE STATE THAT IS RAISING AWARENESS OF THE IMPORTANCE OF QUALITY EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION IN NEBRASKA. (PHOTO COURTESY OF WE CARE FOR KIDS.)

“Between 2019 and now, licensed child care in Nebraska has decreased by about by nearly 10%,” he said. “And when you consider the fact that even before the pandemic, we were already operating at a deficit — 91% of counties don’t have adequate child care resources to meet local demand — that steady attrition in the child care profession is making it worse.”

Wages and benefits are big factors in the retention of current workers, but also attracting individuals to the profession means providing quality education.

Those interested in the career can consider a child development associate degree or bachelor’s program. Kids Can partners with Metropolitan Community College to educate its staff.

“One of the important aspects [of quality care] is to continue to raise the education level of all of our teachers,” Patterson said.

He noted that it’s important to acknowledge child care workers as “more than just babysitters.”

Bird said CRCC’s starting pay is $17, up from $13 a year ago. The organization also works with pipeline programs like Avenue Scholars to identify students interested in a career in child care.

Lincoln Littles recently piloted a six-week course, “Childcare Teacher Foundations Class.” Enrollment is free and attendees receive $5,000 in tuition for their child once they are employed in the field.

At Behaven Kids, the level of education of care providers can have big implications.

“Our workforce is not equipped in both numbers and competency,” said Janie Funk, clinical director at Behaven Kids. “We’re seeing higher prevalence rates of dual diagnoses, dual mental and behavioral health conditions, which complicates the care that the kids need in the first place.”

Bright Spots

According to Kara Ficke, campaign manager with We Care for Kids, a recent statewide public opinion survey commissioned by We Care for Kids and Nebraska Extension, stated that 84% of registered voters agreed that Nebraska should support child care and early education, much like it does of K-12 and higher education.

Governor Jim Pillen signed LB754 into law in May, which will give a financial boost to both families and child care providers in 2024. Two key elements of this legislature will assist families and child care providers alike. The Nebraska Child Care Tax Credit Act provides a $2,000 refundable credit per child to households making less than $75,000 a year, and $1,000 credits for households making between $75,000 and $150,000 per year. It also provides a nonrefundable credit to those who contribute to child care in the state, particularly economically disadvantaged areas. Additionally, the School Readiness Tax Credit Act restores an expired program, with improvements. Individual child care professionals can apply for a refundable tax credit between $2,300 and $3,500. A tiered, nonrefundable credit is also offered to programs that offer a child care subsidy.

Visit www.mbj.com for the full article.

BEHAVEN KIDS SUPPORTS CHILDREN NEEDING BEHAVIORAL AND MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES. (PHOTO COURTESY OF BEHAVEN KIDS)

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BY TIFFANY BRAZDA