First Five Nebraska

FFN's Grassroots and Advocacy Advisor Jodi-Renee Girón spent an afternoon this week with Lincoln Childcare Center Directors Association members for a collaborative working and training session focused on strengthening their advocacy and leadership skills. The goal is to continue building their knowledge, confidence and connections to make change happen. #NEleg #Nebraska #ChildCare

FFN Policy Advisor Mitchell Clark testifying on #LR472 on Head Start: Two recommendations for the Legislature to address critical priorities: 1) formally define Head Start in state statute and recognize it as an essential partner in Nebraska’s early childhood system, and 2) authorize a pathway for nonlicensed Head Start programs to acquire fingerprint-based background checks. Nebraska must take proactive steps to safeguard Head Start’s proven model and provide stability for local providers, children and families. #NEleg #HeadStart #EarlyChildhoodEducation #Nebraska

FFN Policy Advisor Mitchell Clark is testifying on #LR472 on Head Start: Proposed federal changes to program performance standards could create a level of instability not seen before. One change would add another layer to background checks and another removes requirements to check child abuse and sex offender registries. #NEleg #HeadStart #EarlyChildhoodEducation #Nebraska

FFN Policy Advisor Mitchell Clark testifying on #LR472 on Head Start: Head Start faces ongoing fiscal and regulatory pressures with flat funding while operational costs compound. The result is that local grantees face immense financial strain. #NEleg #HeadStart #EarlyChildhoodEducation #Nebraska

FFN Policy Advisor Mitchell Clark is testifying on #LR472 on Head Start: Examining what other states are doing around Head Start highlights key areas where Nebraska can evolve, particularly in early childhood integrated data systems (ECIDS). In addition, some states provide supplemental funding and quality enhancements for their Head Start programs. #NEleg #HeadStart #EarlyChildhoodEducation #Nebraska

FFN Policy Advisor Mitchell Clark is testifying on #LR472 on Head Start: Nebraska Head Start programs are integrated through mixed-delivery models, including schools, ESUs and Sixpence partnerships. Its rigorous standards are recognized by Step Up to Quality, Nebraska’s quality rating and improvement system, by being allowed to start at Step 3; Head Start is integrated into the state’s Early Developmental Network which coordinates services for children with disabilities. #NEleg #HeadStart #EarlyChildhoodEducation #Nebraska

FFN Policy Advisor Mitchell Clark is testifying on #LR472 on Head Start: Head Start operates under the federal Head Start Act and its regulatory code, the Head Start Program Performance Standards. It provides services for income-eligible children and families to ensure high-quality early education and support. #NEleg #HeadStart #EarlyChildhoodEducation #Nebraska

Larianne Polk, CEO of the ESU Coordinating Council, is testifying on #LR472 on Head Start, including ways to reduce unnecessary regulatory burdens while maintaining high-quality services for children and families. #NEleg #Nebraska #HeadStart #EarlyChildhoodEducation

Jennifer Adhima, chief program officer at Nebraska Early Childhood Collaborative, is testifying in the hearing for #LR472 on Head Start: Wraparound Early Head Start services create conditions infants and toddlers need to thrive. By coordinating educational, health, developmental, social and economic support, Early Head Start promotes healthy development, strengthens families, protects children and helps parents build greater stability. #NEleg #HeadStart #EarlyChildhoodEducation #Nebraska

Jennifer Adhima, chief program officer at Nebraska Early Childhood Collaborative, is testifying in the hearing for #LR472 on Head Start. Early Head Start provides important wraparound services, including health, dental and mental health services, developmental and early intervention support, family support services and parent engagement and education. #NEleg #HeadStart #EarlyChildhoodEducation #Nebraska

Jill Bomberger, COO, Community Action Partnership of Lancaster and Saunders Counties, is testifying on #LR472 on Nebraska Head Start: Head Start’s certified teachers face a systemic barrier in keeping their teaching certificates. Teaching at Head Start programs located outside of public schools does not enable them to retain their teaching certificates. Allowing Head Start teaching experience to meet requirements for teachers to retain their certificates would help keep these key professionals teaching in Head Start. #NEleg #HeadStart #EarlyChildhoodEducation #Nebraska

Jill Bomberger, COO at Community Action Partnership of Lancaster and Saunders Counties, is testifying on #LR472 on Nebraska Head Start: Local design is a key element of the Head Start model. Core elements of quality are standard across programs, but each program is charged to tailor the way they provide Head Start services to meet the needs of their local community. #NEleg #HeadStart #EarlyChildhoodEducation #Nebraska

Mark Haba, Head Start parent who serves on several Head Start boards, is testifying on #LR472 on Head Start: Good roots are important, for everything from grass to the pastures and to corn and soybean fields across Nebraska. That’s what Head Start does for kids. It helps build good roots for further education and gives kids a head start in life. #NEleg #HeadStart #EarlyChildhoodEducation #Nebraska

Mark Haba, Head Start parent who serves on several Head Start boards, is testifying in the Legislature’s hearing on #LR472 on Head Start: Head Start is much more than preschool. It helps children arrive at school healthy and ready to learn and it helps us access the health, nutrition, disability, mental health and family services we need and can’t be easily accessed otherwise. #NEleg #HeadStart #EarlyChildhoodEducation #Nebraska

Senator Clouse on Head Start #LR472: Head Start is a foundational pillar of early learning and deserves stability. There are key policy areas that warrant the Legislature’s review: Head Start lacks formal recognition in Nebraska state statute, and there is an ongoing issue with many programs lacking a pathway to access federally required fingerprint-based background check. #NEleg #HeadStart #EarlyChildhoodEducation #Nebraska

Senator Clouse on Head Start #LR472: Head Start services are delivered through two program models: Head Start Preschool, which promotes school readiness and healthy development for children ages 3 to 5, and Early Head Start, which supports infants, toddlers, expectant parents and families to foster healthy development and postpartum recovery. #NEleg #HeadStart #EarlyChildhoodEducation #Nebraska

Senator Clouse on Head Start #LR472: Head Start is a proven model for school readiness because it goes far beyond high-quality early childhood education. Programs provide regular developmental screenings, access to health and dental services, specialized instruction for children with disabilities and supports for children experiencing homelessness or involved in the child welfare system. Programs also deliver prenatal and postpartum care, family well-being supports, emergency assistance and active leadership through parent council. #NEleg #HeadStart #EarlyChildhoodEducation #Nebraska

Senator Clouse on Head Start #LR472: Recent federal developments proposing to redefine Head Start make it imperative for the state to re-examine its lack of policy for the program. This year, the most significant federal rulemaking proposal in its history was introduced to overhaul Head Start Program Performance Standards. Doing our part to better understand and support Head Start as a state will ensure that it is preserved for Nebraska families. #NEleg #HeadStart #EarlyChildhoodEducation #Nebraska

Senator Clouse on Head Start #LR472: Over the decades, Head Start has evolved significantly through structural updates and modernizations to expand service delivery and reach more children and families. Despite these evolutions and its deep community roots, Head Start Nebraska has largely existed outside of Nebraska state statute. #NEleg #HeadStart #EarlyChildhoodEducation #Nebraska

State Senator Clouse is introducing his #LR472, a comprehensive overview of Head Start Nebraska: Head Start in Nebraska is a federally funded, locally tailored program unique from most other early childhood programs. It has served as an integral community partner in breaking generational poverty and serving people with limited options for early care and education or other support services. #NEleg #HeadStart #EarlyChildhoodEducation #Nebraska