Start Early. Start Well.
Applied research in support of the learning and development of children at risk, birth through age 8.
Working with others to implement evidence-based practices that improve young children's learning and development.
Public policy informed by the best available evidence of what works to improve learning and developmental outcomes.
Public outreach to share what we know about early childhood and to encourage supportive environments for young children.
This program focuses on ensuring that all children have opportunities to develop, learn, and achieve their potential. Young children who are denied opportunities because of gender, racial or cultural bias, family economic status, or home language typically do not achieve their full academic or personal and social potential. Often they demonstrate achievement gaps in school, poor health outcomes over their lifetime, and unfulfilled quality of life overall. Our goal is to help all children thrive by enhancing their opportunities to learn from birth onward. MORE
This program seeks to ensure the presence of a skilled workforce in all early care and education settings. MORE
Twelve counties in the state do not have any licensed child care facilities, and a year of high-quality infant child care can cost more than college tuition.
Inadequate access to child care costs Nebraska families, businesses, and state tax revenues nearly $745 million annually in direct losses, according to a 2020 report by First Five Nebraska and UNL’s Bureau of Business Research.
The 2020 report from First Five Nebraska also found that inadequate child care costs an average of 3,337 jobs each year in the state.