Community Action Steps

View and filter action steps by community collaborative

Details

The Buffalo County Early Childhood Collaborative has a defined purpose, goals and tactics to expand high quality childcare in homes and centers. In 2025, Buffalo County will expand their Rooted in Relationships work to reach more providers. Four rural communities are interested in creating a share vision for early childhood in their communities. Elm Creek, Pleasanton and Ravenna have received C4K funding to create a plan, Gibbon is beginning to explore opportunities in next grant cycle. Buffalo County is part of UNK's KNEW project which is starting this year to support workforce development. The Chamber and Economic Development in Kearney is meeting with childcare providers to explore models to take advantage of childcare tax credits. And most recently, Buffalo County Community Partners was asked to be the fiscal agent for Region 6 - One Nebraska project to expand upon an existing Buffalo County Childcare Champion model into 26 central NE counties. This project will be announced by the Governor in January/February 2026 and will be expanded opportunities for collaboratives serving the Region 6 area of Central Community College.

Activity Information
Ongoing
Tana Miller
N/A N/A
C-ACT-1060

Details

The groups mission is to improve the lives of young children and their families through advocacy, collaboration, empowerment, and resource development. Additionally, specific to the community of Schuyler, the community is mobilized to close the gap of children not in licensed, quality care with a goal of developing a new childcare center breaking ground end of 2025.

Activity Information
In Progress
Kim Parsons, Hailey Crumley, Roberta Miksch
N/A
C-ACT-1017

Details

The group's role is to examine a number of Early Childhood-focused initiatives, programs and opportunities and make recommendations to UW and CIN.  The recommendations focus on how to best incorporate, coordinate and support these different efforts.  The group serves as the communication and guidance hub for Early Childhood efforts throughout the four-county region within an overall understanding of community wellbeing.

Activity Information
Ongoing
Wendy Gwennap
N/A N/A
C-ACT-1016

Details

Early Childhood Connections: Ensures children and families access resources that support early learning and development, partnering with local schools and providers to address service gaps. Childcare Solutions: Identifies challenges in the childcare system and works with providers to improve access, affordability, and quality, including securing grants and addressing workforce issues. (Child Care Gallery walk, Business Survey) Early Childhood and Community Coordinator: Supports childcare providers with training, technical assistance, and guidance on licensing, grants, and best practices.

Activity Information
Ongoing
JoAnn Gieselman
N/A N/A
C-ACT-1142

Details

Working on after school care, working on resources for Spanish speaking providers to become licensed in-home care. Working to educate policy makers on supportive legislation that positively impacts the community.

Activity Information
Ongoing
Jessica Hammers, Collective Impact Manager CDHD
N/A N/A
C-ACT-1322

Details

In 2024, Madison counties Rooted in Relationships expansion extended its acceptance to surrounding counties to apply for the program. We are currently serving, Antelope, Boone, Madison, Pierce, Wayne, and Thurston. The Norfolk Family Coalition is also a strong partner with the Norfolk Area Childhood Collaborative that is made up of local businesses that are coming together to address the shortage in child care spots in the community. There also was a need for in-home provider meetings, that Norfolk is currently doing and is going to continue to meet with those providers to provide additional support, resources, and networking opportunities.

Activity Information
Ongoing
Merisa Nathan
N/A N/A
C-ACT-1218

Details

The misson of our ECFC committee is; Improving children's lives through collaboration, innovation, and dedication.

Activity Information
Ongoing
Merisa Nathan
N/A N/A
C-ACT-1217

Details

Build collaboration among agencies, networks, and the broader community to find innovative solutions to improve the quality of life for families with young children and their communities in the Panhandle. Child Well Being indicators are tracked as part of a collection process of state and local data which are used for continuous quality improvement. Early Childhood System Programs include: Rooted in Relationships, Communities for Kids, Sixpence, Head Start, Healthy Families Home Visitation, school-based early childcare programs, agency childcare programs, in-home childcare programs and others. Partners include: providers, public health, community action, LEAs, community college, NE Extension and others.

Activity Information
Ongoing
Nici Johnson
N/A N/A
C-ACT-1254