Latest news with #WeCareforKids
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Nebraska sees dip in national ‘Kids Count' ranking for youth well-being
Nebraska ranks No. 10 in overall child well-being, according to the latest Kids Count data book. In this photo, Dimensions Education Programs in Lincoln provides a hands-on, experiential approach to learning that is based on the needs and curiosity of young children. (Courtesy of We Care for Kids) OMAHA — Nebraska dropped a notch — from No. 9 to No. 10 — in a national ranking for overall child well-being, according to the latest Kids Count data book, a 50-state examination of how youths are faring in post-pandemic America. The report, released Monday, shows that while still in the top 10, Nebraska's overall ranking has been trending down over the past few years, according to information collected and analyzed for the national Annie E. Casey Foundation. In the 2023 and 2022 data books, Nebraska ranked No. 8 overall. It was No. 7 in the 2021 report. The data book, now in its 36th year, presents national and state information from 16 indicators in four broad areas: economy, education, health, and family and community factors. Each state gets an overall well-being ranking and also is ranked by each of the four broader areas or domains. Advocates say Nebraska's overall ranking was driven by the state's strong economic showing, which considers poverty rates and the share of teens who are working or in school. For its economic health impact on youths, Nebraska scored as the third-best state. Voices for Children in Nebraska, in providing perspective, noted that the state's economy remained stable throughout the pandemic and post-pandemic recovery. It said 11% of children were in poverty in 2023, the same as before the pandemic started in 2019. About 81% of Nebraska families with children had at least one parent working full time in 2019, the same percentage as in 2021, 2022 and 2023. Meanwhile, according to the latest report, only 4% of teens ages 16 to 19 were not attending school or not working (the second-lowest share in the nation, says Voices for Children in Nebraska). 'The economic picture didn't crumble with the pandemic,' said Josh Shirk, research coordinator for Voices for Children in Nebraska. He said expansion of food programs for kids and the child tax credit helped. Nebraska 'is dragging behind,' however, in education, Shirk said. Reading scores for fourth graders worsened since 2015 and, he said, the pandemic appeared to exacerbate the problem. According to the report, the share of kids in the fourth grade not reading at a proficient level rose from 63% in 2019 to 72% in 2024. In addition to Nebraska's No. 3 rank for economic well-being, Nebraska in the 2025 data book was ranked No. 21 in the education domain; No. 17 in health and No. 15 in family and community factors. The annual data book is intended to help policy makers, advocates and communities make decisions and policies that help young people thrive. 'We know what kids need to grow up healthy and connected so they can thrive as adults — stable homes, strong schools, nutritious food, meaningful relationships and opportunities to learn, play and grow,' said Juliet Summers, executive director at Voices for Children, Nebraska's representative in the Casey Foundation's Kids Count network. Summers said programs that meet those needs are smart investments. 'Nebraska has a lot to be proud of, but also plenty of work still to do to maximize opportunity for all our state's children,' she said. Shirk said the kids-focused organization is concerned with what is ahead, as Congress grapples with the national budget. 'Things like food insecurity, health insurance. Those numbers could get much worse over the next few years if we take away programs,' he said. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Yahoo
11-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Nebraska needs lasting answers to our state's child care crisis
Child care that is high quality and affordable is vital to Nebraska's economy. (Stock photo by) Nebraska's lawmakers are hard at work in the state Legislature, debating how best to make Nebraska a great place to live, raise a family and do business. One solution that could accomplish all those goals: finding lasting answers to our state's child care crisis. Widespread access to affordable, quality child care would allow Nebraska's economy to thrive, letting parents work and businesses grow, while nurturing children's healthy development. That's why We Care for Kids hosted an educational event for policymakers last month, bringing together Nebraska state senators and staff for a conversation about the child care crisis. The event featured early childhood experts who shared research on child care gaps throughout the state and voter opinions on the crisis. The takeaways: Nebraska needs more quality child care options, and voters want the state to help solve the crisis. Currently, the gap between the potential need for child care and the actual capacity in the state is more than 17,000 spaces. Nebraskans realize that child care is an essential piece of our economic infrastructure. However, running a child care program is not currently a sustainable business model. As an early childhood educator, I know this pain first-hand. And as a member of the We Care for Kids advisory group, I know I'm not alone. Child care is a labor-intensive industry, with labor costs making up 70-80% of a typical program's operating costs. Teachers currently earn an average of $14 per hour – not enough to meet basic housing, food, health care, and other needs. Those average hourly wages will go up due to Nebraska's voter-mandated minimum wage increase, but many talented child care teachers are still choosing to leave the profession for jobs at Costco, Walmart and Hobby Lobby due to higher wages and perks. The problem is that child care providers cannot charge families more. Child care already costs more than the average yearly cost of college tuition for most families. As a result, child care programs struggle to stay open. Employers lose workers when parents must leave the workforce or turn down job opportunities due to a lack of access to child care in their communities. It's a loss for families, a loss for educators, a loss for businesses, and a loss for Nebraska. The solution will have to come from many directions, including state policymakers. In a survey conducted by We Care for Kids and Nebraska Extension last year, results show Nebraska voters want the Legislature to address the child care crisis with significant, long-term state investment. The survey found 84% of Nebraskans want the state to support child care and early learning like it does K-12 schools and higher education. This includes majorities across geography, gender, age and political party. An earlier poll from the University of Nebraska and Nebraska Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources had similar findings, with the majority of those polled strongly agreeing that public resources should be invested to support the availability of child care in our communities. For three years now, We Care for Kids has brought together more than 140 state and community organizations, businesses and municipalities to raise awareness about the importance of quality child care in our state. Nebraskans understand the importance. Now we want answers. We know the future for all Nebraskans is closely tied with our ability to provide affordable, quality child care so that everyone can choose to participate in the economy. Part of the solution will need to come from our representatives in the Legislature, part from community members and partnership efforts like We Care for Kids and part from Nebraska voters insisting this is a critical issue for our state. It will take all of us to help support the child care industry to make it a sustainable resource for Nebraska families and businesses. Denita Julius owns Little Sprouts Child Care in Chadron. Denita also serves on the campaign advisory group for We Care for Kids/Por todos los niños. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
