First Five Nebraska draws upon the collective testimony of legislators, business leaders, educators, law enforcement officials and private citizens in support of a common, unified message:
The first five years are critically important for the healthy growth of Nebraska’s children, communities and economy.
Informed Citizens
Every Nebraskan a Stakeholder
The rapidly expanding body of scientific, economic and sociological evidence about the first five years tells us a great deal about the value of investing early in children’s healthy development. It also tells us that everyone has a stake in the matter.
First Five Nebraska is committed to building public will in support of high quality early childhood programs by reaching out to all sectors of our community with essential information and tools for advocacy. But it also requires the knowledge, resources and voices of business and community leaders, educators and school administrators, law enforcement officials and private citizens to create a culture that informs public policies benefitting our youngest children. Whether you are a stay-at-home parent, a worker in a community center, a civil servant, or a corporate officer, your individual insight is essential to making the comprehensive case for high quality early childhood opportunities in Nebraska.
In the Workplace
Our places of employment provide many opportunities to increase awareness of early childhood as an economic development issue, and create policies that can improve workplace productivity while fostering healthy parent-child relations.
- Invite experts on early childhood education and development to speak to your employees at corporate functions or gatherings.
- Work with your human resources department to create workplace policies that support employees with young children.
- Organize events for employees and their families that help promote a healthy work-life balance.
In the Community
In the course of our everyday routines, we regularly come in contact with civic organizations, agencies and individuals who are already positioned to become excellent platforms for advancing the message of high quality early childhood opportunities.
- Encourage libraries, recreation facilities and community centers to hold early childhood-themed events.
- Use PTO meetings and other school events as opportunities to share information about early childhood development and the effectiveness of high quality programs.
- Invite Nebraska law enforcement representatives to address your community organization on how early childhood experiences affect the safety and quality of our neighborhoods.
Make Your Voice Heard in the Legislature
However you choose to participate, it's important to stay informed on current legislation that affects Nebraska's early childhood systems.
- Visit the First Five Nebraska website regularly to stay current on legislative issues.
- Signing up for our Action Alert Emails by visiting the Contact Us page of this website.
- Write a letter to your district senator and other state legislators on specific early childhood issues. You'll find easy-to-use tools on our Current Legislation page to guide you through the process step by step.
