Nebraska’s Prenatal-to-Age-3 Plan
Nebraska’s Prenatal-to-Age-3 Plan will make equitable, high-quality programs and services more accessible to pregnant women, infants and toddlers throughout the state.
Statewide initiative focused on our youngest children
The first three years—beginning in the prenatal period—are crucial to children’s lifelong development. During this time, the developing brain forms as many as one million new neural connections per second, which makes children’s earliest experiences crucial to their future learning, as well as their mental, behavioral and physical health. However, far too many families in Nebraska lack ready access to essential programs, services and systems that help meet the specific developmental needs of very young children.
In response to this challenge, First Five Nebraska is coordinating a statewide Prenatal-to-Age-3 (PN-3) Plan to advance public policies and strengthen systems to help families better guide the healthy development of their youngest children. This cross-sector effort involves close collaboration with Nebraska’s Preschool Development Grant partners—including state agencies, business and economic development leaders, early childhood professionals and families—to increase equitable access to high-quality early care and learning, health, mental health and social service supports. Nebraska’s PN-3 Plan is part of a national effort funded by the Pritzker Children’s Initiative (PCI), and led in collaboration with the National Coalition for Infants and Toddlers (NCIT) and the Prenatal-to-Three Policy Impact Center.
Increasing access across Nebraska
Working together, we have set ambitious goals for connecting more Nebraska families—especially those of low income—to essential early childhood programs and services:
- Near-term goal: 25% increase in access (15,000 children by end of 2023)
- Long-term goal: 50% increase in access (30,050 children—ongoing)
Aligned early childhood systems and supports
Nebraska’s PN-3 Plan involves community and state leaders in coordinating a full suite of aligned, accountable and sustainable early childhood systems and supports. Focus areas include:
- Ensuring higher levels of access to subsidized and transitional child care assistance
- Increasing the quality, capacity and availability of quality child care programs
- Expanding availability of nutritional supports, developmental screenings, prenatal and maternal mental health services
- Reducing infant and maternal morbidity rates
All goals and strategies for Nebraska’s PN-3 Plan represent a commitment to ensure equitable participation so families, children and providers of diverse race, ethnicity and language can thrive.
Featured Publications
LB856 would increase child care worker recruitment and retention
State Senator John Fredrickson, representing District 20 in central west Omaha, introduced LB856, which excludes all earned and unearned income for child care subsidy applications if the applicant or household member is self-employed at a licensed child care program...
FFN 2024 priority legislation focuses on child care, maternal health, literacy, home visiting
The Second Session of the 108th Nebraska Legislature convened January 3 for a 60-day session. In his State of the State address to lawmakers, Governor Pillen prioritized property taxes, regulatory barriers and affordable housing, and also emphasized the importance of...
Apprenticeships can help build Nebraska’s early childhood workforce
Tracy Gordon is executive director of the Nebraska Association for the Education of Young Children (Nebraska AEYC). She testified before the Nebraska Legislature's Education Committee December 1, 2023, on LR251, an interim study introduced by State Senator Robert...
LR251: Apprenticeships offer new pathways to enter the early childhood workforce
Apprenticeship programs are emerging as a viable recruitment and retention tool for the early childhood workforce. First Five Nebraska thanks State Senator Robert Dover (District 19) for introducing LR251, an interim study looking at how apprenticeships could be used...
Maternal care deserts result in adverse outcomes for Nebraska mothers and babies
The Nebraska Legislature’s Health and Human Services Committee heard testimony on LR154, introduced by State Senator Jen Day (District 49) to examine maternal care deserts in Nebraska and to highlight this critical issue in our state. State senators heard how...
State Senator Eliot Bostar receives Nebraska Early Childhood Policy Champion award
State Senator Eliot Bostar (District 29) is the inaugural recipient of the Nebraska Early Childhood Policy Champion Award at a presentation ceremony at the State Capitol. The award was founded this year by First Five Nebraska and will be presented annually to...