Strategic Engagement
Raising capable, successful and healthy children is about more than good parenting. It’s about changing the way we collectively think, talk and make decisions to support children’s early development—even when they’re not our own kids.
Changing the public conversation about early childhood
First Five Nebraska keeps you engaged and informed about childhood policies and initiatives that impact all Nebraskans. We spark the conversation about early childhood through strategic engagement of policymakers, business and economic leaders, early childhood professionals and families in communities across Nebraska. By changing the conversation, we can effect change in our neighborhoods, workplaces, communities and state. Our strategic engagement efforts include:
- Elevate understanding about the impact of early childhood care and learning programs on economic growth and community vitality.
- Providing early childhood expertise and guidance to Nebraska business, industry and economic development interests.
- Provide actionable resources and technical assistance to business and community stakeholders ready to create change in their communities.
- Facilitate supportive relationships between local businesses and early childhood providers and programs to support Nebraska families, communities and businesses.
Messaging Campaigns
We use strategic messaging to build an honest and well-informed conversation about the importance of early childhood. Below are some examples of our recent campaigns.
Meet Your Future
Strong, vibrant communities and a productive future workforce are rooted in the skills and capabilities children begin to acquire in the earliest years of life. In 2013, First Five Nebraska launched Meet Your Future, inviting audiences to learn what role today’s children will play in growing Nebraska’s prosperity and quality of life just a few short decades from now. The campaign envisions this generation’s Nebraska children as the next generation of doctors, lawyers and other skilled professionals. Combining broadcast and social media messaging with a statewide reach, Meet Your Future helps early childhood champions to build a lively and engaging conversation in their own communities. Learn More.
My Nebraska Story
Every family, business and community in Nebraska has a story—and the availability of quality child care affects how those stories unfold. My Nebraska Story offers a robust library of video, social media and print resources designed to help advocates engage business leaders and other stakeholders on the role child care plays in attracting and anchoring working parents and families in Nebraska communities, creating the talent pool our state needs to thrive. Visit the campaign website.
Featured Publications
Early Childhood Policy Leadership Academy alumni are making a difference
“We live in a world in which we need to share responsibility. It’s easy to say ‘It’s not my child, not my community, not my world, not my problem.’ Then there are those who see the need and respond. I consider those people my heroes.” I have a library of Mr. Rogers...
Chamber economic development panel: Child care is crucial to addressing workforce crisis
First Five Nebraska led a panel at the Nebraska Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s recent Economic Development Summit on addressing the state’s workforce crisis. The discussion examined how high-quality early childhood care and education bolsters Nebraska businesses,...
Policy Leadership Academy session focuses on driving change at the local level
Organize, activate, sustain. This is the framework for driving meaningful change at the local level through effective advocacy—especially our efforts to grow more vibrant communities for young children and their families. Last week, nearly 40 members of the 2021-22...
Boone Beginnings—A community celebration of quality child care
At the open house and celebration of Boone Beginnings in Albion on November 7, I realized something: I miss the power of celebrating the completion of a major community project. As a former economic development director, I experienced the opportunities of seeing...
FFN testifies on using ARPA to invest in early childhood workforce
FFN Director Jason Prokop said ARPA funds can help stabilize Nebraska’s early childhood workforce in testimony before the Appropriations Committee this week.
2021-22 Policy Leadership Academy kicks off in Kearney
Nebraska’s statewide community of early childhood policy advocates just got larger. This past week, the 2021-22 class of the Nebraska Early Childhood Policy Leadership Academy (PLA) kicked off in Kearney after a one-year pause in the program due to the onset of...
