News from First Five Nebraska
 May 2016
 

 

Our vision is that all Nebraska children begin kindergarten with the experience they need to become successful students and productive citizens.  

 


Registration is open for UNL's Bullying Prevention Confer-ence on June 13 at Nebraska Innovation Campus.  The conference is free but registration is required and space is limited. 

Topics covered include prevention of bullying in preschool, the importance of play with young children and how to structure nurturing environments for youngsters.

Featured speakers include Cynthia Germanotta, co-founder of Born This Way Foundation (with daughter Stefani, Lady Gaga); Dan Olweus, international scholar in bullying prevention research; and Marjorie Kostelnik, Interim Sr. Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs and former dean of the UNL College of Education and Human Resources. 

Quick Links
  • New research from UNL's College of Education and Human Sciences: Children's cognitive performance improved after spending time in natural environments. 
  • May's theme in Zero to Three's Year of Play is "Animals." Check out talking tips, books to read and activities for babies and toddlers. 


Have you registered for the Nebraska Young Child Institute conference ? Professionals from across the state will connect on issues to improve the outcomes of young children on June 27-28 in Kearney.

Judges, county attorneys, caseworkers, parents, Guardians ad litem, CASAs, EDN providers, Head Start professionals, school representatives, early childhood educators, home visitors, medical and mental health professionals and foster care review professionals are just some of the individuals who will find the conference beneficial.

FFN's Senior Policy Associate, Jen Goettemoeller, will moderate a panel discussing how Nebraska's state systems and public-private partnerships are making early childhood a priority. 

 


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Senators' Bipartisan Support
for Early Childhood Remains Strong

The  104th Nebraska Legislature , Second Session, saw camaraderie, conflict and a record number of cloture votes. Amid the turmoil and divisiveness, bipartisan support for early childhood remained strong during the out-budget year.

A total of 391 bills were carried over from last session and 445 new bills were introduced; 214 bills became law. Even with significant hours spent on filibusters, Speaker Galen Hadley  was able to ensure that 44 of 49 senator priority bills were debated by the full Legislature. Any bill not passed upon adjournment sine die   was indefinitely postponed and must be reintroduced next year to be considered again.
Every year, First Five Nebraska closely monitors new and carryover  bills affecting the early learning and development of our state's youngest children , and tracks their progress as they move through the legislative process. A comprehensive list of these bills is on our website's  Nebraska Legislation  page. Those of greatest importance to the development of young children are summarized in our printable  Legislative Highlights  report.
Eleven term-limited senators deserve a great deal of thanks from all Nebraskans. Our deep appreciation goes out to Speaker Hadley and the other outgoing Senators. Watch for reflections from many of th em in First Five Nebraska guest blogs in the coming months.
As our election year gets into full swing, remember to urge candidates to support strategic, fiscally accountable investments in early learning opportunities that close the achievement gap for young children at risk. We still have much to do, and I hope you will join us through the interim to change public policy by changing the public conversation for Nebraska's youngest children.
Jen Goettemoeller
Senior Policy Associate
First Five Nebraska
Thank you to Nebraska's  outgoing Senators:
Thank you Nebraska child care providers! We value
 all you do to build the minds and character 
o f our youngest children!

 

A mother's support during children's preschool years is linked to robust growth in the area of the brain involved in learning, memory and stress response. 



Thank you grads for making a commitment to work with young children to help put them on a path for success in school and life.