Community Resource Sharing Newsletter

Minimum Wage Increase Will Challenge Our Local Child Care Programs

As Nebraska prepares for a minimum wage increase in January 2026, early childhood programs across our four-county area are bracing for even greater financial pressure.

While we strongly support fair wages for our hardworking child care teachers, who play a vital role in the growth and development of young children, this increase will be difficult to absorb—especially for smaller, nonprofit, and community-based programs that already operate on razor-thin margins.

Many early childhood centers (faith-based or otherwise) lack access to meaningful public funding. At the same time, the cost of food, materials, and operating expenses continue to climb. Without stronger public investment in early childhood care and education, these programs are left to raise tuition or reduce services—burdens that ultimately fall on families.

And yet, child care is essential. Parents rely on it to work. Employers rely on it to keep their workforce stable. Children rely on it for safe, nurturing environments that support early learning and development.

How Our Community Can Help

1. Utilize the Nebraska Child Care Contribution Tax Credit

Individuals and businesses can receive a 75–100% state income tax credit for donations to licensed child care programs. It’s a powerful way to support high-quality care right here in our community.

👉 Learn more at NebraskaChildCareTaxCredit.org

2. Support Local Programs Through Supplies or Gifts

Many child care centers maintain Amazon Wish Lists or accept direct donations of items like books, art supplies, diapers, and outdoor gear. These everyday needs stretch tight budgets.

3. Advocate for Early Childhood Investment

Talk to your local and state representatives about the importance of supporting early childhood education—not just through policy but through funding. Our community’s future depends on it.

4. Spread the Word About Openings

Help connect families to local centers with open spots. A strong match between child and program supports long-term success for both.

5. Offer Encouragement

The early childhood workforce is experiencing burnout and high turnover. A thank-you note, community recognition, or simply showing appreciation goes a long way.

Quality early childhood care and education are not a luxury—it’s a foundation. When we invest in our youngest learners and those who care for them, we invest in the future of our entire region.

Hailey Phelps Crumley

Childcare Director

Christ Lutheran Early Childhood Community

Belle Maldonado,

Bilingual Central Navigator

Community Prevention proudly launched its first-ever diaper drive this past Saturday to support the families in our coaching program. We were delighted by the overwhelming response and generosity of our community!

To add a bit of excitement, we organized a raffle with two prizes, and we're eager to announce our lucky winners soon.

This event not only highlighted the spirit of giving but also showcased the strength of teamwork. Credit to Keydy and Guadalupe for their idea and dedication—proving that collaboration leads to success! Teamwork makes the dream work.

Looking ahead, our Community Prevention team is excited about planning future diaper drives. We’re always looking to do better, and this event has already given our team some fresh ideas!

We are deeply grateful for the community's support and generosity. Your contributions make a significant difference, ensuring that essential items like diapers and wipes reach the families that we serve. Thank you for supporting our mission and making a positive impact together!

6 Regions, One Nebraska

According to opportunity.nebraska.gov, in 2024, the 6 Regions, One Nebraska initiative was created to allow separate regions in Nebraska to make focused, data-driven decisions and to select a project they feel will positively impact the future of their local community. Each of the six regions received an initial financial investment, matched by private dollars, to establish a team in their region will receive financial incentive for initial regional projects in Resident Recruitment, Youth Engagement, Entrepreneurship, Technology, Infrastructure or a selected regional project.

Our region has decided to focus their project on increasing the number of child care professionals in our area. Equitable Early Childcare and Education is a current priority area of Community and Family Partnership, and we are eager to explore what this means for our local counties. Right now, a $2,500 stipend is being offered for those who wish to become an in-home child care professional. Becoming a child care professional gives you the ability to work from home in an industry that is always needed. There are experienced mentors available to help and grant funding available. Child care professionals are the workforce behind the workforce and are vital for our communities and economy to thrive.

Please see the flyer for additional information.

Ready to be a changemaker for families? Join the Bring Up Nebraska Network!

Bring Up Nebraska is a call to action to help families thrive and is supported by Nebraska Children and Families Foundation. Bring Up Nebraska is focused on prevention and strengthening families BEFORE crisis to empower them within their communities. It is about uniting those with shared agendas, implementing systems and providing evidence-based training to support meaningful opportunities and creating partnerships.

Helping families thrive and focusing on preventive efforts is a priority area of Community and Family Partnership and more voices are needed. The more people involved in the shared mission of improving the quality of life for young people and families, the more impact we can have. Let’s do this together. See more information in the flyer below or visit BringUpNebraska.org.