May 27, 2025

TransformED roundtable event builds relationships

The University of Nebraska–Lincoln’s TransformED initiative, in partnership with the Nebraska Academy for Early Childhood Research, hosted a virtual Community Partner-Researcher Roundtable on May 13, 2025.

The event brought together leaders from Nebraska’s early childhood practice and research communities to identify shared priorities for improving outcomes among young children and strengthening the early care and education workforce.

Participants explored challenges and opportunities in this area, with the goal to develop a collaborative research agenda.

Panelists included:

• Jill Bomberger, Head Start director, Community Action Partnership of Lancaster and Saunders Counties.
• Mark Hald, clinical psychologist, Options in Psychology, Scottsbluff.
• Nici Johnson, director of early childhood, Educational Service Unit 13.

UNL’s TransformED is a collaborative research initiative that promotes children’s social and emotional development by enhancing early childhood education services, strengthening connections across systems and supporting the workforce. The initiative is funded by the UNL Office of Research and Innovation and housed in the Nebraska Center for Research on Children, Youth, Families and Schools.

Here are recent publications from NAECR researchers:

Rethinking Healthcare's Approach to ACEs Treatment and the Role of Social Health Programming

Rebecca Drakowski, Pediatrics, University of Nebraska Medical Center

Ann Anderson-Berry*, Pediatrics, University of Nebraska Medical Center

Relationships Across the Elementary Years: Association with Children's Social-Behavioral Skills

Susan Sheridan*, Nebraska Center for Research on Children, Youth, Families and Schools, University of Nebraska–Lincoln

Lisa Knoche*, Nebraska Center for Research on Children, Youth, Families and Schools, University of Nebraska–Lincoln

Natali Koziol, Alpine Testing Solutions

Amanda Witte*, Nebraska Center for Research on Children, Youth, Families and Schools, University of Nebraska–Lincoln

Jenna Staheim, Nebraska Center for Research on Children, Youth, Families and Schools, University of Nebraska–Lincoln

Cassidy Spradlin, Nebraska Center for Research on Children, Youth, Families and Schools, University of Nebraska–Lincoln

Iheoma Iruka, Maternal and Child Health, University of North Carolina Chapel Hill

 * Denotes NAECR Researcher

** Denotes NAECR Student Researcher

Caplan Foundation for Early Childhood

The Caplan Foundation for Early Childhood supports research and development projects to improve the support, acculturation, social integration and child care of young children in the U.S.

This foundation provides funding in parenting education, to help parents create nurturing environments for their children, early childhood welfare, to provide a safe and nurturing environment, and early childhood education and play, to improve the quality of early childhood teaching and learning.

Letter of inquiry due date: This Saturday, May 31, 2025

Learn more.

New! National Research Conference on Early Childhood 2026

June 22-24, 2026

Arlington, Virginia

The Administration for Children and Families’ National Research Conference on Early Childhood highlights cutting edge research on early childhood programs serving young children and their families and addresses knowledge gaps across these programs.

A call for proposals will open soon.

Learn more.

International Society for Developmental Psychobiology

Annual Meeting

Call for Proposals

Nov. 12-14, 2025

San Diego, California

The ISDP is currently accepting proposals for its 58th annual meeting, which will bring together a multidisciplinary group of international researchers from all areas of developmental psychobiology ranging from clinical psychiatrists to ethologists to molecular biologists with a common interest in promoting translational research by emphasizing the integration of basic and clinical research approaches.

Proposal due date: Monday, June 2, 2025

Learn more.

National Association of School Psychologists Annual Convention

Call for Proposals

Feb. 24-27, 2026

Chicago, Illinois

This convention is seeking presentations that support seasoned practitioners in delivering high-quality, evidence-based school practices.

Presentations may be submitted in the following formats; mini-skills, papers, poster, practitioner conversation sessions, symposia and workshops.

Proposal due date: June 18, 2025

Learn more.

2026 Nebraska Young Child Institute Conference

Call for Proposals

July 16-17, 2026

Kearney, Nebraska

The Nebraska Young Child Institute conference is a multidisciplinary event bringing together professionals to assess and respond to the most pressing needs of young children and families.

NYCI is currently accepting conference proposals featuring content relevant to professionals working with young children and their families and focused on addressing a range of topical areas.

Proposal due date: Sept. 12, 2025

Learn more.

No events are scheduled at this time.

Nebraska Center for Research on Children, Youth, Families & Schools

College of Education and Human Sciences

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