Nebraska Academy for Early Childhood Research | |
|
|
NAECR, First Five Nebraska collaboration continues
For years, NAECR has collaborated with First Five Nebraska to ensure early childhood research efforts are informed into policymaking decisions.
Created in 2011, First Five Nebraska is a team of professionals with combined experience in government relations, data analysis and strategic communications.
As Nebraska's first organization to focus exclusively on advancing early childhood care and learning opportunities through policy change, strategic partnerships and public education, First Five Nebraska remains an invaluable resource for the research and policy communities.
One of the cornerstones of the NAECR-First Five Nebraska collaboration is the biennial CYFS Early Childhood Research Summit, which First Five Nebraska co-sponsors.
In fall 2019, NAECR and First Five Nebraska partnered to launch the NAECR Policy Fellows program. The program brings together early childhood researchers at NU and First Five Nebraska experts to educate researchers on policy processes, impacts and relationships to research; provide insight into NU's early childhood research; and create connections and collaborations among the research and policy communities.
“The NAECR Policy Fellows program aims to make direct connections between the early childhood research at the university and the early childhood policy work happening in Nebraska," said Katie Bass, First Five Nebraska policy research manager. "While the program itself lasts one year, the relationships between the university researchers and First Five Nebraska are long-term. This allows our team to connect with research experts as we explore policy options and gives researchers insights in to the types of research questions that policymakers seek to answer.”
| |
|
A variety of tools are available from the organization to help stay up to date on this year's legislative session.
First Five's online Legislative Tracker updates bill status daily during the legislative session, allowing users to stay current on early childhood policy discussions in the Nebraska Unicameral. The tool enables advocates and other stakeholders to stay up to date on public policies affecting early childhood including the child care subsidy, maternal and child health, funding of early childhood services, economic development and a wide range of related issues.
| |
|
|
Additionally, various webinars are available to help take a closer look at early childhood legislation in the 2025 session.
First Five Nebraska has championed many of the state's most significant early child developments, including strengthening services for toddlers, improving child care quality and accountability and elevating early childhood in economic development.
Current First Five Nebraska initiatives include:
- Expanding equitable access to high-quality programs that support the unique developmental needs of children from the prenatal period through age 3.
- Encouraging employers and industry leaders to invest in their community’s early childhood infrastructure by partnering with or otherwise promoting local, high-quality child-care programs.
- Aligning early childhood systems and funding at the state and local levels to increase the reach, efficiency and effectiveness of services.
- Supporting the early childhood workforce by making early care and education a more rewarding, viable career path with realistic opportunities for professional development.
- Investigating the broad-scale impact of early childhood services — particularly quality child care — on Nebraska business and industry, workforce attraction and retention, and economic development.
To learn more, contact First Five Nebraska.
| |
|
Postdoctoral Research Association position available for CYFS Project Managers/Coordinators
Dipti Dev, Betti and Richard Robinson associate professor of child, youth and family studies and Nebraska Extension specialist, is seeking a postdoctoral research associate to work on an NIH-funded project focused on improving early childhood nutrition and health in rural communities.
This full-time, two-year position in Dr. Dev’s lab has potential for extension, and offers a chance to conduct impactful research, mentor students and contribute to evidence-based policy solutions. Applications are being reviewed on a rolling basis.
Start date is flexible (February–July 2025).
For more details and to apply, email ddev2@unl.edu.
Learn more.
| |
|
NAECR Knowledge: Using AI in Early Childhood Research
How can early childhood researchers incorporate artificial intelligence into their work?
In this interactive session of the spring NAECR Knowledge event, researchers will share strategies, tools and best practices.
There will be time for questions and conversation.
The event is free, but registration is required.
| |
|
Presentation Details
NAECR Knowledge: Using AI in Early Childhood Research
Thursday, March 13, 2025
Noon – 1 p.m. CST
Virtual via Zoom
A Zoom link will be distributed to registrants prior to the event.
| |
|
NAECR Networking: Showcasing Innovative Research in Social-emotional Development
The spring 2025 NAECR Networking event will feature early childhood researchers from across the University of Nebraska system, who will share their latest research and findings on social-emotional development.
There will be time for questions and conversation.
The event is free, but registration is required.
| |
|
Presentation Details
NAECR Networking: Showcasing Innovative Research
in Social-emotional Development
Tuesday, April 15, 2025
Noon – 1 p.m. CST
Virtual via Zoom
A Zoom link will be distributed to registrants prior to the event.
| |
|
Here are recent publications from NAECR researchers:
Children’s Arithmetic Strategy Use Trajectories: Exploring the Roles of Executive Functions and Sociodemographic Characteristics
Kimia Akhavein**, Psychology, University of Nebraska–Lincoln
Carrie Clark*, Educational Psychology, University of Nebraska–Lincoln
Jennifer Mize Nelson, Psychology, University of Nebraska–Lincoln
Kimberly Epsy, Office of Research and Innovation, University of Nebraska–Lincoln
Jenna Finch*, Psychology, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Gendered Emotion Socialization in Families of Preschoolers: The Role of Parents’ Masculinity Ideology
Patty Kuo*, Child, Youth & Family Studies, University of Nebraska–Lincoln
Emily Starr**, Child, Youth & Family Studies, University of Nebraska–Lincoln
Monique Miller, Child, Youth & Family Studies, University of Nebraska–Lincoln
* Denotes NAECR Researcher
** Denotes NAECR Student Researcher
| |
Would you like to see your work featured here? Contact us at naecr@unl.edu
| |
NAECR can assist you in finding research partners for your funding applications and staff in CYFS are available to assist with your proposal development for these or other funding opportunities.
Please contact Lisa Knoche if you are interested in building a collaborative team, need assistance with proposal development or would like to discuss funding opportunities for your research.
| |
|
New! Women Investing in Nebraska
Women Investing in Nebraska (WIN) is now accepting funding ideas for its 2025 grant awards. University of Nebraska programs and Nebraska nonprofit organizations are eligible to apply. Grants are awarded based on the critical needs being addressed, the people the project serves and the impact made on Nebraskans.
Letter of inquiry due date: Feb. 6, 2025
Learn more.
| |
|
Department of Education: Early Career Development and Mentoring Program for Educational Research
This program provides grants that prepare individual early career researchers at research institutions to conduct high-quality education research that advances knowledge within the education sciences and addresses issues important to education policymakers and practitioners.
Award budget: Up to $400,000 over two to four years.
Proposal due date: March 7, 2025
Learn more.
| |
|
Department of Education: Methods Training for Education Researchers
This program supports the training of current education researchers to expand and upgrade their methodological skills.
Supported training should respond to the ongoing development and adaptation of methods concerning the design of education studies, data collection, data analysis, practical interpretation of the results of analyses and the ethical issues regarding the use of the proposed methods.
Award budget: Up to $800,000 over three years.
Proposal due date: March 7, 2025
Learn more.
| |
|
Funding Forecast: Administration for Children and Families Tribal Early Childhood and Family Economic Well-being Research Center
The Office of Planning, Research, and Evaluation anticipates announcing the availability of funds and requesting applications for the Tribal Early Childhood and Family Economic Well-being Research Center (TRC). The TRC will provide leadership, collaboration, and support for culturally responsive and actionable research and evaluation of federal early childhood and family economic well-being initiatives that serve Indigenous communities.
Estimated award budget: $700,000 – $1,000,000
Estimated proposal due date: May 1, 2025
Learn more.
| |
|
Funding Forecast: Administration for Children and Families Tribal Child Care Data and Research Capacity Awards
The Tribal Child Care Data and Research Capacity Awards (Phase I) will support partnerships between Tribal (CCDF) Lead Agencies and research and coordinating organizations to develop and improve tribal data systems and strengthen capacity-building of Tribal CCDF Lead Agencies.
Sponsored projects will identify, collect, analyze and use early childhood data to complete research activities guiding policy and program improvement efforts.
Estimated award budget: $400,000
Estimated proposal due date: May 1, 2025
Learn more.
| |
|
Student Funding Forecast: Administration for Children and Families Graduate Student Dissertation Grants
The Administration for Children and Families supports rigorous dissertation research by advanced doctoral students addressing policy relevant issues. ACF is accepting proposals for child care, Head Start and behavioral interventions dissertation grants.
| |
|
Child Care Dissertation Grants
Estimated award budget: $20,000-$25,000
Estimated proposal due date: May 1, 2025
Learn more.
| |
|
Head Start Dissertation Grants
Estimated award budget: $20,000-$25,000
Estimated proposal due date: May 16, 2025
Learn more.
| |
|
Behavioral Interventions Scholars Grants
Estimated award budget: $20,000-$25,000
Estimated proposal due date: April 28, 2025
Learn more.
| |
|
New! Division for Early Childhood's Annual International Conference
on Young Children with Disabilities and their Families
Call for Proposals
Oct. 7-10, 2025
Portland, Oregon
The DEC is accepting proposals for its 41st annual conference, which is focused on advancing early childhood practices and supporting young children with disabilities and their families.
Conference strands include By Practitioners for Practitioners; Family; International; Policy; Practice; Professional Development; and Research.
Proposal due date: Feb. 18, 2025
Learn more.
| |
|
New! Society for Nutrition Education and Behavior
2025 International Conference
Call for Proposals
July 8-11, 2025
Indianapolis, Indiana
The 2025 SNEB International Conference will include engaging keynotes, hands-on workshops and breakout sessions, and opportunities to network with researchers and nutrition educators.
SNEB is dedicated to promoting effective nutrition education and healthy behavior through research, policy and practice, and has a vision of healthy communities, food systems and behaviors.
Proposal due date: Feb. 28, 2025
Learn more.
| |
|
2025 Symposium on Research in Child Language Disorders
Call for Proposals
May 29-31, 2025
Madison, Wisconsin
The SRCLD promotes high quality research on language disorders in children by providing a focused forum for scientific exchange and fostering connections between researchers.
The symposium is regularly attended by more than 200 researchers from the U.S. and other countries.
For 2025, submissions on any aspect of language and cognitive performance in all languages will be considered.
Proposal due date: Feb. 15, 2025
Learn more.
| |
|
Featuring Jill Locke
Thursday, March 27, 2025
2 – 3 p.m. CST
Virtual via Zoom
Jill Locke, Ph.D., will discuss meaningful social outcomes for autistic youth in schools. Attendees will learn how to identify engagement states of autistic youth on the playground and understand the core foundational strategies in Remaking Recess, an evidence-based social engagement intervention for autistic youth.
This event is co-sponsored by the Department of Educational Psychology and CYFS.
This event is free, virtual and open to public. Registration is required.
For questions regarding the colloquium, please contact Sungeun Kang, Ph.D., at skang18@unl.edu.
| |
|
MAP Academy 2024-25 Methodology Applications Series
Featuring HyeonJin Yoon
Friday, Feb. 7, 2025
Noon – 1:30 p.m. CST
Carolyn Pope Edwards Hall, Room 313
The Nebraska Academy for Methodology, Analytics and Psychometrics invites you to the third presentation of the 2024-25 Methodology Applications Series.
On Friday, Feb. 7, HyeonJin Yoon, MAP Academy research assistant professor, will lead a presentation titled, "Navigating Research Data Repositories to Support Secondary Analyses."
More details coming soon.
This four-talk series, hosted by MAP Academy with funding support from the Nebraska Research Initiative, will guide students and applied researchers in developing, maintaining and accessing high-quality data to promote rigorous and impactful research.
Learn more.
| |
|
NAECR Knowledge: Using AI in Early Childhood Research
Thursday, March 13, 2025
Noon – 1 p.m. CST
Virtual via Zoom
How can early childhood researchers incorporate artificial intelligence into their work?
In this interactive session of the spring NAECR Knowledge event, researchers will share strategies, tools and best practices.
There will be time for questions and conversation.
The event is free, but registration is required.
A Zoom link will be distributed to registrants prior to the event.
| |
|
MAP Academy 2024-25 Methodology Applications Series
Featuring Natalie Koziol
Friday, March 28, 2025
Noon – 1:30 p.m. CDT
Carolyn Pope Edwards Hall, Room 313
The Nebraska Academy for Methodology, Analytics and Psychometrics invites you to the fourth and final presentation of the 2024-25 Methodology Applications Series.
On Friday, March 28, Natalie Koziol, MAP Academy research associate professor, will lead a presentation titled, "Data Harmonization and Integrative Analysis Methods."
More details coming soon.
This four-talk series, hosted by MAP Academy with funding support from the Nebraska Research Initiative, will guide students and applied researchers in developing, maintaining and accessing high-quality data to promote rigorous and impactful research.
Learn more.
| |
|
NAECR Networking: Showcasing Innovative Research
in Social-emotional Development
Tuesday, April 15, 2025
Noon – 1 p.m. CST
Virtual via Zoom
The spring 2025 NAECR Networking event will feature early childhood researchers from across the University of Nebraska system, who will share their latest research and findings on social-emotional development.
There will be time for questions and conversation.
The event is free, but registration is required.
A Zoom link will be distributed to registrants prior to the event.
| |
Is there an upcoming conference you want to publicize? A new publication you would like to share? Let us know! | |
Connecting Research and Policy
Learn more and sign up for alerts about legislation relevant to early childhood researchers.
| |
NAECR Student Researchers
Students involved in early childhood research at the University of Nebraska can access a number of resources through NAECR.
| |
Find a Researcher
Find and collaborate with other early childhood researchers across the NU system.
| |
NAECR News archives available
| |
NAECR News will be shared twice a month to inform the early childhood research community across the NU system.
If this newsletter has been forwarded to you and you would like to be added to the mailing list, please email us using the button above.
| | | | |
