Fifteen rural communities across Nebraska are joining forces with Communities for Kids (C4K), the University of Nebraska at Kearney (UNK), and Nebraska Extension to address a pressing challenge: recruiting and retaining early childhood educators in rural areas. The initiative is…
The community of Thedford, population 211, lives inside one of the 11 Nebraska counties that were classified as a child care desert when they began partnering with the C4K initiative in 2023. The entirety of the county had no licensed child care at all, and residents were worried their town was dying. They applied for American Rescue Plan/LB1014 funding, and as soon as they got their notice of award, got right to work.
“Give a group of moms a problem that impacts their children and they will get it done,” say Karen O'Hare, President of the board for the Ainsworth Child Development Center. The Ainsworth community came together to serve the local need for childcare.
On November 13, 2023, high school students broke ground on a project that Superintendent Regan called “a historic moment for Gering Schools.” On the campus of Northfield Elementary , Gering High School trade students launched the build of a new 5,000-square-foot facility that will house 4 preschool classrooms.
