This must change’: UNK initiative targets state’s early childhood workforce shortage

Holly Hatton-Bowers with UNL and Nebraska Extension discusses the state’s child care crisis Tuesday during an event announcing a new initiative to address this issue. (Photo by Erika Pritchard, UNK Communications)

KEARNEY – Every Nebraskan must have access to quality, affordable early childhood education.

That statement from University of Nebraska at Kearney interim Chancellor Charlie Bicak isn’t a pipe dream. It’s a commitment to solving one of the state’s biggest problems.

“Improving early childhood education in rural Nebraska, there couldn’t be a more important theme for this campus, for this community, indeed, for the state of Nebraska,” Bicak said Tuesday while announcing an initiative that directly addresses this issue.

He was joined by elected officials, early childhood educators, fellow University of Nebraska representatives and other guests at an event celebrating the launch of the Knowledge Network for Early Childhood Education Workforce (KNEW).

A partnership between UNK, Nebraska Extension and Communities for Kids, this innovative project aims to increase the recruitment and retention of early childhood educators across the state, particularly in rural communities. It’s supported by $2 million in funding from the U.S. Department of Education.

U.S. Sen. Deb Fischer, who sponsored the federal appropriation, called the program “an investment in Nebraska’s next generation.”

“It is going to be a game-changer for early childhood education not just in our rural communities but truly across the state,” she told the crowd gathered inside UNK’s Regional Engagement Center. “We’re going to see an empowerment of educators with training and with resources. We’re going to be able to equip them to provide the highest quality of care for our children now and in the future.”

Referring to early childhood educators as the “unsung heroes” of their communities, Fischer said it’s critical for organizations and individuals at all levels to work together to support these professionals and better serve Nebraska families.

“As Nebraska’s industries continue to expand and evolve, the demand for a robust early childhood education system is only going to continue to grow and continue to be needed,” Fischer said. “More families will rely on quality early childhood education to help bring balance to their lives.”

“It’s not just a matter of convenience,” she added. “It is essential for the economic stability of communities all across the state of Nebraska.”

Fischer and Bicak both shared some startling statistics that highlight the current child care crisis.

According to a 2023 report from the nonprofit Voices for Children in Nebraska, 84 of the state’s 93 counties do not have enough spots in licensed child care facilities to meet the potential demand. Nine of those counties were classified as “child care deserts,” with no licensed facilities available for families living there.

Another survey from Nebraska Extension and We Care for Kids shows that almost a third of parents with children ages 5 and younger left the workforce because they couldn’t find affordable child care, and 74% of respondents believe a lack of quality, affordable child care and early learning is a serious problem in Nebraska.

“It’s more difficult than ever for every working parent to find care for their kids, much less that they could even afford it,” Fischer said. “We have too few child care providers, too few child care workers, and too many parents who are seeking help that many times they can’t find.”

To put it bluntly, “This must change,” Bicak said.

“No Nebraskan should have to miss work, or worse quit a job, to care for children.”

COLLABORATIVE EFFORT

Led by associate professor Philip Lai and three colleagues from the UNK College of Education – Sharon Obasi, Paula Thompson and JP Rech – the KNEW program uses a collaborative approach to enhance and expand the state’s early childhood education workforce.

More than a dozen communities will be invited to participate in the multiyear project, creating a statewide network that includes early childhood educators, businesses, nonprofit organizations and other stakeholders. This allows communities to learn from each other – what’s working and what isn’t – while developing strategies and best practices that can be implemented anywhere.

The workforce development program also includes funding for recruitment and retention initiatives, as well as professional advancement activities. By creating a “teaching toolkit,” the project team aims to enhance pre-service and in-service training for early childhood educators and provide them with additional resources and expertise.

“The KNEW project without a doubt makes Nebraskans’ lives better as we strengthen the infrastructure for early childhood education that will provide care and learning experiences for young children and allow more parents to be part of the workforce,” said Mark Reid, dean of the UNK College of Education.

As partners on the project, Nebraska Extension and Communities for Kids will both have key roles in community outreach and program implementation.

An initiative of the nonprofit Nebraska Children and Families Foundation, Communities for Kids currently works with 71 communities statewide to sustain and improve early childhood education.

“The early childhood professionals who are teaching and caring for our children in family home care settings, child care centers, preschool classrooms, they’re laying the foundation for later academic, social and emotional growth,” said Kara Nickel, assistant vice president and project coordinator.

She views the KNEW program as an opportunity to elevate these efforts and “help make Nebraska the best place to be a kid.”

“We know everyone depends on someone who depends on child care,” Nickel said. “Opportunities like KNEW that are focused on increasing recruitment and retention of our rural early childhood educators will provide invaluable insight on how we can support this essential profession.”

Holly Hatton-Bowers agrees. She’s an associate professor at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and program leader for the Nebraska Extension early childhood team, which serves the entire state.

Recalling the emotional story of one family who had to leave their rural community because they couldn’t find child care there, Hatton-Bowers said the ongoing shortage is a “lived experience” for many more Nebraskans.

“It’s a critical issue,” she said, “and I think this project is an opportunity for all of us to collectively address this issue by improving access to high-quality child care.”