Buffalo County Early Childhood 

Facilitating community conversations that make opportunities for young children to learn, grow, and develop in high quality, safe, and loving enviornments. 

Where Community Is Built 

A Vision For Early Childhood 

Our vision is for all children and families in Buffalo County to have access to affordable quality care and education; families, caregivers and child care providers will be supported; and children will have the resources to develop and grow to their fullest potential. Community Partners works with childcare providers, employers, community leaders, and families to recruit and support new childcare providers, improve the quality of early childhood programs, provide scholarships that make childcare more affordable, and strengthen local childcare systems.

What We Do

Priority Work 

Engage and support parents and communities

Engage and support parents and communities with early childhood resources, education, and trainings to ensure all children have strong social emotional development skills and access to quality childcare.

Build capacity and quality of childcare options

Build capacity and improve quality by coordinating local community based efforts

Align with employers to retain employees

Aligning with all early childhood initiatives and businesses to co-design and combine efforts.

Programs

Childcare Champions

Through our Child Care Champion model, experienced providers mentor individuals interested in becoming licensed child care providers. This strategy helps expand local child care capacity
while guiding new providers through licensing and business startup.

Early Learning Scholarships

Rooted in Relationships Pyramid Model 

Why We Do What We Do

Community Data Tells A Story

Access to affordable, quality childcare remains one of Buffalo County’s greatest workforce challenges. In 2023, 2 in 5 parents reported leaving the workforce due to lack of affordable childcare. and more than 600 local children still lock access to quality care. 

 

 

 

 An individual must work 70 hours a week in Buffalo County to afford a two bedroom home.

26% of household income in Buffalo County is spent on childcare.

 

 

  A 

We help increase the availability of childcare by 186 openings while ensuring children have access to safe, nurturing early learning environments. As a result, more than $32,000 in childcare scholarships supported 28
families and eight childcare providers during the past year (or $108,000 helping 58 families and 11 Childcare businesses), helping parents remain employed, supporting workforce stability, and expanding access to quality care for young children across Buffalo County. An  

 

A Legacy of collaboration 

Early Childhood Partners 

  • Buffalo County Commissioners
  • Buffalo County Economic Development Council
  • Buffalo County Schools
  • Community Action Partnership of Mid Nebraska, Headstart
  • Communities for Kids (C4K)
  • Department of Health and Human Services, licensing
  • Early Learning Connectionn
  • Educational Unit Service 10
  • Elm Creek Childcare Initiative
  • Livewell Counseling
  • Medica Foundation
  • Nebraska Children and Families Foundation
  • Pleasanton C4K Core Team
  • Rooted in Relationships
  • Ravenna C4K Core Team
  • Sixpence Child Care Programs
  • University of Nebraska Kearney
  • *many more partners too numerous to list.

Visit our history page to learn more impacts on early childhood in our community

 

History of Impact

Your investment strengthens families 

 

Donate Today
Translate »