Our Story
Nebraska has an opportunity to lead.
Across the country, states are making intentional investments in child care because they recognize it as a workforce, economic development, and population strategy.
Child Care Can believes Nebraska can do the same by making affordable, quality child care a pillar of its long-term strategy for economic competitiveness and community vitality.
A bigger conversation.
Child care has traditionally been viewed as a family issue or a provider issue. Child Care Can broadens that conversation. We believe affordable, quality child care is one of the foundations that helps Nebraska compete, grow, and thrive. It helps parents participate in the workforce, children learn and succeed, employers attract and retain talent, providers build sustainable businesses, and communities become stronger.
Child Care Can was created to bring together businesses, community organizations, child care providers, parents, educators, economic development leaders, chambers of commerce, nonprofits, and citizens around one shared belief: Nebraska’s competitiveness depends on access to affordable, quality child care.
Together, we are growing a statewide movement, building public understanding, advancing practical policy solutions, and working toward robust public investment that expands access to affordable, quality child care across Nebraska. Because when child care works ... Nebraska thrives.
Our Journey
Key moments in the Coalition’s history.
April 2025
Nebraska’s early childhood community unites to protect
Head Start.
Nebraska faced an urgent challenge: a leaked U.S. Department of Health and Human Services budget proposal revealed the potential elimination of Head Start funding beginning in 2026. Nebraska’s early childhood community united around coordinated messaging and advocacy to protect the crucial program.
January 2025
Partners rally to pass LB304 in the Nebraska State Legislature.
In 2026, income thresholds required to receive child care assistance were set to drop, putting Nebraska squarely in the bottom three of the nation. The early childhood community again came together to pass LB304, a bill that retained current income thresholds.
April 2026
LB304 passes in the Nebraska State Legislature.
After months of coordinated communications and advocacy, LB304 passed. This coordinated and united work set the framework for Child Care Can.
August 2026
Child Care Can launches.
A statewide campaign is launched to strengthen Nebraska through affordable, quality child care.
Today
A movement is growing.
Together, we’re building public understanding, advancing practical policy solutions, and working toward the investment that expands access to affordable, quality child care across Nebraska.