Midwest Child Care Association supports in-home and other child care programs by helping providers participate in the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP), which offers federal reimbursement for serving nutritious meals and snacks, while also promoting healthy eating and physical activity routines in child care; its mission centers on enhancing children’s care by supporting women’s self-employment in small child care businesses and offering workshops and trainings on CACFP requirements, nutrition standards, and best practices so providers can stay compliant with USDA rules, improve meal quality, and strengthen the business side of their programs.

 The Omaha Community Voice Partnerships and Omaha Community Voice Trailblazers bring together child care providers, early childhood professionals, educators, families, organizational leaders, and community members, with our work rooted in North
and South Omaha. Together, we recognize the vital role early care and education play in strengthening families and building thriving neighborhoods.

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EQUITABLE SYSTEMS AND COMMUNITY VOICE
At the heart of our work is building equitable systems that reflect and respond to the lived experiences of families and child care providers in North and South Omaha. We focus on removing systemic barriers, simplifying access to support, and advancing policies that are responsive, inclusive, and grounded in community voice. By centering those most impacted in decision making, we are strengthening the early childhood system in ways that are sustainable, just, and rooted in community realities.

This work is advanced through two interconnected focus areas that operate under this shared priority:

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STRONG FAMILIES, STRONG COMMUNITIES
Strengthening families is a key strategy for achieving equitable systems. Parents and caregivers are supported with tools, resources, and leadership opportunities that promote children’s growth and overall, well-being. Through access to mental health supports, financial education, and advocacy training, families build confidence and stability, empowering them to actively shape the systems and policies that
impact their lives and communities.

SUSTAINABLE, HIGH QUALITY CHILD CARE

Equitable systems require resilient and supported providers. Child care providers are the backbone of early learning, and by connecting them to funding, professional development, mental health supports, and workforce resources, we help ensure long term stability and sustainability. This support allows providers to deliver safe, nurturing, and high quality care close to home while remaining engaged in system level change efforts. Together, through collaborative partnerships, inclusive advocacy, and intentional
resource sharing, we are building strong families, resilient providers, and thriving neighborhoods in North and South Omaha. By elevating community voices and
removing barriers, we are ensuring that all children and families, especially those historically under served, have the opportunity to thrive.

The Omaha Community Voice Partnerships and Omaha Community Voice Trailblazers bring together child care providers, early childhood professionals, educators, families, organizational leaders, and community members who recognize the vital role early care and education play in building strong communities. Together, we work to build a more equitable and responsive early childhood system by:
 

• Streamlining systems and access to services

• Strengthening civic engagement and advocacy

• Deepening parent engagement and leadership

• Sustaining child care businesses, families, and children Through collaborative partnerships, inclusive advocacy, and intentional resource sharing, we strive to remove systemic barriers, elevate community voices, and ensure that all children and families, especially those historically underserved—have the opportunity to thrive.

​Step Up to Quality is Nebraska’s early childhood quality rating and improvement system that recognizes programs for going beyond basic licensing requirements to provide higher-quality care and education for young children. I am proud to be at Step 2, which means my program has already completed important quality practices and documentation, and I am actively working toward Steps 3, 4, and 5 by strengthening curriculum, assessment, family engagement, and continuous quality improvement so that children and families receive the highest standard of care and learning in my program.

The Hispanic Daycares Association of Omaha (AGHO), founded in 2023, supports a network of more than 30 licensed child care providers in Nebraska—and growing—both in homes and in centers, through advocacy, mentorship, and professional development.

As an ESU 3 trainer in Nebraska, I serve as a Getting Down to Business trainer dedicated to supporting Spanish-speaking child care providers across the state, offering trainings that are approved by the Nebraska Department of Education. With a strong background in early childhood education, in-home child care operations, and advocacy, I help providers understand the business side of child care, including budgeting, record-keeping, contracts, policies, and financial sustainability, all delivered in accessible, culturally responsive Spanish. Through interactive workshops, real-world examples, and practical tools, I empower Nebraska’s Spanish-speaking providers to strengthen their programs, comply with regulations, and build more stable, professional child care businesses that better serve children, families, and communities.

Purpose: The Child Care Licensing Advisory Committee will assist the Department of Human Services, Public Health, Child Care Licensing by providing input regarding specific topics and issues impacting licensed child care programs statewide.

Rooted in Relationships’ Initiative page describes a Nebraska-wide effort that partners with local communities to use evidence-based practices and coaching to strengthen young children’s social-emotional development from birth to age 8, especially in early care and education settings. The initiative works through community stakeholder teams and the Pyramid Model framework to build long-term capacity in child care programs, families, and systems so children experience nurturing relationships and better mental health outcomes.

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The Pyramid Model is a framework of evidence-based practices designed to promote the healthy
social and emotional development of young children.

Purpose: The Child Care Licensing Advisory Committee will assist the Department of Human Services, Public Health, Child Care Licensing by providing input regarding specific topics and issues impacting licensed child care programs statewide.