Nebraskans are experiencing a child care crisis and want it fixed now

Nebraska Extension has always focused on strengthening the things that make Nebraska a great place to live, work and raise a family: agriculture, economic and workforce development, and families. Now, we are adding access to affordable, quality child care and early education to this list. In fact, we’re making it a priority because families across Nebraska are experiencing a crisis in finding and affording quality child care — and that is hurting everyone.

Nebraska Extension is a partner of We Care for Kids, a statewide campaign working to help communities build support for access to quality child care and early education. Launched last year, We Care for Kids is bringing early childhood organizations, families, educators and community leaders together to ensure that all Nebraska families have access to quality early childhood education.

In town hall meetings and events across the state, the message is clear — Nebraskans from all walks of life are sharing stories of a child care crisis building in their cities and towns. From parents to grandparents, businesses and community leaders, similar stories are being shared; families and communities are experiencing a lack of available child care and express both frustration over feeling alone and a strong desire to solve the problem.

They definitely are not alone. A recent statewide survey reinforces what the campaign has heard across the state: 84% of registered voters say the lack of quality child care in Nebraska is a problem that will not solve itself and want Nebraskans to come together to solve the problem and invest in solutions.

The survey was commissioned by Nebraska Extension and We Care for Kids. Its results show that an overwhelming majority of Nebraskans see a child care crisis that is hurting families, the economy and the state’s future. They also want the problem solved — now.

The survey results show the magnitude of Nebraska’s child care crisis and how deeply and widely it is felt. Majorities of those surveyed have either experienced or know someone who has experienced this crisis in a way that has affected their lives and livelihoods. The lack of quality child care is forcing people to miss work (58%), pass on a job opportunity because it would increase child care expenses (32%), cut back on other household essentials (49%), or leave the workforce (23% of all parents).

This news is just as bad for Nebraska’s employers as it is for families. According to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Nebraska has a severe labor shortage, with 54 available workers for every 100 open jobs. Young people are leaving Nebraska and not coming back because they don’t feel they have the resources they need to stay and raise families.

State and local leaders, including Gov. Jim Pillen, call this a brain drain and have made its reversal a top priority, something that will be hard to do when an astounding 31% of surveyed parents of children under age 5 say they left the workforce because they couldn’t find affordable child care.

Those surveyed also see these wide-ranging negative effects on the economy. Over three-quarters say it will be hard for Nebraska to attract new businesses to communities that don’t have access to quality child care and early learning. Over 90% believe that access to quality child care and early learning is an important part of keeping Nebraska a great place to live and raise a family.

Nebraskans clearly want to solve the child care crisis. Strong support for investing in ensuring that more families have access to affordable, quality child care and early learning is found everywhere, in cities, suburbs, small towns and rural areas, and across generations and political parties.

Nebraskans see ways to fix the crisis to benefit everyone. They want to prioritize funding for child care and early learning, with 84% saying that Nebraska should support child care and early learning like it does K-12 schools and higher education. Taking care of those who care for and educate our youngest children is also a part of the solution, as over 80% say that low wages for child care workers, early childhood teachers and preschool teachers is a serious part of the problem.

The results of this survey make one thing clear: If you care about Nebraska, you must care about solving the child care crisis. That’s why Nebraska Extension is a partner of We Care for Kids, and we urge you to join us. Because how we help families care for kids is how Nebraska grows stronger in all the ways we value.