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Approximately one child in 36 in the United States has a diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder, with one in six children having at least one developmental or intellectual disorder. (Photographee.eu/Adobe Stock)

Monday, April 15, 2024

NE rolls out new disability support for 850 families

As the country observes Autism Acceptance Month, Nebraska families raising a child with Autism Spectrum Disorder are among those learning they will …

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, approximately one in every 300 newborns screened is eventually diagnosed with one of the conditions covered in newborn screenings. (Tomsickova/Adobe Stock)

Bill in NE would allow parents to 'opt out' of newborn screenings

Every state has been screening newborns for several decades, usually performing a heel-prick blood test, a hearing test and a heart check. Several …

States can set more restrictive qualifications for child care subsidies than the federal government. In 2019, nearly 89,000 Nebraska children qualified using federal parameters, but fewer than 36,000 qualified using Nebraska's state-defined rules. (Lordn/Adobe Stock)

Kentucky-inspired bill would help NE child care providers, workforce

In the 2023 Nebraska Rural Poll 61% agreed there's a shortage of affordable child care in their communities, and more than 75% said their communities …

Chidren of Asian and Pacific Islander ethnicity received the highest national score on the 2024 Race for Results report, 771 out of 1,000, followed by 697 for white children and 612 for children of two or more races. (len4foto/AdobeStock)

Report: Nebraska children of color have less well-being than white peers

On a new report, Nebraska's white children scored high on well-being compared with their peers nationwide - but the same can't be said for the …

Of the 12% of Nebraskans reporting food insecurity at some time between 2020 and 2022, almost half of them reported experiencing

NE has until Jan. 1 to opt in to food assistance for 150,000 children

Roughly one in eight Nebraskans who have experienced hunger is a child. The state has a chance to help their families afford groceries, but must 'opt …

Nebraska's school librarians serve an average of 600 students, compared with nearly a third of states where they serve 1,500 or more. (Adobe Stock)

There's a lot going on in NE school libraries

This last day of American Education Week is a great time to highlight school librarians. Nebraska's school libraries have probably changed since you …

With the help of more than 550 partner agencies, including schools, churches, shelters and food pantries, Food Bank for the Heartland distributed more than 22 million meals in its 2023 fiscal year. They expect the number to climb to 26.5 million in FY 2024. (TSViPhoto/Adobe Stock)

Hunger Action Month finds NE food bank in "crisis mode"

It is Hunger Action Month, and a Nebraska organization fighting hunger said action is badly needed, at both the national and state levels. In a June …

Dr. Ruth Petersen, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Division of Nutrition, Physical Activity and Obesity, says breastfeeding

Breastfeeding Month: Advocates Say Practice Needs 'Normalizing'

August is National Breastfeeding Month, focused on the benefits of breastfeeding for mothers and babies as well as the restrictions some encounter…

The percentage of Nebraska children living in single-parent households has fluctuated between 28% and 30% since 2011. (Jacob Lund/Adobe Stock)

Despite #1 Rank for 'Economic Well-Being,' NE Parents Struggle

Nebraska children rank first in the nation for economic well-being in the Annie E. Casey Foundation's 2023 Kids Count Data Book, and eighth for …

Western Nebraska is home to food deserts, where there is no easy way to get good, healthy food regularly, which disproportionately impact seniors in rural areas. (Adobe Stock)

Reimagining Ways to Get Struggling Nebraska Families Back on Track

With a new legislative session on the horizon and new legislators after the November elections, the Coalition for a Strong Nebraska is bringing …

En el oeste de Nebraska hay desiertos alimentarios, donde no es f�cil conseguir alimentos buenos y saludables con regularidad, lo que afecta de manera desproporcionada a las personas mayores de las zonas rurales. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Reimaginando formas de recuperar a familias con dificultades en Nebraska

Con una nueva sesión legislativa a la vista y nuevos legisladores después de las elecciones de noviembre, la Coalición para un …

Children of color are more likely than white kids to experience the death of a parent, as are children living in rural areas. (Adobe Stock)

Conference on Grieving in Lincoln to Focus on Supporting Kids

Nebraska is one of six states participating in "No Child Grieves Alone," a series of regional conferences aiming to help communities recover after the…

Nebraska lawmakers improved conditions for low-income families during the pandemic by expanding eligibility for SNAP, the program formerly known as food stamps, and providing support for child care. Both initiatives are set to sunset next year. (Adobe Stock)

Nebraska Ranks First Nationally in Child Economic Well-Being

Nebraska ranks first in the nation when it comes to promoting children's economic well-being, a significant indicator under the spotlight in the …

Omaha Public Schools reported that being able to offer meals to all students at no charge reduced childhood hunger, supported academic achievement, eliminated stigma associated with school meals and improved student behavior. (Adobe Stock)

Time Running Out to Extend School Meal Waivers

School meal waivers that allowed districts to be more flexible getting food to kids during the pandemic are set to expire at the end of June…

Las Escuelas P�blicas de Omaha informaron que poder ofrecer comidas a todos los estudiantes sin cargo redujo el hambre infantil, apoy� el rendimiento acad�mico, elimin� el estigma asociado con las comidas escolares y mejor� el comportamiento de los estudiantes. (Adobe Stock)

Se acaba el tiempo para extender exenciones de comidas escolares

Las exenciones de comidas escolares que permitieron a los distritos ser más flexibles en la entrega de alimentos a los niños durante la pand…

Of 62 large districts surveyed, 98% identified challenges with supply-chain disruptions and labor shortages, and said providing school meals would be even greater if not for USDA child-nutrition waivers. (Adobe Stock)

Report: School Meal Waivers a Game Changer During Pandemic

During the COVID health emergency, Congress removed a lot of red tape in the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) school meals programs, and a new …

A recipient of guaranteed income from Springboard to Opportunities' Magnolia Mother's Trust, which gives $1,000 per month for one year to families headed by Black women living in federally subsidized housing. (Instagram/Springboard to Opportunities)

Guaranteed Income Seen as Path Toward Gender, Racial Justice

By Katie Fleischer for Ms. Media. Broadcast version by Emily Scott for Nebraska News Connection, Reporting for the Ms. Magazine-Public News Service …

Children who are incarcerated are less likely to graduate from high school and find employment later in life. (Adobe Stock)

Incarceration Data Shows Juvenile Justice System Off Mission in Nebraska

Nearly a quarter-million children were incarcerated in the U.S. in 2019, about five times more than annual point-in-time counts, according to a new …

Critics of Critical Race Theory have called for lawmakers to allow parents to take their kids, along with tax dollars meant for public schools, into schools that more closely adhere to their political and religious beliefs. (Adobe Stock)

Nebraska Lawmakers to Debate How Race is Taught in Public Schools

Since January of last year, following national unrest over the police killing of George Floyd, 37 states have introduced measures designed to …

Children who have reliable access to housing and nutritious foods are more likely to have better health and financial outcomes. (Adobe Stock)

Nebraska Denies Emergency Assistance to 90% of Poor Families

Nebraska and other states are hoarding more than $5 billion intended for struggling families, according to new analysis. In 2019, for every 100 …

Hair is a sacred symbol for Lakota tribal members, and should only be cut by a Native American woman or a child's grandfather in ceremony. (Adobe Stock)

Lakota Racial Justice and Religious Freedom Case Headed for Trial

ROSEBUD, Neb. -- A lawsuit accusing a Nebraska school district of violating a Lakota family's First Amendment rights and unlawful racial …

Between two and four years after aging out of foster care, 46% of young people had not finished high school, 51% were unemployed and 84% became parents. (Adobe Stock)

Resources for Foster Youths During Holidays

OMAHA, Neb. -- Some 24,000 teenagers in foster care across the nation officially become adults each year; in Nebraska it happens on their 19th …

Advocates for extending pandemic-related universal free school meals say the program helps remove the stigma of so-called

Congress Urged to Make Free School Meal Program Permanent

GOTHENBURG, Neb. -- During the COVID health emergency, the federal government made school meals available for free to all students, regardless of …

Only 20% of kids nationwide are physically active for at least 60 minutes a day, according to a new United Health Foundation report. (Drazen/Adobe Stock)

Nebraska Women, Children Report More Anxiety, Mental Distress

LINCOLN, Neb. -- Women and young people have been facing increased behavioral-health challenges since before the pandemic, according to a new report …

Indigenous early-childhood education programs at tribal colleges and universities aim to improve students' educational attainment by revising school curriculums to be more culturally relevant. (Adobe Stock)

American Indian College Fund to Strengthen Native Teacher Pipeline

OMAHA, Neb. -- Tribal colleges and universities in Nebraska and across the nation are teaching the next generation of pre-K and elementary-school …

Beginning in 2022, Nebraska's Department of Education will begin offering farm-to-school producer training in various regions of the state. (Adobe Stock)

Nebraska Farmers Fueling Students with Locally Produced Food

GERING, Neb. -- With school back in session, many Nebraska students will be fueled by fresh beef, fruits and vegetables sourced from local farms…

Federal food assistance programs, including SNAP and Nebraska's Farmers Market Nutrition Program for seniors and families with children, ensure that farmers get fair market prices for their goods. (Adobe Stock)

Double Up Food Bucks Program Boosts Farmer’s Markets

LINCOLN, Neb. -- After a new state law expanded eligibility for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), the program formerly known as …

Permanently expanding the Child Tax Credit is projected to lift as many as half of the nation's children in low-income families out of poverty. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Nebraska's Families of Color Hit Hardest by Pandemic

LINCOLN, Neb. -- Nebraska as a whole is performing well for families with children, ranked seventh in the nation overall, according to the Annie E…

Roughly 10% of foster youth in the United States are entitled to Social Security benefits, either because their parents have died or because they have a physical or mental disability that would leave them in poverty without financial help. (Adobe Stock)

Nebraska Among States Taking Foster Kids’ Benefits

LINCOLN, Neb. - A new report shows at least 49 states, including Nebraska, are seizing thousands of dollars in Social Security, veterans and other …

Since March 2020, Food Bank for the Heartland has provided more than 35 million meals, an 88% increase over the previous four years' averages. (Roy Buri/Pixabay)

Expanding Access to SNAP Could Help More Nebraskans Weather COVID

LINCOLN, Neb. -- Nebraska lawmakers are considering a proposal to expand eligibility limits for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)…

Nebraska Legislative Bill 416 calls for more robust data collection on maternal health outcomes based on race and ethnicity to better inform clinical practice, program and policy changes. (Cheryl Holt/Pixabay)

Nebraska Lawmakers Review Racial Disparities in Maternal Medical Care

LINCOLN, Neb. -- Racial-justice advocates will host a lunch and learn session for Nebraska lawmakers Wednesday to unpack striking disparities in …

Nebraska ranks third nationally in industrial customers relying on electricity, largely generated by coal-fired power plants, mostly to power irrigation systems. (Jplenio/Pixabay)

Moms Breathe Easier with Morgan Stanley Coal Projections

LINCOLN, Neb. -- New analysis from the financial giant Morgan Stanley projects coal will be all but eliminated from electricity generation in the U.S…

Expanding access to the Child Tax Credit is projected to provide 99% of Nebraska families with children an additional $2,200 on average. (Arek Socha/Pixabay)

Report: Biden Relief Package Could Reduce Child Poverty in Nebraska

LINCOLN, Neb. -- President Joe Biden's proposal to expand the Child Tax Credit would help reduce child poverty and extend the credit to nearly half …

Medicaid has provided health-care coverage to hundreds of thousands of low-income Nebraskans, helping children in Nebraska succeed in school. (Pixabay)

Officials Urged: Get More Nebraskans Health Coverage During Pandemic

LINCOLN, Neb. -- Health advocates are working with the new Legislature and state agencies to strengthen and streamline Nebraska's Medicaid program…

Nebraskans who lost jobs through no fault of their own because of the coronavirus pandemic are posting their stories at 'essentialnebraska.com.' (Coalition for a Strong Nebraska)

Web Platform Shares Struggling Nebraskans' Stories with Lawmakers

LINCOLN, Neb. -- Nebraska's 107th Legislature kicked off yesterday, and a coalition of some 100 nonprofits have launched a new online portal to …

Advocates want lawmakers to prioritize children's physical and mental health by guaranteeing that COVID vaccines will be available without cost. (Pixabay)

Nebraska Children, Families Continue to Struggle with COVID Recovery

OMAHA, Neb. -- Families in Nebraska are struggling to meet their basic needs during the coronavirus pandemic, according to a new Annie E. Casey …

Thirty-three percent of working women between the ages of 23 and 39 say school and day-care closures are a significant reason for not working, compared with just 11.8% of men. (Wokandapix/Pixabay)

Report: Child Care Key for Equitable Economic Recovery

LINCOLN, Neb. -- Since the onset of the coronavirus pandemic, women in Nebraska and across the U.S. have left the workforce in unprecedented numbers…

Nearly 65% of payday loan storefronts in Nebraska are owned by out-of-state corporations. (Tony Webster/Wikimedia Commons)

Ballot Measure Aims to Protect Against Predatory Lending Practices

RALSTON, Neb. -- If voters approve Ballot Initiative 428 in November, payday lenders say most operators would be forced to shut down, leaving …

Many elementary school teachers were not able to provide direct instruction in academic skills more than once per week during school closures, with more than 20% reporting never providing direct instruction in academic skills. (Pixabay)

UNL Report Exposes Gaps in Education During School Closures

LINCOLN, Neb. -- As kids and parents navigate the uncertain territory of being back in school during a pandemic, a new University of Nebraska-Lincoln …

The U.S. Census Bureau provides translated web pages and guides in 59 non-English languages, including American Sign Language, as well as guides in Braille and large print. (U.S. Census Bureau)

Window Tightens for Getting Accurate Census Count in Nebraska

OMAHA, Neb. -- As the Trump administration works to end the U.S. Census Bureau's once-a-decade tally required by the U.S. Constitution one month …

Ten Nebraska schools have been selected by the Center for Rural Affairs for their Greenhouse to Cafeteria program, and will receive direct technical and financial support. (Sipa/Pixabay)

Contest Aims to Get More Local Produce Into School Cafeterias

LYONS, Neb. -- Nebraska will be defending its regional title in this year's Crunch Off competition, where schools across the nation devour locally …

Some 53,000 eligible Nebraska children have not been enrolled in the Pandemic EBT program, which would put up to $281 per child into their parents' wallets to help pay for food. (USDA)

Ensuring Kids Get Meals as They Head Back to School

LINCOLN, Neb. -- U.S. Senator Deb Fischer, R-Neb., and children's advocates are calling on U.S. Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue to extend child …

It's estimated that every year, 218,000 young people are admitted to detention facilities nationwide.(Pixabay)

Coronavirus Emergency Linked to Fewer Nebraska Youths in Detention

RALSTON, Neb. -- As the COVID-19 pandemic spread across the country, the number of young people being held in juvenile detention dropped …

Parents also should include babies in their 2020 census form, even if they're still in the hospital on April 1. (Krzysztof Dzwonek/Pixabay)

Census 2020: Making Nebraska Kids Count

LINCOLN, Neb. -- Advocates for children in Nebraska are working to ensure that all of the children are counted in the upcoming 2020 Census, including …

About 1,500 Nebraska parents, mostly unmarried mothers, would start working if they knew they'd<br />be able to obtain a child-care subsidy. (Aubrey Robinson/USAF)

NE Lawmakers Consider Boosting Child-Care Assistance

LINCOLN, Neb. - Nebraska lawmakers are considering two bills that proponents say would help low-income families, and businesses across the state …

In Nebraska, 57,946 students participated in the School Breakfast program in the 2018-19 school year, down about 900 from the previous year. (Pixabay)

Nebraska Left $9 Million in School Nutrition Funds on Table

LINCOLN, Neb. -- Nebraska ranked 48th nationally for getting students from low-income families the fuel they need to start the school day ready to …

Since its 2004 launch, Getting Ready has focused on strengthening relationships in children's lives, including relationships among parents, their young children and the early childhood professionals connected to the family.(David Lipp/Wikimedia Commons)

More Nebraska Families to Get Support Through Grant

LINCOLN, Neb. -- Fifteen years of research on best practices for helping young children prepare for school is expanding into communities across …

Single mothers with a bachelor's degree earn $1,082,059 in total lifetime earnings, $562,545 more than their peers with only a high school education. (Pixabay)<br /><br />

Helping Single Moms Graduate College Considered Good Investment

LINCOLN, Neb. -- Nebraska would see a big return on investments that help single mothers graduate from college, according to a new report from the …

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