Children at Play sign, (Brian Neben, Courtesy)
NEBRASKA — There is a continuing need for child care in all corners of Nebraska, a recent Buffett Early Childhood Institute brief detailed just how wide the gap has become.
“The Buffett Early Childhood Institute at the University of Nebraska promotes the development and learning of children from birth through age 8. Our vision is to make Nebraska the best place in the nation to be a baby,” according to the institute.
Some key findings the institute noted for Nebraska is that there are currently 2,579 legally operating child care providers in the state with a combined capacity of 94,857 spaces. However, it should be noted that licensed capacity frequently exceeds the actual operating capacity of a provider.
The good news is that the number of child care spaces has increased by 2,079 since 2020. The potential need has decreased by 1.3 percent caused primarily be fewer women in the labor market.
However, the gap between the potential need and actual capacity is 17,568 spaces and there are 10 counties in Nebraska that have no child care providers.
Those counties include Banner, Sioux, Hayes, Keya Paha, Logan, Grant, Aurthur, Thomas, Blaine and McPherson.
“As of 2024, over 15 million children in the United States (66.7% of all children) under age six have all available parents in the workforce and are potentially in need of child care options. Yet, the reality for many of these families is that child care is inaccessible, unaffordable or simply nonexistent,” per the Buffet Institute.
“The recent work, when applied to Nebraska data, has shined a light on how important it is to understand the gap at the community level and how, when funding is targeted at high need areas, progress can be achieved,” per the institute.
“States must invest more in programs that enhance the expansion of child care in rural areas. Targeted strategies—when combined with partnerships with parents and businesses—can produce significant impacts on the quality of life and economic health of communities,” the institute concluded.
