Early Childhood Programs’ Scarcity Undermines Nebraska's Rural Communities

Poverty is a significant challenge to children’s healthy development, wherever they happen to live in Nebraska. While this issue is frequently associated with families in urban centers, it is no less a problem for Nebraska’s rural communities. In fact, poverty is slightly more prevalent among children living in Nebraska’s rural communities than those living in the state’s major metropolitan areas. At the same time, children in rural communities often lack resources and supports, including quality early childhood care and education.

We must organize our investments in children strategically, wherever they happen to live in our state. Our investments in children living outside major metropolitan areas should be organized to address the infrastructure challenges specific to rural communities. The talents of all of our state’s residents, rural and metro, are needed to build a strong workforce that will contribute to a vibrant Nebraska economy, contribute to our public safety, and enhance national security in the long run.