8.4 Public-Private Partnerships

Lead Agencies must demonstrate how they encourage partnerships among other public agencies, Tribal organizations, private entities, faith-based organizations, businesses, or organizations that promote business involvement, and/or community-based organizations to leverage existing service delivery (i.e., cooperative agreement among providers to pool resources to pay for shared fixed costs and operation) to leverage existing child care and early education service delivery systems and to increase the supply and quality of child care services for children younger than age 13. 8.4.1 Lead Agency public-private partnerships Identify and describe any public-private partnerships encouraged by the Lead Agency to leverage public and private resources to further the goals of CCDF: The Lead Agency embraces the role of private organizations in our efforts to enhance service delivery systems relating to the care of children. These public-private partnerships benefit children and families and allow the Lead Agency to leverage the knowledge of experts in the field and strive to improve the supply, quality, and efficiency of the child care system. The blending and braiding of public-private funds is an effective strategy that allows maximization of return on investment in the activity areas of quality programming; social, emotional, and behavioral development; physical health and nutrition; professional development; education and wages; public policy; and online resource networks. Partnerships span across the state and include both rural and urban components, which allow effective coordination statewide. The Lead Agency uses CCDF quality, infant/toddler, and discretionary funds, through annual sub-awards and contracts, in the partner network, which includes the following: Nebraska Children and Families Foundation leads efforts in cross-sector community systems planning and high-quality programming in the early childhood development system. They serve as an integral partner in delivering services of the Sixpence and Preschool Development Grant programs. Their mission is "cultivating the good life for all Nebraska children." Buffet Early Childhood Institute is a multidisciplinary research, education, outreach, and policy institute helping transform early childhood development and education in Nebraska. They are charged with the service delivery of multiple components of the Preschool Development Grant program. Their mission is to "transform the lives of young children by improving their learning and development." CEDARS Youth Services is a nonprofit partner whose mission is to help children achieve safety, stability, and enduring family relationships. The Nurturing Healthy Behavior activities of this organization integrate social and emotional well-being of children. Head Start Child & Family Development Program offers high-quality child development services to children and families from all backgrounds, provides child-focused learning, as well as comprehensive services to the child’s family. Their partnership provides services for infant and toddler quality initiatives, as well as nurturing healthy behaviors which focuses on the social and emotional well-being of children. Region VI Behavioral Healthcare is responsible for the planning, developing, funding, monitoring, and evaluating of behavioral health services in Cass, Dodge, Douglas, Sarpy, and Washington counties in Nebraska. They lead the initiative to build the capacity of both early childhood and mental health professionals, with enhanced ability to address the challenging behaviors and life circumstances of young children. Blue Valley Community Action’s vision is that families are financially secure, and everyone has opportunities to develop their potential. The partnership provides support to families and enhances children’s development through infant and toddler quality initiatives. Community Action Partnership of Lancaster and Saunders Counties is a partnership that provides support to families and enhances children’s development through infant and toddler quality initiatives. Their mission is to empower people living in poverty to reach economic stability. Childcare Providers: Family Home I and II, Child Care Center, Preschool, and School-Age Only Centers provide the framework for quality child care across the state of Nebraska. The care provided by this comprehensive, quality focused network of providers is the backbone of the child care industry. In addition, Lead Agency partnerships extend to other publicly funded organizations. The expertise they offer in the child care arena is an invaluable resource and we work together to accomplish shared goals and objectives. These entities provide various activities related to infant, toddler and school-age children, resource and referral systems and other quality initiatives for providers, children and families in Nebraska. They also provide services relating to the health and safety of child care facilities as it relates to licensing and background checks of staff providing care. These partners include: The Nebraska Department of Education promotes student achievement and preparation for global competitiveness by fostering educational excellence and ensuring equal access which begins at birth. The partnership is aimed at implementing various activities related to school age, resource and referral, infant/toddler, and other quality activities for providers, children, and families in Nebraska. Educational Service Units in Nebraska are intermediate agencies providing supplementary educational services to school districts in Nebraska, including quality programming and enhanced development focused on infants, toddlers, and school-age children. University of Nebraska Lincoln Child, Youth and Family Studies is committed to enhancing the well-being of children, youth, adults, and families in the state by improving the environments in which they live and learn. They provide services through the Nutritional and Physical Activity program focusing on healthy eating and physical activity. Nebraska State Patrol provides comprehensive criminal background checks on staff members in the childcare industry in order to ensure the safety of children of the child care system. University of Nebraska Center for Research on Children, Youth, Families and Schools provides academic intervention and learning, early education and development, psychosocial development, behavioral health, and research and evaluation methods. They also provide services through the Nutritional and Physical Activity program, which focuses on healthy eating and physical activity of young children. The Lead Agency values each and every partner in the network and we all work to attain the shared goal of maximizing the impact we can make on young children in Nebraska.