The Wayne Communities for Kids (C4K) Core Team met on September 30 to continue laying the groundwork for an important countywide initiative focused on strengthening early childhood systems throughout Wayne County.

During the meeting, the Core Team established the mission and vision that will guide the initiative as this work moves forward:

Mission:
Supporting the development of our children, families, and communities through investing in quality early childhood systems.

Vision:
Wayne County is a model for early childhood education that champions collaborative efforts, equitable investments, long-term solutions, and sustainable capacity to support our youngest community members.

The Core Team also discussed the financial, budgetary, and grant responsibilities associated with the three-year C4K initiative. Establishing a strong foundation for the project’s financial and organizational structure will be an important part of ensuring that the work can create lasting impact throughout Wayne County.

Identifying the Challenges and Opportunities

A significant portion of the discussion focused on the challenges facing families, schools, employers, and childcare providers when it comes to early childhood development and access to quality childcare.

As the initiative progresses, the Core Team will begin identifying specific goals, barriers, potential projects, funding opportunities, and other strategies that can help address the needs of our communities. This work will require collaboration from many different sectors, including families, childcare providers, educators, businesses, community organizations, and local leaders.

Bringing Statewide Ideas Back to Wayne County

As part of this work, Rachel Miller with Wayne America Inc. recently attended the Thriving Children, Families and Communities Conference in Kearney, Nebraska. The two-day statewide conference brought together nearly 500 participants, including parents, childcare providers, educators, business leaders, policymakers, and nonprofit organizations.

The conference featured keynote speakers, breakout sessions, and opportunities to learn from communities across Nebraska that are working to address early childhood challenges. Overall, it reinforced that that childcare is not simply a family issue. It is a community and economic development issue that requires collaboration across many sectors. 

Next Step: Understanding Our County's Needs

The C4K Core Team will meet again next month to begin developing the Early Childhood Quality and Capacity Survey (ECQCS).

This survey will be distributed throughout Wayne County and will help establish a shared understanding of the current early childhood landscape in our communities. It will gather input about:

• The quality and capacity of existing childcare services
• Parents’ perceptions and experiences with childcare
• The needs and experiences of childcare providers
• The childcare needs of local businesses and employers
• Challenges and opportunities within our current early childhood system

The information gathered through this survey will be a vital step in helping the Core Team identify the strengths, needs, and gaps within Wayne County’s early childhood system. This information will help guide future goals, projects, and investments as the initiative develops.

This Is a Community Effort

Strengthening childcare and early childhood opportunities in Wayne County will take collaboration from all parts of our community. The Wayne C4K initiative is committed to bringing people together to better understand our current challenges, identify opportunities, and work toward long-term solutions that benefit children, families, employers, and communities throughout Wayne County.

Stay tuned for future updates and opportunities to get involved as the Wayne Communities for Kids initiative continues to take shape. If you have questions or would like to learn more about the initiative, please reach out to a member of the Wayne C4K Core Team listed below.

Wayne C4K Core Team:

Rachel Miller, Chair- Wayne America Inc.                           

Misty Beair, Chair- Wayne Community Schools     

Austyn Houser, Chair- Wayne City Council

Luke Virgil- Wayne America Inc.       

Jess Lueth- Lueth's Littles Childcare                                   

Ann Marie Tentinger- Tentinger Daycare Family Childcare 

Shane Baack- Ameriprise Financial/Arrowhead Development 

Liesel Mrsny- WSC/Little Roots Child Development Center & Preschool Board

Jenn Bartos- Journey Christian Church Life Tree Academy Director

Erika Fink- ESU1 Northern Early Connection Coordinator

Joni Tietz- Wayne County Clerk - County & Carroll Representative

Pam Grunke- Lil Cats Daycare & Winside Representative 

Nicole Haglund- CEO Providence Medical Center

Katie Diediker- State Nebraska Bank & Trust Human Resources Director