KEARNEY, NE—The eighth annual Thriving Children, Families, and Communities Conference is set to take place on September 16 at the Younes Conference Center in Kearney, Nebraska. Registration is now open and free to the public. Keynote speaker Rob Grunewald will share how smart economic policies can strengthen child care—and why it’s a smart investment for everyone.
Rob Grunewald is an independent economics and public policy consultant. Previously he held economist and analyst positions at the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis from 1993 to 2022. Rob has authored over 200 articles and reports on topics ranging from regional economic conditions and banking to education and early childhood research and policy, including a widely cited 2003 paper with Arthur Rolnick, Early Childhood Development: Economic Development with a High Public Return.
Join hundreds of Nebraska leaders from business, government, healthcare, education, and more at this statewide conference focused on solving the state’s child care crisis. Connect with experts, share ideas, and explore real solutions. Highlights include:
Breakout sessions — among the topics covered will be:
- How Nebraska businesses are creating child care spaces—whether building new or reimagining existing ones
- Where to find quality early childhood data and how to turn it into action
- The pros and cons of home-based vs. center-based child care, including licensing, staffing, and sustainability
- Why mental health support for the early childhood workforce is critical—and how communities are stepping up
- Innovative statewide programs and resources shaping Nebraska’s early childhood landscape
- What workforce research says about the future of early childhood—and how to drive progress
- How to engage boards, elected officials, and leaders to strengthen local support.
Community Voices — Community leaders will be front and center during panel discussions that highlight local success stories of meeting challenges with thoughtful and creative solutions.
Networking—The conference provides chances to connect with hundreds of leaders from Nebraska and beyond.
People can register at no cost at thrivingchildrenconference.org.
