Elevating Early Childhood
Every child deserves a strong start —
and every family deserves support along the way.
Finding affordable, high-quality early childhood care can feel overwhelming. Lincoln Littles helps connect families, providers, businesses and community partners to create more opportunities for children to learn, grow and thrive.
Why Early Childhood Matters
The early years help shape a child’s future. In fact, 90% of brain development happens before a child enters kindergarten. Quality early learning experiences support healthy development, build confidence and help children enter kindergarten ready to succeed.
But many families face real challenges when it comes to finding care that fits their needs and budget. In Lincoln:
- Childcare costs can exceed the price of public college tuition.
- Many parents say affordability is the biggest barrier to accessing quality care.
- Most households with young children rely on working parents.
- Employee absenteeism and turnover due to inadequate child care can be very expensive for employers.
Our Approach
How Lincoln Littles Supports the Community
Helping Families Access Care
Tuition assistance can help make early childhood education more affordable so families can work, continue school and build stability.
Strengthening Early Learning Programs
Childcare providers receive support, resources and guidance that help improve quality and expand opportunities for children.
Partnering with Employers
Businesses play an important role in supporting working families. Community engagement and family-friendly workplace efforts help create a stronger future for children, families and employers alike.
Building a Stronger Future
Lasting change takes advocacy, collaboration and thoughtful policy efforts that help more children and families access the support they need — now and in the future.
The Goal
A thriving early childhood system gives more children access to affordable, high-quality care and education — helping them grow socially, emotionally and academically while supporting families, employers and our community.
Your support helps make that possible. By giving to Lincoln Littles, you help ensure more local children and families have the resources they need to succeed today and into the future.
Stories
About Elevating Early Childhood
Engagement
Lincoln Family-Friendly Workplace Certification Program Certifies 12 in Latest Cohort
Lincoln Littles and the Lincoln Partnership for Economic Development (LPED) are thrilled to announce that 12 additional local organizations have been certified through the Lincoln Family-Friendly Workplace Certification Program. With these newest certifications, the program has now surpassed a significant milestone, recognizing more than 50 organizations as family-friendly workplaces in Lincoln. The program was announced […]
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Quality
2026 Quality Enhancement Grant Program Data Summary
The 2026 Quality Enhancement Grant Program supported quality improvements for early childhood programs across Lincoln through JBC funding, Lincoln Littles funding and an additional quality enhancement grant from Rosalind Carr. The 2026 Quality Enhancement Grant program included 25 funded grants, with $210,000 awarded. Funding Summary Total awarded: $210,000 Programs with active awards: 25 Program Reach […]
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Engagement
Recognizing Workplaces Showing Up for Lincoln Families
More employers are stepping up to support working families—and we’re proud to recognize 26 additional organizations through the Lincoln Family-Friendly Workplace Certification Program, led by Lincoln Littles in partnership with Lincoln Partnership for Economic Development (LPED).
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