Description

You are cordially invited to a special reception hosted by the Greater Omaha Chamber, featuring a presentation by Jack P. Shonkoff, M.D., Founding Director and Center on the Developing Child at Harvard. He will discuss how the latest advances in the science of early childhood development can help the Greater Omaha community strengthen the foundations of human capital and our talent pipeline—now and in the decades ahead.

Our childcare industry lacks diverse sources of revenue to stabilize existing programs, increase the affordability of quality services, and strengthen the early childhood professional workforce. Nebraska has some of the highest percentages of childcare disparities in the nation, with a few listed below:

· 21% of Nebraska’s childcare businesses closed due to COVID.

· 76% of children in Nebraska have all available parents in the workforce. This is the highest rate in the nation. The national average is 67%. 

· Nebraska's average annual childcare cost is $12,480 for a single infant and $24,960 for an infant and a 4-year-old.

Following the presentation, a panel discussion will feature Dr. Shonkoff, Jason Prokop, Director at First Five Nebraska, Patricia Kearns, President and CEO of QLI, Keisha Thomas, VP of HR, Employee and Community Relations at North End Teleservices, and be moderated by Chad Mares, the Senior Director of Workforce Services at the Greater Omaha Chamber.

The panel discussion will center on Dr. Shonkoff’s work and on opportunities for businesses to invest in the Childcare sector to benefit their employees and their organizations and support this vital sector for our local communities.