Collective investments in things like roads, schools, and parks are critical components of a thriving community. These things wouldn’t be possible without revenue to make these investments and that revenue comes from taxes. Many have seen or heard about the recent income tax cuts that Kansas has made, resulting…...
Creating Opportunities for Families: A Two-Generation Approach
Last week, the Annie E. Casey Foundation released a policy report investigating ways to create opportunities for families – especially for those who are low-income. The report examines how low-income families with young children face extra barriers, like single parenting, difficulty speaking English, low education levels, lack of full-time employment,…...
Approval of Minimum Wage Increase a Victory for All Nebraskans
It is clear that Nebraskans truly value both hard work and family. In yesterday’s election, Nebraskans voted to approve Initiative 425, which will increase the state minimum wage to $8/hr in 2015 and to $9/hr in 2016. The initiative received overwhelming bipartisan support, showing that Nebraskans believe that working…...
New Report Shows Progress and Needs on Child Care
Child care assistance helps ensure that kids are safe so parents can work. Ideally, our child care systems and programs should also help ensure that children are being prepared for K-12 education. Last week, the National Women’s Law Center released a new report looking at state level policies for child…...
Putting Families First: How Paid Leave Helps Families Succeed
With the changing nature of the workforce, it’s getting more and more challenging to balance the demands of the jobs we need and the families we love. States around the country are starting to take the lead on establishing policies that promote more family-friendly workplaces and both businesses and families…...
Time to Move Forward with Child Care Update
The Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG) is the most significant source of funding for providing child care assistance to working families to help ensure kids are safe so parents can work. For families with young children, child care has become the largest expense in the family budget and…...
2014 National Kids Count Series: Family and Community
Last month the Annie E. Casey Foundation released the 2014 KIDS COUNT Data Book highlighting state trends in child well-being and celebrating their 25th edition of the book by going back to 1990 and looking at changes in America’s children since then. Voices for Children in Nebraska is featuring a series on the data book…...
