Pleasanton Selected for Communities for Kids Initiative

The community of Pleasanton has recently been selected to be part of Nebraska Children and Families Foundation Communities for Kids, a state-wide initiative which supports young children, families and those providing their care. The Communities for Kids initiative is a multi-year planning and implementation initiative that was created in response to community requests for assistance with shortages of high-quality early childhood care and education programs. These shortages impact children’s optimal development and also pose a challenge for communities hoping to attract and retain the viable workforce they need to thrive.

The Pleasanton Area Community for Kids (PACK) committee met February 5th to discuss how quality early childcare could be enhanced and expanded in the community of Pleasanton. PACK’s ultimate mission is to raise awareness of the critical importance of quality early childcare and the impact on our community. Pleasanton is a fast growing community with high needs in early childhood education. The Pleasanton Area Community for Kids wants to help build a strong foundation for a strong community. This will allow not only young children to flourish, but local businesses and all parts of the community.

In support of the participating communities, Communities for Kids will provide assistance and expertise to the community of Pleasanton with:
* engaging stakeholders in identifying the strengths and gaps of the current early care and education resources in the community.
* using informed decision-making to determine strategies for meeting the priority needs identified by the community and creating a business plan if needed.
* connecting communities with experts and research, best practices, implementation, quality measurements, financing, use of government/public resources, and design, etc.
* exploring and assisting communities with applying for all available sources of funding (private/public grants, public funding programs such as childcare subsidy, no- or lowinterest loans, etc.).

“Not many people fully understand how much Pleasanton has grown in the past couple years and will continue to grow in the future. The need for quality childcare and early childhood education is very important. I believe our community is very supportive and would be willing to assist in the growth of these areas. As a member of PACK, we must educate our community on what a quality childcare looks like and how early childhood education is the foundation for not only a growing child, but a hard working adult who will one day give back to our community. ” - Ashley Walker, Pleasanton Area Community for Kids committee member.

To learn more about Communities for Kids visit, www.communitiesforkids.org