Now Enrolling!
Home-based child care providers in rural Nebraska are invited to join our latest study! Discover new ways to improve program quality and earn credit hours. Visit the project page to learn about the benefits and if you qualify.
Who We Are
Healthy Children, Healthy Communities is a research and professional development program led by a team of University of Nebraska researchers, Extension professionals and graduate research students.
We have expertise in:
- Early childhood coaching
- Child health behaviors
- Childhood obesity prevention
- Child care nutrition and feeding
- Child care policy
- Federal subsidy programs
- Behavioral economics
Our Mission
We support child care providers and families everywhere, especially in communities with fewer resources, with practical, research-backed tools that support children’s healthy growth and development.
Our Vision
We imagine a future where all children — no matter where they live — grow up with the support they need to eat well, feel good and thrive in child care, at home and in their communities.
Our Mission
We support child care providers and families everywhere, especially in communities with fewer resources, with practical, research-backed tools that support children’s healthy growth and development.
Our Vision
We imagine a future where all children — no matter where they live — grow up with the support they need to eat well, feel good and thrive in child care, at home and in their communities.
What We Do
Our team conducts research, offers professional learning and coaching, and engages with rural, urban and tribal communities to address their needs. We collaborate with caregivers of preschool-aged children, providing them with tools and strategies they can apply in their programs and share with families to support children’s growth and development.
Research
We conduct innovative research to help caregivers foster healthy habits in young children, focusing on nutrition, eating behaviors and mealtime interactions.
Professional Learning & Coaching
We offer professional learning and coaching opportunities for child care providers, equipping them with tools and strategies to enhance their practices and program quality.
Community Engagement
We engage with child care providers in various settings to understand their challenges related to children’s health, and deliver education and guidance tailored to their needs.
Research
We conduct innovative research to help caregivers foster healthy habits in young children, focusing on nutrition, eating behaviors and mealtime interactions.
Professional Learning & Coaching
We offer professional learning and coaching opportunities for child care providers, equipping them with tools and strategies to enhance their practices and program quality.
Community Engagement
We engage with child care providers in various settings to understand their challenges related to children’s health, and deliver education and guidance tailored to their needs.
Why It Matters
Most children in the U.S.— especially those in rural communities — spend part of their early years in some form of child care. Family child care homes are uniquely positioned to support young children’s growth and development through their daily interactions and practices. By strengthening providers’ skills, practices and environments, as well as organizational capacity, we can improve children’s dietary intake and prevent obesity early in life, leading to better health in adulthood — and a stronger community.