Needs Assessment : Systems Partners : Who We Are : Nebraska Preschool Development Grant

Systems Partners

Needs Assessment

A needs assessment at the systems level offers a structured way to look at how early childhood services connect across a state. Rather than focusing on a single program, it examines how different organizations work together to support young children and their families. By mapping the existing landscape, leaders can see where efforts overlap, where families experience gaps, and where additional coordination could improve access to high-quality care and learning opportunities during the earliest years.

Community input is a central part of any meaningful assessment process. When families, early childhood professionals, and local partners share their experiences, a clearer picture emerges of what is working and what still needs attention. This kind of broad engagement helps ensure that the resulting recommendations reflect real needs in neighborhoods and rural communities alike, rather than assumptions made from a distance.

Data also plays a guiding role in understanding the early childhood system. Information about child outcomes, program availability, workforce capacity, and family demographics can highlight trends that inform planning. When this data is paired with stories from the community, the assessment becomes a balanced tool that captures both measurable patterns and the lived experiences of children, parents, and educators across the state.

One purpose of a needs assessment is to strengthen alignment among the many groups that touch young children's lives. Health, mental health, family support, early learning, and childcare providers all contribute to a child's development. Looking at these sectors together encourages shared language, shared goals, and shared responsibility, which can lead to more coherent experiences for families as they navigate available services and resources.

Ultimately, a needs assessment is meant to guide action. Findings can shape strategic plans, influence funding decisions, and inspire new partnerships that expand access to quality early childhood experiences. By grounding future work in evidence and community voice, the process supports continuous improvement, helping the broader system better prepare children for school and lifelong learning while responding to the evolving needs of families.

NEEDS ASSESSMENT

We partner with state agencies, organizations, individuals, and University of Nebraska faculty and staff to conduct the work of the Needs Assessment.

With the help of our partners, we have collected data from a variety of sources, and have developed materials to share with anyone who could use them to elevate the voices of Nebraskans.

Families

Providers

Stakeholders

We know there is more work to be done. In collaboration with the Nebraska Preschool Development Grant project leads, the Needs Assessment team will continue to collect and integrate information to better understand and address the needs and gaps in Nebraska's birth to five mixed-delivery system. Ongoing work includes:

More in-depth information about families' needs and perspectives, from Black and African American, Hispanic and Latinx, Native American and American Indian communities, refugees and immigrants, families of children with disabilities, families experiencing poverty and/or homelessness, and families providing foster care.
More in-depth information about the experiences of providers, including providers who are Black and African American, Hispanic and Latinx, Native American and American Indian, and experiencing poverty and/or homelessness.
Review the cumulative data from all COVID-19 provider surveys to develop a better understanding of how the pandemic continues to impact the well-being of Nebraska’s providers — physically, emotionally, and financially.
Determine a sustainable plan for periodic assessment of the needs of the birth to 5 mixed-delivery system and those it serves. This work will be paired with data-driven recommendations, based on information from families, providers, and key stakeholders.