Survey Shows Many Nebraska Childcare Centers Could Close Without Financial Help

Aug. 5, 2020, 2:47 p.m. ·

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A new survey finds many childcare providers in Nebraska could go out of business if they don’t get immediate financial assistance. The survey by the Buffett Early Childhood Institute at the University of Nebraska showed half of the respondents say they’ll have to close because of reduced enrollment and financial hardship unless they get assistance soon. Survey co-director Kate Gallagher says it’s a serious issue.

“We need to take this seriously, take some real action,“ Survey co-director Kate Gallagher said. “When we get through with this current context, we need to make sure that we can build the system back so that it’s not so volatile to these kinds of stressors.”

More than 1,000 home-based and center-based providers responded to the survey and around half say they risk closure. Gallagher says most would apply for more assistance if they knew where to find the money. One in three respondents say they’ve already received assistance through the federal CARES Act program, but that isn’t enough to keep their doors open.