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Box Butte Co. Community For Kids

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United States
Alliance, NE
Box Butte Co. Community For Kids

Working to address shortages in high-quality early care and education for all children 0-5 years.

08/22/2025

The lack of affordable, high-quality childcare impacts us all. It affects our local workforce, business growth, and most importantly, the well-being of our children. Communities for Kids is a coalition working to find solutions, but we can't do it alone.

Join us in our mission to strengthen early childhood care in our county. Whether you're a parent, a provider, a business owner, or a concerned community member, your voice and support are crucial. Learn how you can get involved and make a difference today!

Visit the C4K website to learn more at: https://www.communitiesforkids.org/welcome.html

08/20/2025

Ever wonder why you instinctively use a different voice when talking to a baby? That high-pitched, musical way of speaking is actually a powerful tool for a baby's brain development. Known as parentese or child-directed speech, it helps little ones learn the sounds and rhythm of language by emphasizing key syllables and words. By making your voice more expressive and dynamic, you're helping their tiny brains make crucial connections that will set them up for a lifetime of communication!

08/18/2025

Meet Reve Fries, a Box Butte County Communities for Kid's core team member!

Reve is a dedicated core team member, bringing her passion and expertise from her role at the Alliance Recreation Center. Her background in providing high-quality care for school-age children gives her a unique perspective on the importance of community collaboration and accessible resources for families.

Reve shared her insights on being involved with the Box Butte Community C4K Core Team:

Q: What is your role with childcare in the community?

A: At the Alliance Recreation Center, we’re all about creating a safe, fun, and engaging place for kids to learn and grow. We run our Afterschool Program, 5th Day Friday Care, and Summer Camp for school-age children, making sure families have high-quality care they can count on. That means transportation from school, homework help, hands-on STEAM activities, and plenty of ways to keep kids learning outside the classroom. As a non-profit, we offer scholarships to help with costs, and we now accept DHHS subsidies.

Q: What is your favorite part of early childhood learning and development?

A: I love seeing kids light up when they get to try something new, especially experiences they might not have had otherwise. Thanks to our amazing childcare director Sarah Meyers and partners like the Carnegie Arts Center, UNL Extension, Alliance Public Schools and Beyond School Bells, our kids get to explore art, science, and so much more.

Q: What’s one thing you have learned about childcare or early childhood development in Box Butte County since being part of C4K?

A: Being part of C4K has opened my eyes to just how much collaboration matters. There are so many people working hard to give kids the best start possible, and when we come together, we can tackle challenges in ways we couldn’t alone.

Q: Tell us your favorite part about being a Box Butte County C4K team member.

A: I love connecting with others who share a passion for childcare. It’s inspiring to trade ideas, learn from others experience, and know we’re all working toward the same goal.

08/15/2025

Childcare isn't just a family issue, it's a workforce issue. A recent study shows that nearly 60% of part-time working parents would go back to work full-time if they had access to quality, affordable childcare.

At Communities for Kids (C4K), we know that investing in childcare is one of the most powerful ways to strengthen our community. When parents have the support they need, our local economy thrives and families become more stable.

Let's work together to make this a reality for every family.

08/13/2025

Did you know that the lack of quality childcare can hold a whole community back? Here in Box Butte County, we're working with the Communities for Kids initiative to address this challenge head-on. Our local team is dedicated to strengthening early childhood care and education, so our kids have a strong start and our families have the support they need to thrive. Follow along to see how we're building a stronger future for Box Butte County, one child and one family at a time.

Visit the C4K website to learn more about our local efforts and how you can get involved: https://www.communitiesforkids.org/what-we-do/

08/08/2025

Did you know toddlers ask an average of 73 questions a day?! That constant "Why?" and "What's that?" isn't just adorable; it's how their amazing brains are making sense of the world!

Communities for Kids (C4K) is passionate about supporting environments where every one of those questions can be explored. By strengthening early childhood care and education, we're helping nurture the natural curiosity that leads to lifelong learning.

08/06/2025

Thriving families build thriving communities! Box Butte Communities for Kids is dedicated to strengthening the well-being of children and families by enhancing local resources and support systems right here in Box Butte County. Your support directly contributes to a more resilient and connected community for everyone.

Learn how you can play a part in fostering community well-being!
Learn about how you can get involved at: https://www.communitiesforkids.org/welcome.html

08/04/2025

Meet Shelena Nelson, Box Butte Co. Communities for Kids Core Team Member!

Shelena is a dedicated Box Butte Co. Communities for Kids (C4K) core team member who brings a wealth of experience and a passion for community well-being to her role. As someone who works for Northwest Community Action Partnership as part of the local Head Start program in Alliance, Shelena has a vested interest in initiatives that help high-needs families thrive, making her a natural fit for the C4K mission.

Shelena shared her insights on being involved with the Box Butte Co. C4K Core Team:

Q: What is your role with childcare in the community?

A: I work for Northwest Community Action Partnership as part of our local Head Start program here in Alliance. Head Start is dedicated to serving high-needs families in our community, offering comprehensive support to both children and their families. We believe that parents are a child’s first and most important teacher, so our approach emphasizes setting and achieving goals not only for the children but for the families as a whole.

Our Alliance center serves approximately 45 children, ranging from prenatal to kindergarten age. We offer both center-based and home-based services. This means some children attend classes at our center, while others receive early education and family support in their homes through regular visits from our home-based educators.

In my role, I work directly with our teaching staff, providing coaching, resources, and day-to-day support to help them meet the diverse needs of the children and families we serve. My focus is on problem-solving collaboratively, fostering professional growth, and ensuring that our classrooms and home visits are consistently supportive, engaging, and aligned with Head Start’s mission.

Q: What is your favorite part of early childhood learning and development?

A: One of the most rewarding aspects of this work is witnessing the incredible growth in both children and families over the course of the year. It’s inspiring to see the progress children make—socially, emotionally, and academically—thanks to the dedication and hard work of our teaching staff. Equally powerful is watching families achieve their goals, overcome challenges, and gain the confidence to move forward.

Q: What's one thing you have learned about childcare or early childhood development in Box Butte County since being part of C4K?

A: I didn't realize the vast needs our community has for childcare, especially infant care.

Q: Tell us your favorite part about being a Box Butte County C4K team member.

A: I love to learn more about the needs our community has and feel privileged to try and brainstorm ideas that may alleviate those.

08/01/2025

The journey of early childhood is a time of incredible growth and discovery. From their very first interactions, children are building the foundation for a lifetime of learning, connection, and joy. It's truly amazing to see how quickly they develop, exploring their world and building the skills they'll use for years to come. Let's remember the vital role we play in nurturing these precious minds and creating supportive environments where every child can thrive!

07/30/2025

The power of early childhood development is undeniable, and it starts right here in our community. At Communities for Kids, we're dedicated to ensuring every child has the opportunities they need to thrive from day one. Your support helps create vital programs and resources.

Ready to make an impact? Learn more about how you can join Communities for Kids! Visit the C4K website here: https://www.communitiesforkids.org/welcome.html

07/28/2025

Meet Karen Benzel, Box Butte Co. Communities for Kids Core Team Member!

Karen Benzel is a dedicated Box Butte Co. Communities for Kids (C4K) core team member who brings a wealth of experience and a passion for community well-being to her role. As the Executive Director for United Way of Western Nebraska, Karen has a vested interest in initiatives that help people thrive, making her a natural fit for the C4K mission. She believes strongly that families deserve a safe, educational, and supportive environment for their children, and she actively works to expand the capacity and quality of childcare in Box Butte County.

Karen shared her insights on being involved with the Box Butte Co. C4K Core Team:

Q: What is your role with childcare in the community?
A: I am Executive Director for United Way of Western Nebraska and a core team member of the C4K initiative since it began in Box Butte County. In my role with United Way of Western Nebraska, I have a vested interest to invest in initiatives and programs that help people thrive. C4K is a key role in expanding the capacity and quality of childcare in the local community and it aligns well with my role at United Way! Families should be able to have a safe, educational, supportive environment to care for their children.

Q: What is your favorite part of early childhood learning and development?
A: The development of early literacy. Seeing children become familiar with stories and how they learn to read from exposure to early print is such a fun time for early childhood and is the building blocks of literacy and reading. This is why one of my favorite programs United Way offers locally is Imagination Library.

Q: What's one thing you have learned about childcare or early childhood development in Box Butte County since being part of C4K?
A: The resources and support that are available to early childcare providers. There is guidance to begin a childcare, for step up to quality and a host of resources that seek the best for early childhood education. When kids succeed the community wins!

Q: Tell us your favorite part about being a Box Butte County C4K team member.
A: My favorite part is hearing directly from providers and community survey data information. Listening to providers and seeing their concerns, needs, capacity, growth opportunities, etc. In addition to feedback from parents and the community helps guide strategic conversations to foster quality, capacity and play-based programs that are child-focused.

07/25/2025

Did you know that quality early childhood care and education can boost a child's future earnings by up to 25%? It's not just about playtime; it's about building a strong foundation for lifelong learning, social skills, and success! Investing in childcare is investing in our community's future workforce!

Address

502 Box Butte
Alliance, NE
69301

Opening Hours

Monday	8am - 4pm
Tuesday	8am - 4pm
Wednesday	8am - 4pm
Thursday	8am - 4pm
Friday	8am - 4pm

Telephone

+13087621800

Website

http://BoxButteDevelopment.com/

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