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The Early Childhood Team with Nebraska Extension supports adults who play a role in young children’s lives providing information and resources about early child development. Adults play a significant role in setting the stage for young children's lifelong learning, discovery and success.

Statewide Early Childhood Website

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Upcoming Nebraska Extension Trainings

  • Hayley Jackson and the Early Childhood Team is currently offering a variety of free or low-cost online classes for childcare providers. Visit Nebraska Extension in Douglas-Sarpy Counties for details and to sign up.
  • Nebraska Extension offers statewide online professional development opportunities. Visit child.unl.edu for the list and to register.

Meet Our Local Staff

Hayley Jackson headshot

Hayley Jackson, Extension Educator

Hayley is an Extension Educator on the Early Childhood Team serving Cass, Lancaster, and Otoe Counties. Originally from Lincoln, Hayley earned a bachelor’s degree from Arizona State University in Human Development & Family Studies. She then moved to Fort Collins, Colo. and graduated with a master’s degree in Human Development & Family Studies, with a concentration in Early Childhood. Currently, Hayley is in the doctoral program at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln in the Child, Youth and Family Studies department. Hayley has over 15 years of experience teaching, coaching and leading early childhood programs, including coaching the Malone Early Achiever’s Preschool Program and working at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln Children’s Center as the Assistant Director.

Email hayley.jackson@unl.edu.


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Jaci Foged, Extension Educator

Jaci is an Extension Educator on the Early Childhood Team leading a multi-state grant focusing on the Cultivating Healthy Intentional Mindful Educators (CHIME) program. Jaci holds a Bachelor's degree in Early Childhood Education/Child Development from the University of Nebraska–Lincoln and a Master's degree in Curriculum and Instruction from Doane University in Crete, Neb. Jaci provides training to childcare providers and families in the Southeast area of Nebraska. Jaci is the Program Coordinator for a U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Administration for Children and Families grant on Head Start University Partnerships: Building the Evidence Base for ECE Workforce Well-being. Since the fall of 2000, Jaci has been working with children birth to 8 years of age, including eight years of center-based childcare director experience.

Email jfoged2@unl.edu.

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Statewide Resources Local Staff Contribute To

The Learning Child Blog — Nebraska Extension's blog to empower parents and childcare providers through research-based resources.

Cultivating Healthy Intentional Mindful Educators (CHIME) — Nebraska Extension's program teaches childcare providers how to incorporate mindfulness into your teaching and caregiving.

Look Who's Hatching — Nebraska Extension's program guides early childhood teachers through the process of hatching chicken eggs.

Read for Resilience — Nebraska Extension's program to help children heal after experiencing a major stressor, disaster, loss and/or grief.

Nutrition and Physical Activity Self-Assessment for Child Care — A collaboration of several organizations, including Nebraska Extension, Go NAP SACC walks child care providers through five simple steps to make healthy changes to their program.

A Beautiful Day — University of Nebraska-Lincoln College of Education and Human Sciences' virtual early childhood space to share ideas, to foster learning and play.

Choosing Quality Childcare — Nebraska Extension's resources to help you and your family make the best choice for your family.

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Other Statewide Resources

Co-Parenting for Successful Kids online course — Nebraska Extension's class for anyone who is in the process of divorce, custody modification or separation (available in English and Spanish).

Eat Family Style @ Home — University of Nebraska-Lincoln College of Education and Human Sciences' tips, recipes and activities to create memorable mealtimes.

Learning Begins at Birth parent guide — Nebraska Dept. of Education and Nebraska Dept. of Health and Human Services' resource booklet with information on child development and more (available in English, Spanish, Arabic and Vietnamese).

The Right Place child care finder — Nebraska Health and Human Services' online Nebraska Resource and Referral System.

Step Up to Quality — Nebraska Dept. of Education's program to help great child care providers become even better.

Rooted in Relationships — Nebraska Children and Families Foundation's initiative that partners with communities to enhance social-emotional development of children.

Prosper Lincoln — Lincoln Community Foundation's community-wide initiative for positive change.

The online trainings have been such a blessing and great resource!

participant in an Extension 2020 virtual program for childcare providers