LINCOLN- The state could address part of its need for childcare workers by replicating a Kentucky program that pays childcare costs for childcare workers. Sen. John Fredrickson introduced LB856, which would make all childcare workers eligible for childcare aid, regardless of their income. Nebraska daycare workers passing a criminal background check would be eligible for aid if they work at least 20 hours a week at a licensed daycare facility or in-home daycare.

Fredrickson modeled his proposal after Kentucky’s, which used pandemic relief funds to make child care cheaper for childcare workers, many of whom earn too little to pay for daycare. The program attracted thousands more child care workers to the industry, and it opened up more slots in parts of the state without them, including rural Kentucky, researchers found.

Kentucky is exploring how to maintain the expanded aid using state funds as pandemic-related federal funds run low. Iowa adopted its own pilot version of the aid program last year. Health officials in both states had no immediate comment, nor did the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services. Fredrickson's push is one of several being made to address childcare in the state.

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