LINCOLN, NE— Rooted in Relationships (RiR), a statewide initiative that partners with communities to strengthen infant and early childhood mental health (IECMH), released its 2025 Annual Report highlighting substantial growth and measurable outcomes in workforce development, family engagement, and systems-level infrastructure.

According to the report, which covers the fiscal year of July 1, 2024 through June 30, 2025, RiR supported 195 childcare providers across 17 collaborative hubs serving 43 Nebraska counties, directly serving 4,916 children through evidence-based practices centered on the Pyramid Model framework.

Preventing Early Childhood Expulsion

A key finding from the report demonstrates RiR's impact on reducing early childhood suspension and expulsion. Ninety-three percent of participating sites reported zero expulsions in 2025, a significant achievement given that preschoolers nationally are expelled at rates three times higher than children in kindergarten through 12th grade.

"When children are expelled from childcare, they are ten times more likely to face academic failure, drop out of high school, and experience incarceration," said Sami Bradley, Vice President of Early Childhood Mental Health at Nebraska Children and Families Foundation. "Our relationship-based approach equips providers with practical tools to support all children's success, keeping them connected to care and learning."

Workforce Development and Provider Support

The report documents substantial improvements in provider confidence and retention. After two years of coaching support, 100% of providers reported regularly using key strategies to prevent challenging behaviors, build relationships, and help children regulate emotions. Providers staying with their current childcare program where they work reached 87.2% among RiR participants, significantly higher than the state average of 60-70%.

Throughout the reporting period, 45 coaches across Nebraska reported 2,249 coaching visits with childcare providers, supported by monthly reflective consultation and ongoing professional development. Additionally, RiR awarded $43,198 in grants directly to 89 providers to purchase materials supporting classroom environments responsive to children's social and emotional needs.

Family and Community Engagement

RiR's community-level strategies engaged 3,997 families and 4,916 children through direct programming, including 119 Circle of Security Parenting classes held statewide. Communities hosted dozens of family engagement events, from Family Fun Nights to Week of the Young Child celebrations, strengthening connections between families, providers, and community resources.

Statewide Infrastructure and Innovation

At the systems level, RiR continued building Nebraska's infant and early childhood mental health infrastructure through strategic partnerships and workforce expansion. Fifteen new professionals achieved Infant Mental Health Endorsement, and 42 new trainers completed Pyramid Model Training of Trainers, expanding the state's capacity to support evidence-based practices.

In a significant development, Nebraska was selected for ZERO TO THREE's IECMH Financing Policy Project, bringing together leaders from Head Start, Sixpence, Part C Early Intervention, and other systems to develop a coordinated action plan for strengthening IECMH financing and access.

RiR also partnered with the University of Nebraska-Lincoln on TransformED, a five-year, $3.44 million Grand Challenges initiative focused on innovative practices in early childhood education.

Looking Ahead

The report outlines RiR's comprehensive logic model aligning workforce development, community engagement, and statewide infrastructure activities with measurable short-term and long-term outcomes. These include increased provider self-efficacy, improved classroom management practices, reduced challenging behaviors, enhanced school readiness, and strengthened collaborative systems across Nebraska's early childhood landscape.

"This report demonstrates that when we invest in relationships—between providers and children, families and communities, systems and partners we create lasting change," Bradley added. "We're proud of the work we have done for the last ten years to build a foundation of support that will continue to enhance the well-being of Nebraska's youngest children and their families for years to come."

The complete 2025 Annual Report is available at https://rootedinrelationships.org/resources/

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About Rooted in Relationships:

Rooted in Relationships is an initiative of Nebraska Children and Families Foundation that partners with communities to implement evidence-based practices building a strong foundation for young children's social-emotional health, while enhancing statewide structures and collaborative systems that support infant and early childhood mental health (IECMH). Learn more about our work at www.RootedinRelationships.org.