In a major win for the rural community of Thedford, the recent opening of a childcare center has ended what was known as a “childcare desert.”
For years, families in the area struggled to find licensed childcare, forcing some parents to leave the workforce or juggle unreliable alternatives. But through the support of the Communities for Kids initiative, Thedford, Nebraska, has officially opened Sandhills Area Childcare and joined the fight against this widespread issue.
Noelle Wegner, associate vice president of Early Childhood Programs at the Nebraska Children and Families Foundation, shared how the organization partners with communities, especially in rural areas, to address the childcare shortage.
“We help communities expand capacity and enhance the quality of childcare programs, particularly in areas classified as childcare deserts,” Wegner explained.
Nebraska’s childcare crisis remains significant, with a shortage for more than 10,000 children, she said.
“That’s over 10,000 kids without a place to go, meaning parents often can’t stay in the workforce,” she added.
The Sandhills Area Childcare center came to life thanks to funding from the American Rescue Plan and the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services, which aimed to open centers in childcare deserts. Wegner noted that Thedford was one of 11 communities classified as a childcare desert at the time of their application, with zero licensed childcare options in the entire county.
Wegner explained the journey to open the center wasn’t easy. The community had to get creative due to limited resources. The breakthrough came when a member of the childcare board, a veteran affiliated with the local American Legion, suggested using the Legion’s building, which was largely unused during the week.
The $100,000 in ARPA funding was directed toward renovating the building, allowing it to serve dual purposes—remaining a space for Legion meetings on weekends while transforming into a childcare facility during the week.
This creative solution not only revitalized the building but also eradicated Thedford’s status as a childcare desert. The center now provides 24 childcare slots, effectively closing the gap for the local community, where 22 children previously had no place to go.
“It’s a beautiful example of how communities can come together to solve a significant problem,” Wagner said.
While the opening of Thedford’s center was celebrated, Wegner acknowledged that the challenges are far from over.
“We had bumps along the way, from funding to construction delays, but the end result was worth it,” she said.
A lack of available contractors in rural Nebraska and differing community opinions were obstacles they had to overcome. But, as Wegner noted, “Communities for Kids doesn’t prescribe solutions; we provide support and cheerlead from the sidelines.”
Wegner noted the success in Thedford demonstrates that childcare solutions are within reach, even in the most remote areas of the state, but the work is far from done. Wagner encouraged any community struggling with childcare to reach out.
“We’re seeing childcare become recognized as an economic development issue, not just a family issue. Communities can’t thrive if families don’t have access to affordable, quality childcare.”
As more rural areas grapple with declining populations and limited resources, Thedford’s story shows that addressing the childcare crisis can be a pivotal key to revitalizing small towns.
