Mentorship program improves child care gap in central Nebraska

Melissa Trejo Sorahan always wanted to be a child care provider in Grand Island, but she felt like getting her house up to code with things like having the right kind of walls and more fire alarms would be too challenging.

When she moved to a new house and had her youngest son, it pushed Trejo Sorahan to finish her license with help from the Child Care Champion program in central Nebraska.

“After I had my son, trying to find good quality people, it's scary. Especially with all the things happening to these babies,” Trejo Sorahan said. “That's what really pushed me towards finishing and doing it.”

Trejo Sorahan had a champion, or mentor, who helped guide her one on one through the child care licensing process.

The program has six champions, including two who are bilingual, who help guide those wanting to get their license. Buffalo County officials initially started the program in 2022 to help fill the child care gap in their county.

“If we don't have child care providers in the community, parents can't go to work,” Tana Miller, director of programs at Buffalo County Community Partners, said. “If parents can't go to work, businesses can't hire, and if businesses can't hire, then our community can't thrive.”

The program received $200,000 through the "6 Regions, One Nebraska" initiative to expand it to 25 counties in the area this year.

“We knew that this method worked,” Miller said. “We knew that it was effective and it was addressing a need that we had locally in our community, but it's also a need nationwide. We knew the more hands that we could get these tools into, it was really going to be effective and impactful.”

The initial county-level program helped 12 child care providers get their license, opening 126 spots in family home centers.

Lacey Ahrens, child care champion and provider in Kearney, has helped several people get their license through the program. She said the program pushes for high-quality child care centers.

“We were super excited to be able to spread past Buffalo County, because this is a huge need in every community, not just Buffalo County,” Ahrens said. “It's statewide, it's nationally. I mean, it's a problem everywhere.”

She’s been a provider for almost 13 years, and sees her care center — called Bubbly Britches — as family.

“It's just crazy, the change and the growth,” Ahrens said. “Graduation season always gets me a little teary. I got to be a part of their childhood. I got to be a part of their life. I love it. It just pulls out your heart.”

Ahrens worked with Trejo Sorahan for about four months to help her get her license. The two said the process involves training and classes, lots of paperwork and making sure the house is prepared.

With her license in hand, Trejo Sorahan has opened her care center, called Melissa’s Daycare. And, she gets to watch her son every day as one of the kids she takes care of.

“It feels great,” Trejo Sorahan said. “It's something I always wanted, and now it's like a dream come true.”