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Category: Rural Schools & Communities

Researchers address early childhood needs of Nebraska’s immigrant, refugee families

The research team includes, front row from left: Sanya Tuncan-Minden, UNMC graduate research assistant; Kerry Miller, associate director of Munroe-Meyer’s Department of Education and Child Development and UNMC’s principal investigator; Laura Fritz, UNMC graduate research assistant; and Alexis Chavez, MAP Academy graduate research assistant. Back row, from left: Janella Kang, MAP Academy graduate research assistant; Amanda Prokasky, MAP Academy senior research specialist; Lorey Wheeler, MAP Academy director; and Charlie Lewis, project director at the Center on Children, Families and the Law. Learn more about this project in the CYFS Research Network.

Early screening and support are vital for healthy child development, especially for immigrant and refugee families navigating unfamiliar systems in the U.S.

A recent multi-campus study found that many immigrant and refugee families in Nebraska struggle to access services to address developmental delays or disabilities in children, particularly those age 3 and younger. Barriers include language differences, limited awareness of available services and discomfort with the health care system due to past discrimination or negative experiences. Full Article

CHIME expands its reach to Ghana

Holly Hatton, associate professor of child, youth and family studies, shares information on the research behind social emotional well-being for teachers and young children during her January 2025 trip to Ghana. View photo gallery.

A transformative program designed to help educators use mindfulness and reflection in their daily work is expanding its global reach.

Holly Hatton, associate professor of child, youth and family studies, is collaborating with researchers in Ghana to adapt CHIME — Cultivating Healthy Intentional Mindful Educators — an interactive compassion- and mindfulness-based program developed at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln. The program will support caregivers, young children and college students in the small west African country. Full Article

IES’ Albro reflects on CYFS-IES collaboration at celebration breakfast

Elizabeth Albro, commissioner of education research at the Institute of Education Sciences in the U.S. Department of Education, delivers her presentation Dec. 5 at Carolyn Pope Edwards Hall. See photo gallery.

Elizabeth Albro, commissioner of education research at the Institute of Education Sciences in the U.S. Department of Education, recently shared her vision of how the National Center for Education Research (NCER) is advancing the education sciences.

Albro’s Dec. 5 presentation at Carolyn Pope Edwards Hall, “Transforming the Education Sciences Together,” was part of the 20th-anniversary celebration of the Nebraska Center for Research on Children, Youth, Families and Schools. Full Article

Researchers building science confidence, capacity among rural early childhood educators

The project’s research team includes, front row, from left: Lisa Poppe, Sarah Paulos, Deepika Menon and Christine Wittich. Back row, from left: Marianna Burks, Maddie Pieper, HyeonJin Yoon, Soo-Young Hong, LaDonna Werth and Doug Golick. Learn more about this project in the CYFS Research Network.

Research shows children starting kindergarten often know less about science compared to reading and math. Despite this, science activities typically make up the smallest proportion of the preschool day.

The science opportunity gap is even more pronounced in rural communities, where limited educational resources and lower emphasis on science education widen the divide. Full Article

Researchers aim to empower future K-12 teachers with computer science knowledge

Leen-Kiat Soh, professor in the College of Engineering’s School of Computing, is leading a project to ensure the next generation of K-12 educators includes plenty of teachers who can teach computing skills. Lean more about this project in the CYFS Research Network.

As computers become more and more ubiquitous in nearly every aspect of daily life, the demand for teachers who can prepare the next generation of tech leaders is more pressing than ever.

Leen-Kiat Soh, professor of computing, is leading a project to ensure future generations of K-12 teachers are equipped with the skills and knowledge to bring the cutting-edge computer science into the classroom. Full Article

Research aims to reduce rural child obesity with responsive feeding practices

Dipti Dev, associate professor of child, youth and family studies and Nebraska Extension specialist, is spearheading a five-year project to help rural child care programs foster healthy eating habits among young children. Learn more about this project in the CYFS Research Network.

In early childhood, healthy eating habits lay the foundation for lifelong wellness, helping prevent many chronic health issues.

Promoting these habits is particularly important for children in rural communities, where resources are sometimes limited. Research shows that rural children are 26% more likely to experience obesity than their urban peers. Full Article

MAP Academy helps researchers see big picture of rural adolescent nutrition insecurity

Extension educator Natalie Sehi is leading a team of researchers focused on adolescent nutrition insecurity.

Making sure rural youth have enough to eat is important for both their health and education. Attending school with an empty stomach affects a student’s ability to focus and learn, making proper nutrition essential for academic success.

Nebraska Extension educators Beth Nacke and Natalie Sehi are leading research focused on adolescent nutrition insecurity. They recently worked with the MAP Academy to create a database to analyze the nutritional and economic impact of Nebraska Extension’s statewide Monthly Meal Kit program. Full Article

Project examines ways to foster future leaders in rural communities

Lindsay Hastings, Clifton Professor in Mentoring Research at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln, is leading a project to build a leadership development system to sustain rural communities for the future.

As the makeup of American communities changes in coming years to grapple with impending transfers of wealth and leadership, sustainability of rural communities is a priority.

Lindsay Hastings, Clifton Professor in Mentoring Research at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln, has recently worked with her team — Justine Bircher, Mary Emery and Jordan Rasmussen — on a project to build leadership development systems to sustain rural communities for the future. Full Article