Lincoln – Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts issued an executive order related to child care last Wednesday.

Ricketts waived regulations for the Child Care Subsidy Program to allow licensed child care providers to bill the state for days when the child is absent from care because the child’s parent or legal caretaker chooses to keep the child home, or is unable to utilize care, due to the pandemic. Additionally, families participating in the child care subsidy program may obtain in-home child care when other child care options are unavailable.

As of last week, 16% of licensed child care programs in Nebraska have temporary closed since the COVID-19 emergency declaration – leaving more than 4,000 children whose families receive child care subsidy without access to safe, high-quality care as their parents or guardians work – or look for work – to provide for their families.

– Nebraska Governor’s Office