COMMUNITY SERVICES INITIATIVES (CSI)

Community Services Initiatives (CSI) is an ongoing planning and implementation process for Lincoln and Lancaster County and is funded by the Joint Budget Committee of the City of Lincoln and Lancaster County and the United Way of Lincoln and Lancaster County.  The Human Services Federation serves as the project coordinator.  The planning assessment, and leadership roles of CSI are a collaborative effort of agencies, organizations, individuals, and businesses in our community.  CSI is comprised of four coalitions:  Basic and Emergency Needs, Behavioral Health, Child and Youth Development, and Stop Abuse.

The Child and Youth Development coalition is co-chaired by the Nebraska AEYC and Lincoln Public Schools.  The purpose is to promote the support children and youth through caring adults, safe places, effective education, a healthy start, and opportunities to help others.

The CSI – Child Development Coalition focuses its planning around five activity areas including:

• Activity #1 – Promote professional development of early childhood work force, which includes providers of services for children birth to age eight and providers in family childcare homes, centers and parent education programs.
• Activity #2 – Promote efforts that help programs increase the quality of care they provide.
• Activity #3 – Take steps to make early care and education programs more accessible to families.
• Activity #4 – Take steps to make early care and education programs more affordable to families.
• Activity #5 – Develop and implement a communications plan to increase community awareness of the importance of quality early care and education programs for children birth through age eight.