OMAHA, Neb. — Officials broke ground Wednesday on a new child care center in east Omaha that will serve about 100 to 120 children.
Completely KIDS, a local nonprofit, is leading the project. The organization already provides after-school programs, mental health services, weekend food support, and adult education.
The new development comes as the Omaha metro faces a shortage of child care, with a gap of 4,454 spots, according to a February report from the Buffett Early Childhood Institute.
Ann Lawless, chief program officer, said expanding into early childhood education is a natural next step.
“Completely KIDS has always responded to what the need of our kids and families was. We continue to evolve, right?” Lawless said. “How we end up here is, well, really the missing link is early childhood.”
The organization currently serves more than 2,900 children across 16 locations, primarily in southeast Omaha, many of whom qualify for free or reduced lunch.
The new facility, named the Henry Davis Center, will feature eight early childhood classrooms on the first floor for children ages 2 to 5. The second floor will expand space for mental health services.
“We all know that mental health is a huge priority for kids and families, and it certainly is going to take some work to help families and children kind of heal and grow and be who they want to be,” Lawless said.
Lulu Rangel, clinical director, said the new space will allow the mental health team to grow from three full-time therapists and one part-time position to seven full-time therapists.
“Since COVID, we’ve really seen an increase in the need for mental health. In this last year as well, we’ve had a lot of crisis — is what we call like self-harm, suicidal ideation, even homicidal ideation,” Rangel said. “To be able to expand and provide more services for more of our kids and families is really exciting.”
Currently, staff provide therapy and support through after-school programs, including group sessions that help children identify and manage emotions, as well as individual therapy for families.
The new building will offer dedicated therapy spaces, including offices, group rooms, and a waiting area, helping improve privacy and trust.
Construction will also include upgrades to the outdoor playground with new equipment, giving children access to safe green space in an area where parks are limited.
Susan Toohey, director for educational initiatives at Lozier Foundation and superintendent at Nelson Mandela Elementary, said high-quality early childhood education is a key investment.
“The first five years of life, when children are developing those key skills and cognitive social and emotional foundations, that will shape their learning forever — that will happen and make success happen for a lifetime,” Toohey said. “When children have access to the nurturing environment of skilled educators and supportive services, they enter kindergarten ready to learn.”
The project is the third phase of a $28 million campaign to expand Completely KIDS programs. CEO Carla Rizzo said funding comes from donors, foundations, and a state grant program supporting north and south Omaha.
“We have the services and the combination and the partnership and the passion to make a real difference in our community, and we’re all going to do that together,” Rizzo said.
The center is expected to be completed by July 2027. Lawless said the organization looks forward to expanding services for families in the community.
Leave a Comment