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About the Early Childhood and Family Advocacy Comprehensive

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The Family Studies and Early Childhood Education Programs at the University of Nebraska at Kearney have created a dual-degree program, "Early Childhood and Family Advocacy." This program has been designed to address the emerging need in Nebraska, and nationwide, for professionals trained to work with children and families within formal public agency programs and private childcare and early childhood education centers.

While early childhood education programs are plentiful and degrees are adequate to prepare preschool teachers, there are few programs that prepare Early Childhood Family Advocates—those within educational settings working with families and children in non-teaching positions. Family Advocates provide comprehensive educational and case management services to children and their families.

Requirements for employment in this area have been increasing and the opportunity to create a degree that meets those educational needs has surfaced. Many employers now require at least some coursework in child development with more and more requiring a degree. Statewide and national initiatives are driving this need. 

Career Opportunities with this degree

  • Childcare Coordinator
  • Special Education
  • Specialist Preschool Teacher
  • Family Permanency

PLAces UNK graduates work

  • Head Start (Hastings, Neb.)
  • Sunrise Middle School (Kearney, Neb.)
  • Smiling Faces (Kearney, Neb.)
  • Gretna Public Schools (Gretna, Neb.)
  • PromiseShip (Omaha, Neb.)
  • YMCA (McCook, Neb.)

"The ability that you have to receive a degree from a university in your time, on your schedule is amazing, and I think the convenience is the best thing. And that's kind of immeasurable."

Rachel Berreckman

ECFA Program Graduate