NU System's Buffett Early Childhood Institute to Expand Research Capabilities with National Workforce Registry Alliance (NWRA) Merger

The Buffett Early Childhood Institute at the University of Nebraska (NU) will grow its research capabilities by merging with the National Workforce Registry Alliance (NWRA), an organization that supports 46 statewide early childhood workforce registries with 2.8 million members. Combined, the two organizations will be able to offer an unprecedented level of research, data analysis, and insight into the nation’s early childhood workforce, creating new opportunities to craft stronger child care policies nationwide.

The merger will go into effect Jan. 1.

Jeffrey P. Gold, M.D., president of the NU System, said the merger will further the university’s goal of conducting leading research on early childhood education and development.

“The University of Nebraska is thrilled to become the new home of an organization with an impressive mission and national scope,” Gold said. “Given the Institute’s long-standing commitment to early childhood workforce development, this new partnership will bring unprecedented research possibilities to advance the innovative work already being done across Nebraska, while expanding our reach nationally.”

The NWRA, based in Washington, D.C., will retain its staff and continue its programmatic work, but operate under the Buffett Institute, which will provide additional operational and administrative support, financial stability, and a connection to the University of Nebraska System. The NWRA will gain access to world-class researchers and early childhood policy experts at the Buffett Institute and throughout the University of Nebraska.

“Our executive team and staff feel this merger represents a win for the registries, a win for the workforce, a win for our small staff and dedicated board, and a win for the Buffett Institute,” said Kimberlee Belcher-Badal, the executive director of the NWRA.

The move will benefit both organizations. The NWRA will be able to grow and become part of a larger organization, while the Buffett Institute can pursue new research opportunities by accessing the NWRA’s substantial data resources.

The NWRA board unanimously voted Oct. 15 to approve the merger.

NWRA-affiliated state registries have a combined 2.8 million members. Early childhood registries provide multiple functions but are essentially two-way information systems: early educators can upload information about themselves, such as their education credentials and employment history, in the state’s tracking system. In turn, they receive crucial recognition, qualification levels, and information on topics like professional development opportunities, grants, incentives, training history, and more.

Buffett Institute Executive Director Walter Gilliam previously partnered with the NWRA to survey more than 100,000 early educators during the COVID-19 pandemic to ask them questions about exposure to the virus, vaccination rates, educator well-being and depression rates, and children’s mental health. The COVID-19 exposure study was the first worldwide to analyze transmission rates in child care, research that was used by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and governors’ offices trying to safely reopen child care programs.

“Understanding the needs and composition of the nation’s early childhood workforce has never been more important than it is today,” Gilliam said. “With this partnership, the Buffett Institute and the University of Nebraska will have access to data-rich resources that will drive new early childhood research and publications.”

The merger is the result of several years of discussion over the NWRA’s future.

“Our mission as the nation’s largest and leading organization dedicated to supporting the early childhood workforce and the registries that serve them will not change,” NWRA board president Jené Chapman said. “This merger will only strengthen our capacity and expand our capabilities to support state registries in collecting and disseminating much-needed data about the workforce.”

The Buffett Early Childhood Institute is the University of Nebraska’s systemwide institute dedicated to the learning and development of young children. The Buffett Institute was established with a founding gift from Omaha philanthropist Susie Buffett and opened its doors in 2013.