Vision: Nebraska will be the best place in the nation to be a baby. Mission: To transform the lives of young children by improving their learning and development. Who We Are: The Buffett Early Childhood Institute at the University of Nebraska is a four-campus, multidisciplinary research, practice, policy, and outreach center devoted to improving the development and learning of children from birth through age 8. We focus on the first eight years because, as decades of research have shown, the experiences of the early years have a major impact on children’s success in school and life. We work collaboratively with our university partners, communities, agencies, schools, and families to implement evidence-based, high-quality systems and practices designed to help children reach their greatest potential. What We Believe: We believe all children deserve the opportunity to develop, learn, and succeed in life. We believe the best time to affect a child’s future is during the first eight years of life. We believe applying evidence-based practices improves outcomes for all children. We believe in supporting all aspects of children’s development throughout the first eight years of life. We believe early childhood intervention is a critically important investment for the future. Our Goals: -Increase opportunities for young children to learn, and eliminate income-based and race-based achievement gaps by the end of third grade. -Ensure a skilled, informed, and diverse workforce is available to all children. -Improve public understanding of and support for early childhood services for children and families in Nebraska. What We Do: -Research -Practice -Policy -Outreach Start early. Start well.