Juan-Paulo Ramírez, founder of GIS and Human Dimensions, LLC, led the fall presentation of the 2025-26 Methodology Applications Series Nov. 21 at the Jackie Gaughan Multicultural Center.
Video is now available of Ramírez’s presentation, titled, “GIS: Case Studies for Winning Grants, Changing Lives & Empowering Communities.”
This holiday season, a new statewide campaign is reminding Nebraskans that the smallest moments of connection can have the biggest impact on children’s lives.
Nurture Nebraska aims to boost awareness around the importance of children’s social and emotional development from birth to age 5. The campaign highlights how everyday interactions — a warm greeting, a kind response or a little extra patience to work through big feelings — help children develop confidence and skills that will benefit them throughout life.
For autistic people — especially those with intellectual disabilities, or others with extensive support needs — communicating needs and ideas can be difficult. Many rely on intense individualized support and educational interventions.
When spoken words are not enough, alternative and augmentative communication (AAC) is often needed to meet their daily needs and wants. Common methods include gestures or facial expressions, sign language and speech-generating mobile apps for iPads or phones. While these methods can be helpful, they can also be costly and tricky to use effectively as treatments.
Name: Candy Muñoz
Title: Operations and Finance Manager
Hometown: Omaha, Nebraska
Where did you work prior to joining CYFS? What was your role there, and what did it entail?
“My professional career has given me experience in both high-level financial strategies and direct student support. Immediately prior to joining CYFS, I served as the Director of Student Financial Services at Creighton University, where I led a specialized team responsible for integrating financial aid, student accounts and billing processes. This team provided streamlined support to students, parents and academic staff.
A panel of researchers discussed the latest early childhood research from across the University of Nebraska system during the virtual NAECR Networking event Nov. 18.
Presenters included:
NAECR Networking and NAECR Knowledge are an ongoing series of networking and training events designed to enhance early childhood research across the NU system.
A student’s ability to read is a key predictor of academic and lifelong success. In Nebraska, the COVID-19 pandemic hit students with reading difficulties especially hard, particularly students attending rural schools.
Since then, Nebraska WORDS project — Workshops on Reading Development Strategies — has been a valuable resource for teachers by promoting effective strategies to deliver high-quality reading instruction and assessment. The research-based professional development program supports Nebraska’s targeted efforts to boost early literacy among K-3 students across the state.
For children with severe speech and physical impairments (SSPI), the inability to share their thoughts and feelings can deeply affect their quality of life and well-being.
Researchers and engineers continue to seek new ways to help these children communicate, including an experimental technology that enables thoughts to control communication devices, known as communication brain-computer interfaces (cBCIs).
The Nebraska Center for Research on Children, Youth, Families and Schools reached a major milestone in 2024: two decades of research, collaboration and impact.
As the center enters its third decade, CYFS faculty, staff, students and research affiliates remain focused on making a positive difference for Nebraskans at every stage of life, through social, behavioral and educational research.
