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This week, NICCA joined Tribal leaders, state leadership, and education partners at New Mexico’s Government-to-Government Indian Education Summit to discuss the future of Native education and early childhood systems. As states across the country look for ways to better support Native children and families, New Mexico is emerging as a national example of what becomes possible when investment, flexibility, and government-to-government partnership come together intentionally.

Prenatal to Five Fiscal Strategies (P5FS) has launched the Home Visiting Cost Model (HVCM)—an interactive tool that helps programs understand the true cost of delivering home visiting services. The model includes customizable options for staffing, training, and benefits, with cost estimates available for all states, territories, and 36 Tribal Nations.

New Mexico is making history as the first state in the nation to offer no-cost universal child care for all families—regardless of income—beginning November 1. This groundbreaking investment will save families an average of $12,000 per child each year and strengthen the early childhood workforce through higher wages, expanded access, and targeted growth for infant and toddler care. By centering equity, community, and sustainability, NM is setting a new national standard for w

NICCA will be at the NCAI 82nd Annual Convention & Marketplace in Seattle, November 16–21, 2025. While there, we invite Tribal child care and early learning leaders to share their stories with us as part of Connecting Our Programs: A Living Resource of Tribal Stories and Strategies. This is your opportunity to uplift your community’s voice, highlight your program’s strengths, and contribute to a resource that celebrates the diversity and resilience of Tribal child care across

This month’s NICCA Member Highlight features the Chickasaw Nation’s School-Age Summer Program, where children built skills in cooking, gardening, and wellness through the Impa’ Kilimpi’ (Strong Food) initiative.

In FY2024, NICCA deepened its impact through training, advocacy, and direct support to Tribal early childhood programs. From shaping federal policy to strengthening community-based solutions, NICCA remained steadfast in its mission to uplift Tribal voices and ensure Native children receive culturally grounded, high-quality care.