In a significant move to bolster Nevada's childcare and after-school workforce, the state's Department of Employment, Training and Rehabilitation (DETR) has laid down a $6.5 million investment in the Up Next Nevada initiative, a move aimed at strengthening the leadership training within these vital community centers, as News 3 LV reported. This fundraising sets the stage for enhanced professional development, with the ambition to bridge staffing gaps in education and support the growth of a new generation into the workforce.
The Up Next Nevada program, a collaboration among DETR, Nevadaworks, and the Nevada Alliance of Boys & Girls Clubs, has been crafted with the dual purpose: it addresses the chronic challenges that childcare and after-school programs face in recruiting and retaining dedicated staff, and it paves a career path for young adults and teens in sectors like education, energy, and healthcare, according to a statement obtained by News 3 LV, DETR Director Christopher Sewell championed the project, hailing it as a vehicle "to empower young people to dream, make a plan and achieve their career goals." Yet to meet these lofty objectives, the venture dictates a comprehensive approach, hand in hand with Nevadaworks, which will supplement with wrap-around services for addressing barriers to employment, ensuring a robust support system for the youth.
Between 2025 and 2026, Up Next Nevada has set targets to extend professional mentorship, youth development career pathway coaching, and competitive wages to 210 young workers aged between 15 to 24 years, making substantial progress since these dedicated funds were strategically earmarked, 8 News Now reports. With such a strategic investment, the initiative is not only about supporting the workforce but ensuring Boys & Girls Clubs licensed childcare centers and school-age after-school programs can remain reliably staffed with capable professionals, a move that stands to benefit Nevada's youths and working parents alike.
Brett Zunino, CEO of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Western Nevada, told News 3 LV that the Up Next Nevada program will expand career options for existing employees and help ensure the organization is fully staffed to serve Nevada’s children and teens. The program, a collaboration between DETR and local organizations like Nevadaworks, aims to develop a skilled and dedicated workforce while supporting youth in pursuing career paths in education, energy, and healthcare.
