News and Insights

Barton County is working overtime to build community support for its child care, and hopes to rewrite their narrative.

Families in this county must work to survive and must have child care to do so, yet child care is often problematically undervalued as a field. This leads to a lack of support for child care providers and families, ultimately resulting in a lack of available and affordable child care

In Crawford County, Kansas, providers, families, and coalitions are working together to make the child care system work for all members of its community. With more than 35,000 inhabitants and seated in Southeastern Kansas, this is a county that has a high need for affordable, readily

Ford County, Kansas, represents both booming business and dire need for diverse, affordable, and available child care

A recent influx of young families returning to this small, rural community has strained the local child care system. With many bringing infants who require more care, the county faces a critical shortage of child care slots to meet growing

In Labette County, residents like coalition leader Kandy, parents Travis and Katrina, and veteran child care provider Kim highlight a critical issue: a severe shortage of child care options. They agree that urgent action is needed to close the gap between families in need and the limited

In Neosho County, nestled in Southeastern Kansas, lies the city of Chanute. With just over 8,500 inhabitants, Chanute is home to many people seeking available and affordable child care. However, with a poverty rate of 18.8% (a rate 25% higher than the rest of Neosho County, and 1.5 times

As Seward County contends with the child care needs of its citizens, there is much hope that presents itself at every turn. Its coalition leaders, families, and providers each see that there is more to be done, and they have the grit and gumption that it will take to continue to advocate