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Strengthening early childhood in Kansas

Child Care Friendly Communities

Communities across Kansas are stepping up for child care and we want to celebrate their work. Child Care Friendly Communities is a flexible, community-led designation program that honors local efforts to strengthen child care and connects recognized communities to tools, resources, and a statewide network of peers doing the same work.

Read the Press Release
JewellCounty
Recognizing Community Leadership in Child Care

Building Stronger Communities Through Child Care

Whether your community is just forming a coalition or has been working on child care for years, there's a place for you in this program. Designation is not a single standard — it's a recognition of where you are and what you're working toward.

Communities choose which designations to pursue based on local goals and capacity, and earn recognition as they make progress. In February 2026, CCAKS honored 66 Kansas communities as Child Care Community Champions. Your community could be next.

Choose Your Path

Each designation is independent. Communities choose which ones to pursue based on local needs and pace. You can start with one and build from there.

  • Child Care Impact Partner

    Your community has formed a diverse, active coalition focused on child care. The coalition brings together local leaders, parents, business owners, providers, and other stakeholders to identify needs, share data, align resources, and guide local child care efforts.

  • No Barriers, Bright Futures

    Your community is actively identifying and removing local policies or regulations (such as zoning, building codes, or permitting requirements) that make it harder for child care providers to open or expand.

  • Child Care Capacity Builder

    Your community is working to increase the number of available child care slots, whether by opening new classrooms, expanding existing facilities, supporting home-based care, or attracting new providers to underserved areas.

  • Backbone Support Initiative

    Your community is investing in the well-being and sustainability of your child care providers and workforce through professional development, shared services, wage supports, mental health resources, or networking opportunities.
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Sherman County Child Care Coalition

Building Stronger Communities Starts Here

How to Get Started Earning Your Designation

The process is straightforward. Your local Community Outreach & Engagement Coordinator is your guide. They'll answer your questions, help you understand which designations fit your community's goals, and support you through the process from start to finish.

  • Step 1: Connect with your local Community Outreach & Engagement Coordinator. Contact us to get connected to yours.

  • Step 2: Choose the designation or designations that align with your community's priorities and capacity.

  • Step 3: Get to work and earn recognition for the progress you make.
Email Us to Connect

Communities Making It Happen

These Kansas communities have earned Child Care Friendly Communities designations.

  • Allen County Child Care Coalition: Child Care Impact Partner, Backbone Support Initiative

  • Barber, City of Medicine Lodge: Child Care Impact Partner, Child Care Capacity Builder, Backbone Support Initiative

  • Advancing Barton County Child Care: Child Care Impact Partner, Child Care Capacity Builder

  • Chautauqua Daycare Coalition: Child Care Impact Parter, Child Care Capacity Builder

  • Cheyenne County Childcare Initiative: Child Care Impact Partner, Child Care Capacity Builder

  • Clark, LIFT Minneola: Child Care Impact Partner, Child Care Capacity Builder

  • Clay County Child Care Coalition: Child Care Impact Partner, Child Care Capacity Builder

  • Comanche County Child Care Coalition: Child Care Impact Partner, Child Care Capacity Builder, Backbone Support Initiative

  • Cowley, Legacy Regional Community Foundation: Child Care Capacity Builder

  • Crawford, Frontenac Child Care Coalition: Child Care Impact Partner, Child Care Capacity Builder, Backbone Support Initiative

  • Crawford, City of Pittsburg: Child Care Capacity Builder, Backbone Support Initiative

  • Decatur County Child Care: Child Care Impact Partner, Child Care Capacity Builder

  • Douglas, The Rainbow Experience: Child Care Impact Partner, Child Care Capacity Builder

  • Douglas, Early Care and Education Workgroup Douglas County: Child Care Impact Partner, Backbone Support Initiative

  • Elk, USD 282 Taskforce: Child Care Capacity Builder

  • Ellis County Child Care Task Force: Child Care Impact Partner, Child Care Capacity Builder, Backbone Support Initiative

  • Ellis Child Care Coalition: Child Care Capacity Builder

  • Ellis, Victoria Community Coalition, Inc.: Child Care Impact Partner Child Care Capacity Builder

  • Finney County Childcare & Early Learning Network: Child Care Impact Partner, Child Care Capacity Builder, Backbone Support Initiative

  • Ford, Child Care Coalition of Dodge City: Child Care Impact Partner, Child Care Capacity Builder, Backbone Support Initiative

  • Ford, Child Care Coalition of Spearville: Child Care Impact Partner, Child Care Capacity Builder

  • Geary County Child Care Coalition: Child Care Impact Partner, No Barriers – Bright Futures, Child Care Capacity Builder, Backbone Support Initiative

  • Gove, Quinter Community Development: Child Care Impact Partner, Child Care Capacity Builder

  • Graham County Little Roosters Day Care Foundation: Child Care Impact Partner, Child Care Capacity Builder

  • Grant, USD 214 Ulysses: Child Care Capacity Builder, Backbone Support Initiative

  • Harper County: Child Care Capacity Builder,  Backbone Support Initiative

  • Harvey, Child Care Task Force: Child Care Impact Partner, Child Care Capacity Builder

  • Jackson, Holton Community Coalition: Child Care Impact Partner, Child Care Capacity Builder

  • Jewell County Strong Inc.: Child Care Impact Partner, Child Care Capacity Builder, Backbone Support Initiative

  • Johnson, Raising JOCO Childcare Coalition: Child Care Impact Partner, No Barriers – Bright Futures, Backbone Support Initiative

  • Kingman Child Care Coalition: Childcare Impact Partner,  Child Care Capacity Builder, Backbone Support Initiative

  • Kiowa County Child Care Coalition: Child Care Impact Partner,  Child Care Capacity Builder, Backbone Support Initiative

  • Labette County Child Care Coalition: Child Care Impact Partner, Child Care Capacity Builder, Backbone Support Initiative

  • Logan, Oakley Child Care Coalition: Child Care Impact Partner, Child Care Capacity Builder, Backbone Support Initiative

  • Marion County Early Childhood Task Force: Child Care Impact Partner, Child Care Capacity Builder, Backbone Support Initiative

  • Marshall County Child Care Coalition: Child Care Impact Partner, Child Care Capacity Builder

  • McPherson County Child Care Task Force: Child Care Impact Partner, Backbone Support Initiative

  • Miami, United Way of Miami County: Child Care Impact Partner, Child Care Capacity Builder

  • Montgomery, Coffeyville Area Childcare Coalition: Child Care Impact Partner, Child Care Capacity Builder

  • Morris, USD 417 Early Childhood Taskforce: Child Care Impact Partner, Child Care Capacity Builder

  • Morton County Community Coalition: Child Care Impact Partner

  • Neosho, Neosho County Health Task Force: Child Care Impact Partner

  • Ottawa, Bennington Child Care Coalition: Child Care Impact Partner, Child Care Capacity Builder

  • Pawnee County Childcare Coalition: Child Care Impact Partner, Child Care Capacity Builder, Backbone Support Initiative

  • Pottawatomie, USD 320 Wamego & Pottawatomie Child Care Task Force: Child Care Impact Partner, Child Care Capacity Builder

  • Rawlins County Childcare Stakeholders: Child Care Impact Partner, Child Care Capacity Builders

  • Reno, Pretty Prairie Child Care Coalition: Child Care Impact Partner, Child Care Capacity Builder

  • Reno County Child Care Taskforce: Child Care Impact Partner, Child Care Capacity Builder, Backbone Support Initiative

  • Republic, Growing Children Republic County Foundation: Child Care Impact Partner

  • Rice County Childcare Coalition: Child Care Impact Partner, Backbone Support Initiative

  • Riley, Manhattan Chamber of Commerce: Child Care Impact Partner, Child Care Capacity Builder, Backbone Support Initiative

  • Rooks, Plainville Wellness Coalition: Child Care Capacity Builder

  • Russell County Childcare Coalition: Child Care Impact Partner,  Child Care Capacity Builder, Backbone Support Initiative

  • Saline, Early Childhood Initiative: Child Care Impact Partner, No Barriers – Bright Futures, Child Care Capacity Builder, Backbone Support Initiative

  • Scott County Development Committee: Backbone Supportive Initiative

  • Sedgwick, Wichita Coalition for Child Abuse Prevention: Backbone Supportive Initiative

  • Shawnee, Greater Topeka Partnership Childcare Coalition: Child Care Impact Partner

  • Sheridan County Community Foundation: Child Care Impact Partner, Child Care Capacity Builder

  • Sherman County Childcare Coalition: Child Care Impact, Child Care Capacity Builder, Backbone Support Initiative

  • Stafford County Childcare Committee: Child Care Impact Partner, Child Care Capacity Builder, Backbone Support Initiative

  • Stevens, Seward, Haskell, Liberal Area Coalition for Families: Child Care Impact Partner, Child Care Capacity Builders, Backbone Support Initiative

  • Wallace County Community Child Care Coalition: Child Care Impact Partner, Child Care Capacity Builder

  • Wichita County Early Childhood Coalition: Child Care Impact Partner, Child Care Capacity Builders

  • Wilson County Early Childhood Coalition: Child Care Impact Partner, Child Care Capacity Builder

  • Wyandotte, Raising WY-CO: Child Care Impact Partner, Backbone Support Initiative

This program/initiative/effort was made possible by grant number 90TP0131. Its contents are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official view of the United States Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families.