You care about your community and your state, and you’ve likely heard or experienced the impact child care challenges are having on Kansas kids, families, businesses, towns, and neighborhoods. Developing a stronger early care and education system can be complex, and you might not feel like the best person to contribu te to this work.
Fortunately, you don’t have to do it alone. Many small-scale solutions have already worked and the families and providers in your community know what they need. By learning more about the issue and working alongside us — and with others in your region — you can have a significant impact with less effort and fewer resources than you might expect.
Research child care data in your community. Determine if there is a need for additional child care slots.
View your county’s child care data.
Forming a coalition is a necessary step in gaining insight and finding solutions to child care needs.
Find a coalition near you.
Creating a plan to increase child care capacity in your community involves a thoughtful and strategic approach.
Step-by-step guide for coalitions.
Click on your county in the map below to connect with your local Community Outreach & Engagement Coordinator. They’re here to answer your questions and help you access the resources and support you need.
Initial coalition-forming, a preliminary needs assessment, or other key activities to build initial readiness.
Connect with a consultant today!
Tailored workshop experience designed to meet the unique needs of individual communities. Community teams learn from child care content experts, hear directly from child care providers, receive customized child care supply/demand data, and delve into development of short- and long-term goals during structured planning time with an expert community coach.
Workshops are attended by community “teams”, determined by each community.
Connect today to get started!
Funding opportunities for communities interested in increasing efforts to expand child care capacity:
Child Care Community Partnership Grants
Child Care Aware of Kansas is excited to announce that we will be offering Child Care Community Partnership Grants (CCCPG) in the 2024/2025 fiscal year!!
It is anticipated applications will open in September and close the end of October. More information will follow in the coming weeks.
These grants will be different from previous opportunities. Awardees will be sub-recipients and need to follow more stringent guidelines in comparison to the last round of CCCPG funding.
Child Care Aware of Kansas is excited to bring this opportunity to communities across the state! All Community-Led Coalitions are welcome and encouraged to apply. Please reach out to your Community Outreach Coordinator or email communitysupport@ks.childcareaware.org if you have questions!
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NetWork Kansas Capital Loan Programs
NetWork Kansas matching loan programs are designed to support private capital by providing matching funds to assist startups and existing businesses that are expanding. A variety of loan programs are offered based on geography, matching loan amounts, and project need.
Ongoing support is tailored to the readiness, pace, and scale of each community to support successful execution of the goals/action plan developed during the Communities in Action workshop.
While the experience is customized for each community, our follow-up support for communities will focus on ongoing support for coalition-building and strategic implementation of community goals/plans.
The Child Care Go Team (CCGT) will complement the existing – but parallel – community outreach and engagement work, through its shared mission to expand access to affordable, high-quality early childhood care and education across Kansas. The Go-Team has experience assisting communities with local zoning and municipal code barriers.
We have curated a list of resources to assist communities in their journey to expand childcare capacity.
Child Care Aware of Kansas
The Community Outreach and Engagement (COE) team at Childcare Aware of Kansas plays a crucial role in connecting with communities, promoting awareness about the organization’s services, and fostering collaborations with key stakeholders. The COE team can assist communities in coalition building and strategic planning.
communitysupport@ks.childcareaware.org
The Child Care Go-Team
The Child Care Go Team (CCGT) will complement the existing – but parallel – community outreach and engagement work, through its shared mission to expand access to affordable, high-quality early childhood care and education across Kansas. The Go-Team has experience assisting communities with local zoning and municipal code barriers.
Building a effective coalition is essential for influencing public policy. It is vital to demonstrate the widespread impact or potential consequences of the policy. Identify those who stand to benefit from the proposed policy change and actively involve them in coalition efforts.
Engage key stakeholders, including parents, childcare providers, local businesses, policymakers, and community leaders. Gather insights into their perspectives, concerns, and ideas. Establish a collaborative approach that involves everyone invested in the well-being of children.
Learn how the child care business model works when building childcare capacity in your community by using Child Care Aware of Kansas’ Child Care Budget Tool.
Check here to see if there is already a coalition in your community.
Need help getting started? Contact us.
Family friendly workplaces support a parent’s ability to provide a safe, stable, nurturing environment for their children. Child care is a top priority for employers.
This campaign supports Kansas workplaces in creating conditions that not only strengthen families, but increase recruitment, retention, and productivity in the workplace.
Find recommendations from our partners on how to become a Family Friendly Workplace.
The Child Care Go Team (CCGT) will complement the existing – but parallel – community outreach and engagement work, through its shared mission to expand access to affordable, high-quality early childhood care and education across Kansas. The Go-Team has experience assisting communities with local zoning and municipal code barriers.
Advancing equitable access to high-quality child care for Kansas families and communities takes all of us working together. Decision-makers need to hear from families, early care and education professionals, and communities about issues that matter. We can all be part of the solution by speaking up for policies that improve our early care and education system. Join our efforts by getting involved today.
Get updates, learn about Kansas legislature, and get engaged today.
Economists have found that investments in quality early childhood care & education leads to more effective public schools, improved public health, less crime, and more educated, skilled workforce, as well as a better overall quality of life!
Your donation to Child Care Aware of Kansas is an investment in our state's future. Join our efforts towards ensuring accessible, affordable, high-quality child care for every child.
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