Quality, inclusive child care options benefit everyone living and working in Kansas. Just like we invest in roads, utilities, and broadband to fuel our economy and provide a good quality of life for Kansas residents, we must also invest in a more effective early care and education system that works for all Kansans.
In the short term, child care enables parents and guardians to pursue work, education, and other aspirations in order to support their families economically and live fulfilling lives. Employers can attract and retain a productive and diverse workforce, and our communities can grow and flourish.
In the long term, implementing new child care solutions will ensure that Kansas children grow up in environments that shape their healthy development and lay the foundation for future learning, well-being, and success throughout their lives.
Do you want to learn more about child care in your community?
From planning to execution, we are here every step of the way!
Pre-Planning & Support
Initial coalition-forming, a preliminary needs assessment, or other key activities to build initial readiness are provided.
Communities in Action Workshop
A tailored workshop experience is designed to meet the unique needs of individual communities.
Funding
Funding resources are provided for communities interested in increasing efforts to expand child care capacity.
Follow-Up Support
Ongoing support is tailored to the readiness, pace, and scale of each community to support successful execution of the action plan.
Child Care Go Team
Expanding access to affordable, high-quality child care throughout Kansas by providing state level guidance and resources to implement locally-driven solutions.
Pre-Planning & Support
Initial coalition-forming, a preliminary needs assessment, or other key activities to build initial readiness.
Connect with a consultant today!
Communities in Action Workshop
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
Funding opportunities for communities interested in increasing efforts to expand child care capacity:
Child Care Community Partnership Grants
Child Care Aware of Kansas, in partnership with the Kansas Department for Children and Families, provides technical assistance and funding opportunities for Kansas communities working to address access to affordable, high-quality child care.
Initial Child Care Coalition Building Grant
Implementing Child Care Capacity-Building Plans
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.
Community Development Block Grant
All cities and counties in the state of Kansas may be eligible to apply for CDBG funds except for Johnson County, all towns within Johnson County, Kansas City, Manhattan, Lawrence, Topeka, Wichita and Leavenworth. The Department of Commerce distributes federal CDBG funds to Kansas cities and counties looking to improve their community.
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.
Connect today to get started!
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!
Baby Steps is an innovative pilot that seeks not only to offset the revenue lost by caring for infants and toddlers, but also to bring family child care providers’ incomes closer to what might be considered a “livable” wage.
Our state can’t experience economic growth unless we have someone caring for our children — and unless our children’s care prepares them to be thriving adults.
This problem affects tens of thousands of Kansans — and limits their ability to participate in the workforce. In many cases, a parent chooses to exit the workforce to care for their child.
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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