Recruiting and Retaining Culturally Responsive Staff in Early Childhood Education Settings
June 15, 2022 | By Child Care Aware of Kansas
Bridget Banks, Child Care Health Consultant, Child Care Aware of Kansas. Originally published in the Spring 2022 Issue of Kansas Child Magazine. Recruiting and Retaining Culturally Responsive Staff in Early Childhood Education Settings For the first time in history, we as a nation are
read moreChild Care Supply and Demand in Kansas: What to Know and How to Be Part of the Solution
June 2, 2022 | By Child Care Aware of Kansas
Child Care Supply and Demand in Kansas: What to Know and How to Be Part of the Solution A child’s earliest experiences lay the foundation for lifelong learning, well-being, and success. Quality early care and education opportunities provide the nurturing environments and relationships
read moreUsing a Career Pathway to Recruit and Retain Child Care Providers and Educators
May 11, 2022 | By Child Care Aware of Kansas
By Hannah McGahey, Workforce Coordinator, Kansas Children’s Cabinet and Trust Fund and Sara Gardner, Assistant Director, KU Center for Public Partnerships and Research. Originally published in the Spring 2022 Issue of Kansas Child Magazine. From 2017 to early 2020, Kansas
read moreThe Child Care Gap: What Do We Know? What Do We Do?
May 5, 2022 | By Child Care Aware of Kansas
By Linda K Smith, Director of Early Childhood Initiative, Bipartisan Policy Center. Originally published in the Spring 2022 Issue of Kansas Child Magazine. The COVID-19 pandemic has exposed what any working parent in America already knew to be true – that the early childhood years hold
read moreSupporting Social-Emotional Development
March 18, 2022 | By Child Care Aware of Kansas
By Erica Figueroa, Project Coordinator on the Early Childhood Comprehensive Systems Impact Project Article originally published in the Spring 2020 Issue of Kansas Child Magazine. Caregivers play an integral role in assisting children achieve healthy social-emotional development.
read moreHeading Off Temper Tantrums
February 22, 2022 | By Child Care Aware of Kansas
by Callie Hoffman, Executive Director, Kansas Parents as Teachers Association (KPATA). Originally published in the Winter 2022 Issue of Kansas Child Magazine. We all have things in life that aggravate or annoy us, and we all have different ways of managing those feelings of
read moreFilling the Void
February 21, 2022 | By Child Care Aware of Kansas
Concordia School District Provides Child Care Through Community Collaboration By Krystal Breese, Director of Curriculum/Assessment, USD 333 , originally published in the Winter 2022 Issue of Kansas Child Magazine. Early childhood experiences are the foundation for a student’s future
read moreWelcoming the Community into Your Child Care Program
January 14, 2022 | By Child Care Aware of Kansas
By Jillian Hoefer, Director, Wichita State University Child Development Center. Article originally published in the Winter 2022 Issue of Kansas Child Magazine. Welcoming the Community into Your Child Care Program As child care providers, we have responsibilities beyond taking
read moreElevating Provider Voices
December 22, 2021 | By Child Care Aware of Kansas
By Berni Howe, Lead Training and Technical Assistant Specialist, KCCTO and Tara Glanton, Training and Technical Assistant Specialist, KCCTO. Article originally published in the Winter 2021 Issue of Kansas Child Magazine. Elevating Provider Voices 2020 has been robust, with quick shifts
read moreActions Speak Louder Than Words
December 10, 2021 | By Child Care Aware of Kansas
By John Presley Originally published in the Spring 2020 issue of Kansas Child Magazine. Attachment is a word in mental health circles that has taken on a dominant connotation as relating to disruptions and disorders of relationships, particularly regarding the development of
read moreNo Better Time: Systems Thinking for All
November 29, 2021 | By Child Care Aware of Kansas
By: Tracy Benson, President, Waters Center for Systems Thinking Originally published in the Winter 2021 Issue of Kansas Child Magazine A System Is a Collection of Related Parts Having recently been absent, Marisa enthusiastically returned to school. Her teacher, Ms. Vicky, as she did with
read moreSupporting Healthy Brain Development in Children through Nutrition
November 24, 2021 | By Child Care Aware of Kansas
BY Karen Seymour, RD, LD, Kansas State Department of Education Originally published in the Summer 2020 Issue of Kansas Child Magazine. Nutrition is an important factor that can affect the growth and development of the brain and ultimately influence information processing and learning in
read moreSupporting Family Choice
November 16, 2021 | By Child Care Aware of Kansas
A Message from Child Care Aware of Kansas Selecting a child care provider is an important decision for a family to make, and it’s often a stressful one, no matter the family’s situation. The good news is that Child Care Aware of Kansas offers a free resource for families to help them
read moreData as a Tool for Creating Racial Equity
November 11, 2021 | By Child Care Aware of Kansas
By, Michelle Stover Wright, M.S., Evaluation and Research BUILD Initiative; Aisha Ray, Ph.D., Distinguished Fellow, BUILD Initiative; Sherri Killins Stewart Ed. D., Director of State Systems Alignment and Integration, Co-Director of State Services, BUILD Initiative Originally published in
read moreCommunities in Action Workshop
November 11, 2021 | By Child Care Aware of Kansas
By Tanya Koehn, Director of Family & Community Services, Child Care Aware of Kansas Child Care Aware of Kansas works alongside local communities to tackle the lack of affordable, quality child care by connecting them to the perspectives, information, and ideas they need to
read moreEvery Child Needs Nature
November 9, 2021 | By Child Care Aware of Kansas
By Elizabeth Burger, Senior Program Officer, Sunflower Foundation Originally published in the Fall 2021 Issue of Kansas Child Magazine. “Every child needs nature. Not just ones whose parents appreciate nature. Not just those of certain economic class or culture or set of abilities.
read moreTaking Care of Business: Tips for Family Child Care
November 4, 2021 | By Child Care Aware of Kansas
By Tom Copeland, Trainer, Author and Advocate for Family Child Care Originally published in the Spring 2021 Issue of Kansas Child Magazine Family child care providers start their businesses because they love children and want to care for them. But many providers quit because they can’t
read moreSurvey of Kansas child care facilities points to lingering challenges of COVID-19
October 21, 2021 | By Child Care Aware of Kansas
United Methodist Health Ministry Fund and Child Care Aware of Kansas partnered to survey of child care providers — 29% of the state’s total — indicated facility operators were committed to extra cleaning, handwashing and temperature checks. More significant public health
read morePress Release: Program Administration Support
October 19, 2021 | By Child Care Aware of Kansas
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Child Care Aware of Kansas, in partnership with the Kansas Department for Children and Families (DCF) and Links to Quality, launched Program Administration Support to provide one-on-one assistance to licensed child care providers as they strengthen their
read moreWhen Little People are Overwhelmed by Big Emotions.
October 11, 2021 | By Child Care Aware of Kansas
By Kim Lawson, Preschool teacher, Bennington Grade School Orginally published in the Fall 2020 Issue of Kansas Child magazine Children are not born with the skills to self-regulate. We instinctively help babies soothe by rocking, bouncing, back rubs, and singing. As children grow into
read moreAssessing Your Child Care Environment
October 4, 2021 | By Child Care Aware of Kansas
By Susan Owens, Early Care and Education Specialist, The Family Conservancy Originally published in the Summer 2021 Issue of Kansas Child magazine Environment plays a crucial role in supporting child development. But how can you tell if the changes you make to the child care environment
read moreData is the Future
September 16, 2021 | By Child Care Aware of Kansas
By Teri Garstka, Associate Director, KU Center for Public Partnerships for the Spring 2021 Issue of Kansas Child magazine. It’s an exciting time to be a data enthusiast in Kansas! We all want Kansas to be the best state for families to raise a child. To get there, we need
read moreGrandparents Adventures
September 12, 2021 | By Child Care Aware of Kansas
By Samantha Sulsar, Coordinator, Child Care Aware of Kansas I can’t help but smile every time I open the silverware drawer. The spoons and forks that rattle and clank when the drawer is pulled open are far more than just simple utensils used for boring everyday tasks, these spoons are
read more10 Reasons to Become an Early Childhood Education Professional
September 2, 2021 | By Child Care Aware of Kansas
By Michelle Gilbert, Early Care & Education Specialist, Child Care Aware of Eastern Kansas Across the nation, conversations are taking place about the shortage of qualified early childhood professionals. In Kansas, the topic of workforce development comes up at virtually any meeting
read moreA Beautiful Career: What Family Child Care Can Do
September 2, 2021 | By Child Care Aware of Kansas
By Emily Barnes, Owner/Manager, Barnes Child Care, for the Spring 2021 Issue of Kansas Child magazine. After my second child, postpartum anxiety started interfering with my ability to work. Thoughts swirled around my head: What would happen if I stepped away from my job to take care of
read more1-800-CHILDREN
September 1, 2021 | By Child Care Aware of Kansas
By Vicki Roper, Director, Prevent Child Abuse Kansas, for the Fall 2020 Issue of Kansas Child magazine. The outbreak of the coronavirus has changed our world – dramatically – and rapidly. Although the risk to the physical health of young children appears to be low, their risk of
read moreBuilding a Community of Leaders: Promoting Healthy Eating and Physical Activity through Communities of Practice
August 24, 2021 | By Child Care Aware of Kansas
By Georgia Thompson, Senior Program & Policy Analyst, Nemours and Rebekah Duchette, Senior State Systems Specialist, Nemours for the Summer 2021 Issue of Kansas Child Magazine. Just as young children need supportive relationships as they grow and develop, adults also benefit from
read moreStart With Those Who Know The Challenge Best
August 24, 2021 | By Child Care Aware of Kansas
By Julia McBride, Vice President, Kansas Leadership Center Originally published in the Winter 2021 Issue of Kansas Child Magazine If you aspire to launch more creative child care solutions, you know you need to get parents and child care providers involved. Don’t delay! Too many
read moreEncouraging New Foods Through Play
August 18, 2021 | By Child Care Aware of Kansas
By Diana Floyd, RD, LD, Kansas State Department of Education Originally published in the Summer 2020 Issue of Kansas Child Magazine Getting children to try new foods can be challenging. Children can be picky eaters and consume less than the optimal variety of foods each day. Parents and
read moreChild Care in Kansas: Paralysis to Action
August 11, 2021 | By Child Care Aware of Kansas
By Travis Rickford, Executive Director, LiveWell Northwest Kansas Originally published in the Winter 2021 Issue of Kansas Child Magazine Today, our rural way of life looks a little different as we adapt to new challenges presented by COVID-19. Our work environments look different, and we
read moreWhy Bother Going Outside?
August 11, 2021 | By Child Care Aware of Kansas
By Jeannie Evans & Janelle Balarashti, Early Care & Education Team, The Family Conservancy Originally published in the Summer 2020 Issue of Kansas Child Magazine As we face this time of uncertainty during the COVID-19 pandemic, it is even more critical that we make sure our
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