Kansas Association Of Child Care Resource And Referral Agencies

CHILD CARE IS ESSENTIAL TO A THRIVING KANSAS ECONOMY. COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE STATE - INCLUDING FAMILIES AND EMPLOYERS - NEED ACCESS TO AFFORDABLE, HIGH-QUALITY CHILD CARE. OUR MISSION IS TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN.

SUSTAINABILITY GRANTS (FUNDED BY AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT (ARPA) OF 2021 THROUGH KANSAS DEPARTMENT FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES), IN RESPONSE TO THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC, PROVIDED THE FOLLOWING FINANCIAL SUPPORT SERVICES TO PROVIDE RELIEF TO CHILD CARE PROVIDERS THROUGHOUT THE STATE OF KANSAS:SUSTAINABILITY GRANTS THESE GRANTS, AVAILABLE TO ELIGIBLE PROGRAMS, PROVIDE FINANCIAL AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO HELP OFFSET THE REALIZED NEGATIVE IMPACT ON THE STRUCTURAL LAYERS OF OPERATING A CHILD CARE BUSINESS DUE TO THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC. PROGRAMS MUST USE A PORTION OF THE GRANT FUNDS TO CONTINUE TO PAY THE SALARIES/WAGES OF STAFF EMPLOYED THROUGH THE LICENSED CHILD CARE FACILITY. DURING 2023, 3,867 CHILD CARE PROGRAMS WERE AWARDED SUSTAINABILITY GRANTS.

DCF ENROLLED CHILD CARE PROVIDER INCENTIVE PAYMENTS (FUNDED BY AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT (ARPA) OF 2021 THROUGH KANSAS DEPARTMENT FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES) FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO DCF ENROLLED CHILD CARE PROVIDERS BASED ON THE FINDINGS OF THE DIFFERENCE FROM CURRENT SUBSIDY RATES TO THE INCREASED SUBSIDY RATES FROM THE NARROW COST ANALYSIS COMPLETED BY PRENATAL TO FIVE FISCAL STRATEGIES IN JULY 2022. THESE FUNDS ARE ALSO INTENDED TO HELP OFFSET THE COST OF ENROLLING WITH DCF AS A PROVIDER WHO CAN ACCEPT CHILD CARE ASSISTANCE FOR NEWLY ENROLLED PROVIDERS. 1,140 PROVIDERS RECEIVED PAYMENTS IN 2023.

CHILD CARE HEALTH CONSULTANT (CCHC) NETWORK. FUNDING FOR THIS PROGRAM BEGAN ON 9-1-2020 AND CONTINUES. THE CHILD CARE HEALTH CONSULTANT (CCHC) NETWORK SUPPORTS HIGH QUALITY CHILD CARE SERVICES AND PROMOTES HEALTHY DEVELOPMENT FOR CHILDREN IN KDHE LICENSED CHILD CARE FACILITIES. CCHC'S PROVIDE CONSULTATIONS, TRAINING, INFORMATION, AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO CHILD CARE PROVIDERS IN THE STATE OF KANSAS. CCHC'S OFFER CRITICAL SERVICES TO CHILD CARE PROGRAMS BY REVIEWING POLICIES, OFFERING DEVELOPMENTAL EXPERTISE, COMPLETING ASSESSMENTS OF CHILD, STAFF, AND FAMILY HEALTH NEEDS, AND CONNECTING TO COMMUNITY RESOURCES. IN ADDITION, CCHC'S COLLABORATE WITH AN INTERDISCIPLINARY TEAM OF EARLY CHILDHOOD CONSULTANTS, SUCH AS, EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION, MENTAL HEALTH, AND NUTRITION CONSULTANTS. VARIOUS GRANT OPPORTUNITIES HAVE BEEN AVAILABLE FOR LICENSED CHILD CARE PROGRAMS THROUGH THE CCHC NETWORK.OCTOBER 1, 2021, TO JUNE 30, 2024, AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT (ARPA) OF 2021, FUNDING AWARDED THROUGH KANSAS DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENT. FROM JANUARY 1, 2023 TO DECEMBER 31, 2023, THE CCHC NETWORK IMPLEMENTATION, CCHC PROVIDED 465 START-UP STIPENDS ($1,128,015) AND 115 HEALTH & SAFETY GRANTS ($597,571) TO NEW PROVIDERS. IN ADDITION, THE CCHC NETWORK SERVED/ENGAGED 2,006 CHILD CARE PROGRAMS. OF THE 2,006 PROGRAMS, 155 POTENTIALLY NEW PROVIDERS, 1,482 HOME CHILD CARE PROVIDERS, 266 CHILD CARE CENTERS, AND 103 SCHOOL AGE PROGRAMS RECEIVED DIRECT SERVICE, INCLUDING NETS, RECRUITMENT CONTACTS, AND CONSULTATIONS. OF THE 2,006 PROGRAMS, 816 ACCEPTED KANSAS DEPARTMENT FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES SUBSIDY PAYMENTS.CHILD CARE WORKFORCE APPRECIATION BONUSES WERE FOR EARLY CHILD CARE PROFESSIONALS TO SHOW APPRECIATION AND THANK THEM FOR THEIR COMMITMENT AND DEDICATION. THESE BONUSES WERE PROVIDED IN COLLABORATION WITH KANSAS DEPARTMENT FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES, KANSAS DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND DEVELOPMENT, AND UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS CENTER FOR PUBLIC PARTNERSHIPS AND RESEARCH. UNLIKE THE PREVIOUS GRANTS, THESE BONUSES WERE MADE DIRECTLY TO INDIVIDUALS EMPLOYED IN THE FIELD RATHER THAN TO THE FACILITY. KANSAS ASSOCIATION OF CHILD CARE RESOURCE AND REFERRAL AGENCIES (KACCRRA) PROVIDED TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE FOR INCOMPLETE APPLICATIONS AND STATUS OF BONUS PAYMENTS. FROM JULY 18, 2022, TO FEBRUARY 17, 2023 THERE WERE 23,308 TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE REQUESTS COMPLETED. KACCRRA'S COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH THIS WORK WERE COVERED UNDER THE CCHC CONTRACT. BONUS AMOUNTS WERE PAID THROUGH ONE OF THE OTHER PARTNERING AGENCIES.