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The Current State
Across Kansas, individuals and organizations are pooling resources to meet the diverse needs of young children, particularly in the critical early years when development is most rapid. Individuals, organizations, and communities are improving access to child care, starting and expanding early learning programs, and providing critical health and family support services. A lot is happening yet, there’s much more to be done. We are continually uncovering needs, following bright spots, and enacting plans to reflect what we’re learning.
The Kansas Early Childhood Ecosystem visual shows that thriving communities are critical to healthy, efficient ecosystem functioning. The circles within the visual show general categories of ecosystem partners, while page two lists some of the programs, job roles, and funding sources routinely interacting in thriving communities.
To fully understand the early childhood ecosystem, we need to know details on who benefits from these programs. The Distinct Count of Children Data Dashboard shows us approximately how many children are being served in each of the 4 major early care and education programs, along with their geographic disbursement and overall demographics.
Our youngest Kansans need consistent, safe, and high-quality experiences in their early years to help them thrive. This requires supportive home environments, affordable and available early learning programs and services, and an early childhood workforce equipped to meet the unique needs of each child. Unfortunately, past needs assessments reveal that far too many children and families in Kansas are struggling to meet basic needs and have difficulty accessing and navigating services. Read more about these and other needs identified in the 2024 All In For Kansas Kids Needs Assessment.
Kansas communities can also find local data on needs using the following:
- Community Data Dashboard features 20 different indicators ranging from poverty and employment rates to birth rate trends and can be generated for any zip code or county in Kansas.
- Point In Time Tool offers details on child care supply and demand in each Kansas county, including rates for both part-time and full-time care. This point in time tool from Child Care Aware of Kansas is intended to assist local communities as they work to address critical child care shortages.
We know that quality child care is beneficial for everyone living and working in Kansas. Just like we invest in roads, utilities, and broadband to fuel our economy and enhance our quality of life, we also must invest in the early childhood ecosystem. When everyone in the state can access quality, reliable child care, employers are better able to attract and retain a loyal workforce.
Solutions to our state’s child care problems–while admittedly challenging–are within reach. The ingenuity, compassion, and resilience of Kansas communities are leading the way. State agencies are coming together to leverage pockets of funding, partners across the state are ready to share expertise, and peer communities are offering lessons learned.
Child care is complex. Each child care facility has a set of health and safety standards, local zoning and fire marshal considerations, and staffing ratios that impact 1) what age children will be served, 2) how many staff are needed, and 3) how affordable the child care will be for families. On top of these considerations, there is a continued need for more high-quality professionals to enter the workforce, in an already difficult hiring market. The following tools can help communities and facilities plan for expanding child care capacity:
Disparities that occur in rural Kansas around child care and early education are a barrier to business and community growth. Learn more about the unique challenges rural communities face as they work to support Kansas families.
Spotlight
Child Care Zones Webinar
Informational Webinar Join the Kansas Department of Health and Environment to learn more about an upcoming opportunity for communities interested in strengthening their local child care infrastructure. The Child Care Zones […]
Health Insurance Resources for Child Care Professionals
The Insurance Stipend Program for Childcare Providers will provide a stipend of up to $3,600 a year to assist with the cost of purchasing health coverage in the State of Kansas.
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