BY: TIM CARPENTER
Kansas Reflector
TOPEKA — Gov. Laura Kelly said infusion of government funding contributed to an increase of more than 6,800 child-care slots in Kansas over a 14-month period following erosion of services statewide amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
The expansion from May 2022 to July of this year included new positions at licensed daycare homes, group daycare homes, preschools, child care centers and drop-in programs. The Kansas Department of Health and Environment reported a 400% increase in applications from providers of child care from October 2022 to May 2023.
“We know the Kansas child care slot supply was not adequate before 2020, but our current numbers speak to our work to steady and rebuild child care availability across the state,” Kelly said.
Lack of available child care spaces in the United States had a pronounced influence on Kansas families, businesses and local economies. A barrier to adding capacity has been lack of early childhood care and education professionals in the workforce.
The Kansas Children’s Cabinet and Trust Fund awarded $43 million in grants to 52 organizations to support broadening of child care.
“We must continue to invest in our state’s early learning and child care programs,” the governor said. “The long term benefits of investments are clear: stronger families, safe, stable nurturing relationships, improved outcomes for children and a more robust economy.”
The Kansas Department of Children and Families launched a recruiting campaign with information about child care assistance for families and how individuals could become a provider. Kansas suspended fees for applications and background checks in a bid to broaden services.
KDHE secretary Janet Stanek said the agency would continue to work with new providers to narrow the gap between demand and supply.
“The increase in child care slots and applications for child care providers lifted some areas out of ‘child care deserts,’ which is defined as an area with more than three children ages 5 and younger for every licensed child care slot or no licensed slots at all,” she said.
Meanwhile, the state awarded $5 million to Kansas State University to increase the early childhood care and education workforce. Development of a competency-based career pathway initiative was part of a strategic plan tied to funding from the Children’s Cabinet and Trust Fund.
“The early childhood career pathways initiative ensures the state expands the workforce needed to provide quality child care and education,” said Bronwyn Fees, a Kansas State professor of applied human sciences.