KANSAS ASSOCIATION OF CHILD CARE RESOURCE AND REFERRAL AGENCIES

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.