💡 Knowledge builds confidence. 97.9% of child care providers said our trainings directly improved their programs. With access to hands-on learning, toolkits, and supportive specialists, providers walk away inspired and ready to give children the best care possible. 💬 “With great enthusiasm I plan to attend as many of the in-person trainings as my schedule allows. It’s a fantastic and enjoyable way to gain hours for accreditation. Thank you for making it possible in our area!” — Heliana Halbleib, Logan County Behind every child’s success is someone who cared enough to keep learning. 👉 Support the training that builds stronger care across Kansas: https://loom.ly/yOxkKlI #BehindEveryChild #ProfessionalDevelopment #KansasKids
Child Care Aware of Kansas
Individual and Family Services
Salina, KS 768 followers
Providing statewide leadership that builds a diverse, high-quality child care system.
About us
Our Vision All communities across Kansas value and support early childhood development. Our Mission High-quality early education is available to all Kansas families and children. We work daily to ensure that families have access to high-quality child care. Services include: • Providing families across the state with child care referral lists and child development consumer education; • Supporting child care providers, programs and early learning staff through statewide quality initiatives and professional development events and; • Being actively involved in advocacy efforts that work for positive changes that impact Kansas children and communities. At Child Care Aware of Kansas, we are in a unique position to work with families, the early childhood field, and state and local government to strengthen the quality of child care. We work to inform the public on the importance of investing in early childhood development with a focus on the interactions made and the skills learned that prepare children for school. For more information on how we can help you as a parent, child care provider, employer or community member, please visit www.ks.childcareaware.org or call us at 855-750-3343.
- Website
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http://ks.childcareaware.org
External link for Child Care Aware of Kansas
- Industry
- Individual and Family Services
- Company size
- 11-50 employees
- Headquarters
- Salina, KS
- Type
- Nonprofit
- Founded
- 1990
Locations
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Primary
Get directions
Salina, KS 67401, US
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Get directions
PO BOX 2294
Salina, Kansas 67402, US
Employees at Child Care Aware of Kansas
Updates
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Our own Jamie Shaw, Meagan Vincent, and Cassandra Smith attended the SNAP Back Event at Tony’s Pizza Event Center! This event, part of a Salina Area United Way initiative, set up collection points to provide essential items to families impacted by the government shutdown. Learn more about the collections points and this event: https://loom.ly/eq0EtU4
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Grateful for this feature from TOOTRiS! We were named a 2025 Wings of Innovation Awardee for bringing fresh, community-driven ideas to child care challenges.
🌟 𝗖𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗯𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗖𝗖𝗥&𝗥 𝗶𝗻𝗻𝗼𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻! => Recently, we honored six Child Care Resource & Referral (CCR&R) organizations with the 2025 Wings of Innovation Awards for their bold, creative solutions to significant Child Care issues. This week we are spotlighting a Kansas program that is helping stabilize provider income and unlocking more infant care openings. 🌟 🏆 𝗔𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱 𝗪𝗶𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗿: Child Care Aware of Kansas 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗷𝗲𝗰𝘁: 𝗕𝗮𝗯𝘆 𝗦𝘁𝗲𝗽𝘀 👶 In Kansas, too many families hear the words: "We don't have an infant opening." Not because providers do not care - but because the math simply does not work. Stricter ratios. Higher operating costs. Thinner margins. For many Family Child Care providers - the backbone of the state's Child Care system - taking infants can mean taking a financial loss. So families are turned away at the most critical stage of a child’s development. Baby Steps is helping change that. Fueled by support from the Patterson Family Foundation and the Preschool Development Grant, Baby Steps provides quarterly stipends that stabilize provider income and unlock more infant care openings across Kansas. What makes it different: ➡️ Quarterly stipends that reduce the financial risk of serving infants ➡️ Expert mentorship from the Infant Toddler Specialist Network to strengthen quality ➡️ Focus on communities with the highest need ➡️ Ongoing data collection to inform long term, systemic change The result is not just more slots. It is more babies in nurturing environments, stronger small businesses, and a more professional, supported workforce. 💛 At its core, 𝗕𝗮𝗯𝘆 𝗦𝘁𝗲𝗽𝘀 𝗶𝘀 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗲𝗾𝘂𝗶𝘁𝘆, 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗵𝗼𝗽𝗲. When we invest in infant care, we are building stronger children, more stable families, and thriving communities for generations to come. If you care about early childhood, economic mobility, or small business growth, this is a model worth watching. When you look at Baby Steps, what part of this approach - funding, mentorship, or data - feels most critical to lasting change? #ChildCare #EarlyChildhoodEducation #WorkforceDevelopment #FamilyChildCare #EconomicMobility
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Pamela Miller has been caring for children in her home for more than 12 years. Like many providers, she often faced tough financial choices — until Child Care Aware of Kansas gave her the boost she needed. 💬 “Being able to pour funding into my daycare has been such a blessing. Thank you for the relief to help me continue to do the work I love.” — Pamela Miller Behind every child’s success is a provider like Pamela, who shows up every day to care first. 👉 Your gift helps providers across Kansas continue this important work. https://lnkd.in/g2ywqWP7 #BehindEveryChild #KansasKids #ChildCareSuccess
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Child Care Aware of Kansas reposted this
This November, we celebrate Military Families Month as a time to honor the strength, resilience, and sacrifice of our nation’s military families. We are proud to partner with the Department of Defense to provide child care fee assistance for military families. Supporting those who serve by connecting military families to quality, affordable child care, and resources makes child care strong—and that makes everyone stronger. 💙 To all our service members and their loved ones, thank you. Learn more about our military child care programs https://lnkd.in/g6BdV6h3 #MilitaryFamiliesMonth #ChildCareStrong
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When Sheena Kosman set out to open her home daycare in Pittsburg, she faced unexpected barriers — city ordinances, fees, and zoning rules that nearly stopped her from opening her doors. She wasn’t alone. Our Go Team stood by her side, advocating with city leaders and making sure Pittsburg families could access the care they needed. 💬 “They went above and beyond to advocate for me, to stand by me, and to ensure that a licensed and safe child care facility could open. I am beyond grateful to have their support behind me.” — Sheena Kosman 👉 Help us continue standing up for providers, children, and families across Kansas. Donate today: https://loom.ly/yOxkKlI #BehindEveryChild #KansasKids #ChildCareMatters
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¡Consulta los datos más recientes sobre el cuidado infantil en Kansas! Visita Child Care Aware of Kansas para ver los Datos Puntuales y mantente al día con las tendencias importantes. 📊✨ https://lnkd.in/gtdBkyfA
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🌟 Remember Erica Schurr, owner of Tiny Happy People Daycare? With support from Child Care Aware, they were able to “finalize a handbook, dive into budgeting, and get tons of best practice information and resources.” Stories like this are possible because people like you care first. 💜 Give today: https://lnkd.in/g2ywqWP7 #BehindEveryChild #ChildCareSuccess
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💬 “Calling Child Care Aware was one of the best decisions I made. From the first moment, I felt like family and knew I had found the right place.” — Cypactli Rodriguez, ABC’s Bilingual Daycare Through our Links to Quality program, providers like Cypactli gain the support, resources, and confidence to strengthen their child care businesses and provide the very best care to Kansas children. When we invest in providers, we invest in children. 💜 👉 Your gift makes this possible. https://loom.ly/yOxkKlI #BehindEveryChild #KansasKids #ChildCareSuccess
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