Southeast Kansas childcare progams win Founders’ Link Awards

The Department for Children and Families awarded 37 childcare facilities the Founders’ Link for their work helping to develop Kansas’ childcare quality recognition and improvement system, called Links to Quality.

Programs participated in a two-year pilot of Links to Quality which aims to support early care and education professionals in recognizing and building on the strengths of their program to provide higher quality care. During the two-year pilot, these programs worked on three “Links” — Program Leadership, Family Partnerships, and Learning & Development — to demonstrate their commitment to quality and to help inform the development of the system. Pilot participants had access to peer support, technical assistance, and other incentives to help them improve the quality of their care.

As they worked through each Link, pilot participants provided DCF staff with feedback about processes, content, and overall experience of the program. Their feedback will benefit all future participants and contribute to strengthening the early childhood profession across the state.

“The Founders’ Link recipients have really shaped the program to make it work for all programs across the state,” said DCF Secretary Laura Howard. “This successful pilot would not have been possible without their hard work and dedication. Children and families in Kansas will benefit from their work for years to come.”

Southeast Kansas programs earning their Founders’ Link are:

Learning Community A – Labette, Crawford, Cherokee. Montgomery, and Neosho counties

Pittsburg Community Child Care Learning Center, Inc. – Pittsburg

Kiddie Garden Daycare – West Mineral

Butterfly Funhouse Child Care – Mound Valley

Toddler Time Daycare – Frontenac

The Treehouse of Early Learning – Independence

Country Kids Daycare – Girard

Kidzville Daycare – Chanute

Good Shepherd Child Care Center – Columbus