Child Care Provider Info - Child Care Aware of Eastern Kansas

Child Care Providers

Service Delivery Updates During COVID-19

Child Care Aware® of Eastern Kansas continues to actively monitor the COVID-19 situation through communication with local health care professionals and other partners at the regional, state, and national levels. This is a very difficult time for everyone, and we want to do everything possible to support the working families in our area, and you, our child care partners. We have taken steps to ensure the health of our staff as we try to reduce the risk of spreading this virus to others.

We hope our new Preparedness and Planning Guide for Child Care Programs will be helpful as you make decisions about your program's operations during this challenging time. You can download or view a PDF version of the document for your county by clicking here.

Please note the following changes to our service delivery:.

Lending Library Hours:
- Topeka’s Lending Library Hours (1100 SW Wanamaker Rd., Suite #201, Topeka, Kansas 66604)
  - Beginning April 5, 2021, the Lending Library will be available by appointment, Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM- 5:00 PM.
  - Please schedule an appointment by calling us at 785-357-5171 or toll-free at 877-678-2548.
Weekend Lending Library Hours:
- Topeka’s Weekend Lending Library Hours (1100 SW Wanamaker Rd., Suite #201, Topeka, Kansas 66604)
  - This is an opportunity to check items out of the lending library and use the die-cut and laminating machine beyond normal business hours on the first and third Saturday of the month.
  - Beginning April 17, 2021, the Weekend Lending Library will be available by appointment.
  - For weekend lending library dates, appointments must be scheduled by noon the Friday before. Please call 785-357-5171 or toll-free at 877-678-2548 to schedule an appointment.

At this time, we plan to continue holding professional development events online or via Zoom and face-to-face options back into the schedule. Precautionary measures will be assessed in an effort to maintain safe social distancing practices. Possible options for a hybrid model are being discussed at this time. Remote options, however, are here to stay for the foreseeable future in order to provide greater accessibility to our providers. To support the professional development needs of providers in our region, you can visit our professional development calendar by clicking HERE.

We encourage you to keep us updated with vacancy or closure information so that we can better assist families seeking child care during this time. Call 877-678-2548 to make changes to your enrollment status, or if we can assist you in any other way.

Is early childhood care and education the career for you?

The Early Childhood Workforce Training Center will prepare and equip participants for a teaching career in an early childhood classroom by combining professional development with observations and classroom experiences.

The cost of this two-week training is $2,500 with the grant support of $2,400 per student. Each student will pay the remaining cost of $100. This cost will include the two-week training and ongoing support from the Early Childhood Workforce Training Center coordinator.

Participation is limited to students who intend to work within Shawnee County.

Classes are scheduled Monday-Friday, 9:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. each day. To register, complete the application form by clicking here. If you have any questions, please contact the program coordinator, Betsey Litscher, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 785-440-4503.

^{*This project was made possible by grant #90TP0078-01-00. Its contents are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official view of the United States Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families.}

Free Advice and Coaching for Child Care Providers...

The Child Care Health Consultant Network is a free service available to all licensed child care providers in the state of Kansas. Focused on promoting health, safety, and wellness in child care environments, we offer one-on-one coaching and planning sessions, wherever and whenever you need it.

The Child Care Health Consultant Network is provided by Child Care Aware of Kansas in partnership with the Kansas Department of Health and Environment and the Kansas Department for Children and Families.

Child Care Aware^® of Eastern Kansas provides a vital link between licensed child care programs and families needing child care. We supply parents with information about choosing high-quality child care programs and referrals to child care providers who match the criteria they supply. Child care providers who list their child care programs with our agency are contacted on a regular basis to update vacancy information, assuring that referral lists are accurate for families.

Child Care Aware^® of Eastern Kansas has…

Classes & Coursework to meet licensing requirements and beyond. We offer classes online and in-person for your convenience. You can also find information about first aid and CPR training, credentials, higher education opportunities, and more.

Business Resources to help you connect with families needing child care, provide information surrounding starting a child care business, tips on marketing your child care business, and other information specific to the child care and early education industry.

Curriculum Resources to help with planning activities. Services include the opportunity to participate in a variety of quality improvement programs, access to our lending libraries, consultation/coaching, helpful blog posts, and child development and school readiness information.

Employment Resources for those seeking work in the early education field and for licensed child care programs needing to post employment opportunities.

Do you currently receive the Child Care Aware^® News, a newsletter specifically for child care providers in Kansas? This publication contains current state-wide and agency news for child care providers, helpful articles, a calendar of classes throughout the state, and much more. Be sure to click here and select “Child Care Topics” to sign up for the newsletter or read it now by clicking here.