Providers–Programs and Services

PROgrams and Services

KACCRRA offers direct support to child care providers through a variety of programs that works to improve the quality of care for children across the state.
They include:

Infant Toddler Project
– Infant Toddler Recuritment Project
Contact: Kami Cohorst

– Healthy Kansas Kids
Contact: Cathy Gray

Kansas Quality Rating Improvement System (KQRIS)
Contact: Jennifer Hecker

– BELIEF
Contact: Becky Woerz

T.E.A.C.H. Early Childhood® KANSAS
Contact: Kris Nicholson

Child Care WAGE$® KANSAS
Contact: Kris Nicholson

infant/toddler Project

Supporting quality child care for infants and toddlers across Kansas through relationship-based support and resources.

The goals of the Infant/Toddler Project in Kansas are to:

Increase the quality of infant and toddler child care
Increase the availability of infant and toddler child care

Infant/Toddler Specialists in each of the seven (7) Resource and Referral agencies throughout Kansas support child care providers by offering training on issues related to health, nutrition and activity; best practice for group care of infants and toddlers; supporting families; and a wide variety of child development topics. The Infant/Toddler Specialists also provide support and assistance by serving as mentors to new and experienced child care providers in a service called EXcellent Care for Early Learning (EXCEL). Additionally infant and toddler specific materials such as children’s books, toys and activity kits are available to child care providers in each Resource and Referral agency lending library.

The Infant/Toddler Specialists work with community partners such as businesses, schools, medical professionals, and others to increase awareness of the importance of the impact of high quality care for infants and toddlers on the developing child.

If you would like to contact an Infant/Toddler Specialist in your area please click on the Kansas Map to locate contact information for your local resource and referral agency.

Below is a list of Infant/Toddler specific courses
offered through higher education institutions in Kansas:

KS Higher Ed in ECD - IT Specific Courses PDF file

For more information, please contact:
KACCRRA, toll free 877-678 2548 or by email.

heathly kANSAS KIDS

Included in the EXCEL service, Healthy Kansas Kids is designed to improve best practices for physical activity and nutrition in the early childhood setting. Healthy Kansas Kids is funded through a grant from United Methodist Health Ministries Fund.

Goals:

To develop child care environments that promote physical activity
To provide training to child care providers regarding nutrition and physical activity
To increase good nutrition practices in child care environments
To promote healthy, active lifestyles in young families
To ensure infants and toddlers receive a healthy, active start in life
To create a model for improving wellness in Kansas child care programs

Benefits:

Providers learn creative ways to engage children in physical activity, both inside and outside.
Families receive access to take-home resources and materials.
Children eat more healthy foods and have more opportunities for physical activity.

Resources:

Physical Activity Guidelines for Infants, Toddlers and Preschoolers: http://www.aahperd.org/naspe/template.cfm?template=toddlers.html
Nutrition information for infants and toddlers: http://www.keepkidshealthy.com/nutrition/
The power of physical activity: http://www.metrokc.gov/health/childcare/physical.htm
Activity Ideas: http://www.readyforlife.org/nutrition/activityideas.lasso

Research and Evaluation:

Healthy Kansas Kids participants have provided compelling data that shows Healthy Kansas Kids works.

Counties: Available statewide

For more information, contact:
Cathy Gray, Healthy Kansas Kids Director toll free at 877-678-2548, by email,
or contact your local R&R and ask for the Infant/Toddler Specialist.

kansas Quality Rating Improvement System (KQRIS)

The Kansas Quality Rating Improvement System (KQRIS) is a 5-Star quality rating system for center-based and family child care programs. Participating programs receive a comprehensive assessment, on-site technical assistance, access to an improvement grant, and teachers/providers are eligible for college scholarships and salary supplements.

The Kansas Quality Rating Improvement System is a 5 Star quality rating system for child care centers, preschools, Head Start facilities, faith-based preschool programs and family child care homes. Participating child care programs receive a comprehensive assessment that results in a 1 – 5 Star Quality Rating (5 Stars is the highest possible rating). Assessment is followed with on-site technical assistance to help the program make strategic improvement to overall quality.

KQRIS is the changing face of quality improvement in Kansas; participants receive a variety of supports to assist in quality improvement efforts. Child care programs have access to a Quality Improvement (QI) Coach who can help the program set and achieve goals to make program improvements. Participants are eligible for quality improvement grants that can be used to purchase materials, equipment or pay for accreditation fees that will improve overall program quality. Staff/providers in participating KQRIS sites are eligible for college scholarships (through T.E.A.C.H. Early Childhood® KANSAS) and salary supplements (through Child Care WAGE$® KANSAS).

KQRIS is currently available in selected communities across Kansas; we continue to advocate for funding to make KQRIS available in all communities across the state. Current Resource & Referral agencies that provide KQRIS services include:

Child Care Connection
Child Start, Inc.
Cloud County Community College Early Childhood Resource and Referral
ERC Resource and Referral and The Family Conservancy
The Family Conservancy

How Do I Know if I am Ready for KQRIS?
If you live in an area that provides KQRS services and are interested in becoming a KQRIS participant, download and read the following document to see if your program is ready to make a commitment to participate a continuous quality improvement program.

Am I Ready for KQRI S?

KQRIS Eligibility Forms
If you live in an area that provides KQRIS services and would like to apply for KQRIS, download an eligibility form and mail it to the KQRIS Coach at your local Resource & Referral agency.

KQRIS Eligibility Form

KQRIS Rating Components
KQRIS measures quality in five key areas and assigns points based on quality level of each component. Those points are then added together and an overall Quality Rating score is assigned (Star Rating). Download and read the following document to learn more about the quality rating score.

KQRIS Frequently Asked Questions

KQRIS Grant Documents
KQRIS grant documents include instructions for completing the grant application, suggestions for writing a strong grant and the KQRIS Grant Application itself. If you have questions about completing the application, please contact Becky Woerz by email.

KQRIS Grant Application Information and Instructions

KQRIS Writing a Good Grant

Please contact your Quality Improvement Coach for a KQRIS grant application

For more information, please contact:
Jennifer Hecker,KQRIS Director, toll free 877-678 2548 or by email.

BELIEF - - Building Excellent Leaders Influencing Early Foundations

Eligibility
Participants must meet at least one of the following eligibility requirements:

Associate degree (preferred)
3 years of early childhood experience
Hold a decision making role in the program
Leadership in professional organizations

Institute
The BELIEF Early Childhood Leadership Institute will be held at The Barn Bed & Breakfast in Valley Falls, KS. It begins with an intensive 5-day Winter Institute January 11-15, 2011 a 4-day follow-up Spring Retreat April 6-9, 2011 and a 1-day Fall Celebration on October 27, '11.
Participants will receive 70 hours of instruction over 10 days. Mentors will be available for
consultation to assist participants in improving their leadership ability and the quality of their program. Participants will complete guided reading assignments, reflections and monthly field assignments including a Program Improvement Project related to their specific job responsibilities. We are in the process of getting college credit approval and plan to offer this option for BELIEF 2011.

Benefits
The registration cost of BELIEF is $500. Registration includes:

70 hours of in-service or college credit
All lodging and meals
$250+ resource library
$200 program improvement mini-grant
6 hours of Mentoring
Support Network

For more information email Becky Woerz or call 785-823-3343.

Belief Application for 2011

t.e.a.c.h. Early Childhood® KANSAS Project

The T.E.A.C.H. (Teacher Education and Compensation Helps) project is an educational scholarship opportunity for staff working in child care centers and family child care providers. T.E.A.C.H. links education, compensation and commitment to improving the quality of early childhood care and education programs for children.

KACCRRA is the agency in Kansas that is licensed through the Child Care Services of Association in Chapel Hill North Carolina to administer the T.E.A.C.H. scholarships.

Our Goals

To improve the quality of early childhood care and education, in child care centers and family child care homes.
To increase the educational level of child care providers.
To increase compensation of child care providers.
To decrease the turnover rate of child care providers.
To promote individual professional development.
To create a model of partnership for improving the quality of Kansas child care programs.

T.E.A.C.H. Annual Data Progression

Eligible counties:

Funded through Smart Start of Dickinson County: Dickinson
Funded through Marshall County Community Resource Center Smart Start grant: Marshall
Funded through Partnership for Children Smart Start grant: Mitchell
Funded through Smart Start Reno County: Reno, Rice
Funded through Saline County Smart Start: Saline

T.E.A.C.H. Early Childhood® in KANSAS is funded through local Smart Start grants, which are awarded through the Kansas Children's Cabinet.

Financial Aid Resources

For more information, please contact:
Kris Nicholson, T.E.A.C.H and WAGE$ Director, toll free 877-678 2548 or by email.

Child care WAGE$® KANSAS

WAGE$ provides education-based salary supplements to teachers and family child care providers working with children between the ages of 0-5 who meet salary guidelines. The project is designed to provide young children more stable relationships with better educated teachers by rewarding teacher education and continuity of care.

KACCRRA is the agency in Kansas that is licensed through the Child Care Services of Association in Chapel Hill North Carolina to administer the WAGE$ supplements.

Project goals:

To improve the quality of early childhood care and education in child care centers and family child care homes.
To decrease the turnover rate of child care providers.
To increase compensation of early childhood educators without increasing costs to parents.
To increase the educational level of staff providing child care.
To maintain marketplace competition for better salaries.
To integrate and build upon other education and compensation initiatives

Salary supplements are awarded based on the level of education attained and after verification of employment following a six month commitment period. Child care teachers or family child care providers meeting the following criteria are eligible to apply for a salary supplement.

Applicants must:

Work a minimum of 10 hours per week with children ages 0-5 in a licensed child care program.
Make a wage of less than $14.45 per hour.
Must have some formal child care credential or education beyond high school.
Must work in an eligible or particapting county.

Eligible Counties:

Funded through Butler County Smart Start: Butler
Funded through Smart Start of Dickinson County: Dickinson
Funded through Marshall County Community Resource Center Smart Start grant: Marshall, Washington
Funded through Partnership for Children Smart Start grant: Mitchell
Funded through Smart Start Reno County: Reno, Rice
Funded through Saline County Smart Start: Saline
Funded through Southwest Kansas Smart Start: Finney, Lane, Grant. Morton, Greeley, Scott, Hamilton, Seward, Haskell, Stanton, Kearny, Stevens, Wichita
Funded through West Central Kansas Smart Start: Ellis, Norton, Phillips, Rooks, Rush

Childcare WAGE$® KANSAS is funded through local Smart Start grants, which are awarded through the Kansas Children's Cabinet.

For more information, please contact:
Kris Nicholson, T.E.A.C.H. and WAGE$ Director, toll free 877-678 2548 or by email.

WAGE$ Turnover Fact Sheet

WAGE$ Compensation Fact Sheet