Concordia Education Fund Receives Grants from Child Care Aware of Kansas

Cloud County faces a growing shortage of childcare for ages birth through five, and this trend affects not only children, but also parents, families, and employers.  USD 333 Concordia also recognizes that a lack of quality early childcare means that many children entering kindergarten are less prepared to learn.

The Concordia Education Fund recently received two grant awards from Child Care Aware of Kansas to help the community recognize its early childcare needs and collectively build solutions to serve all families in the area.  One grant will help to lead the efforts of a Cloud County Kids Coalition, while the second grant provides funding for countywide resources for early childcare, preschool curriculum and family resources, education and training of providers, and support of the USD 333 Panther Cubs Daycare Home.

Cloud County Kids Coalition 
The Cloud County Kids Coalition will work with business and industry leaders to define the needs of early child care in Cloud County.  In addition to conversations and focus groups, a survey of early childcare needs will be released to employers and community members by the Cloud County Kids Coalition on September 1st.  The survey can be accessed by phone or computer as a weblink and QR code and will be posted on flyers, social media sites, and agency websites through September 30, 2023.

With early childcare information about Cloud County, coalition members will then help to guide individual child care providers, non-profit agencies, and business leaders to work together to increase early childcare support in the county.  Action steps could include partnering with other agencies/businesses to provide childcare, or recruiting students to enter the early childhood workforce.

Cloud County Community College recently re-established a 16-credit hour certification program, and Associate of Arts in Early Childhood Education.

Early Childcare providers (including area preschools) will benefit from these grants in several ways.  USD 333, on behalf of the Cloud County Kids Coalition, will host an Early Childcare Appreciation day this fall.  Providers can attend a free workshop to obtain mandatory training for early childcare licensure.  Providers also have an opportunity to receive free resources for children in their care if they attend the workshop.

During the spring, another free workshop will be available to early childcare providers, with additional free materials for children and families.  The Child Care Aware of Kansas grant granted $20,000 for the cost of these fine motor and gross motor skills kits to give away at the workshops.  USD 333 Concordia preschool teachers are making the kits that will include learning guides, tips to engage families, and academic connections.

Panther Cubs Daycare Home
USD 333 Concordia started the Panther Cubs Daycare Home in 2021 to provide certified childcare for children ages birth through five.  Panther Cubs will receive a portion of the Child Care Aware grant funds to add a fenced play area around the front yard, and other support to maintain certified status of USD 333’s facility.

Please contact Kim Muff at kim.muff@usd333.com to learn more about the Cloud County Kids Coalition and how you or your organization can become involved.  

For more information about the critical need for quality childcare in Cloud County, click here.