Nationally, many providers and advocates feel childcare has not received the level of investment and infrastructure-building necessary to make it a public good (in comparison to how K-12 education is viewed as a public good). Kansas is no different. In the absence of a coordinated, comprehensive public approach to childcare systems, communities are left to develop public-private partnerships to address issues of equitable access and quality for families, adequate training, preparation, and compensation for childcare providers.
The partnership developed between Child Care Aware® of Kansas and the Salina Area Chamber of Commerce sought to engage a broad spectrum of community stakeholders in identifying community childcare needs and local solutions. The plan included a three-part approach to increase wages for local childcare providers, promote retention by providing longevity bonuses, and provide technical support to increase overall quality.
Implementation of this plan has been impacted by COVID-19, however, as the efforts of …