The Northwest Kansas Economic Innovation Center, Inc. (Innovation Center) is pleased to announce that Dana Jo Stanton has been named the new Childcare Program Director for the Innovation Center’s newest initiative.
According to Innovation Center Programs Director Lucas Goddard, the Childcare Program Director will work alongside childcare centers and group homes across the 26-county region served by the Innovation Center. “The primary objective of the position is to identify pinch points and support better business practices for childcare centers so that center directors can focus on the things they do best — taking care of children,” stated Goddard.
Stanton brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the position, as for the past 17 years she has served as the Grants and Outreach Coordinator for USD 489 Early Childhood Connections based in Hays, KS.
In her previous position at Early Childhood Connections, Stanton’s numerous responsibilities included coordinating early childhood grant programs, supervising the Parents as Teachers program, and coordinating the Connections volunteer and work study programs, among other impressive duties.
Stanton recognizes the desperate need for quality childcare faced by so many Northwest Kansas families and looks forward to getting started in her new position. “I am excited to use my skills in early childhood, grant writing and communication to improve childcare in Northwest Kansas. Across the country, access to quality and affordable childcare is at crisis level proportions. Qualified providers are leaving the field in droves due to financial concerns and burn-out. The current childcare provider exodus leaves parents scrambling and desperate to find suitable care for their children,” Stanton explained.
The Innovation Center is in the process of fully developing this new initiative and will provide more program details as they become available. Stanton’s position with the Innovation Center will begin in July.
“Many major employers list childcare as the number one need for their employees. Northwest Kansas is no exception to this nationwide trend. It is my goal to work directly with our providers to identify and address common barriers to quality childcare. It is my goal to build upon the impressive programs already implemented by the Innovation Center to build effective systems of support for childcare providers,” said Stanton.
Stanton is married to Northwest Kansas native Andy Stanton. They have made their home in Hays since 2005. They are the proud parents of Jackson, Gracie Jo and Gabriel.
To learn more about this initiative or with any questions, please contact the Innovation Center by email at office@nwkeici.org or by phone at 785-874-5150.