Shared Services Hub

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Childcare Program Shared Services Hub

The Innovation Center has partnered with Child Care Aware to coordinate a shared services hub for childcare providers in Northwest and North Central Kansas. By participating in a Shared Service Network, childcare providers benefit from services that cost less — and that are often more efficient — than what the programs could do on their own.

The Innovation Center Childcare Shared Services Hub provides services to the following counties: Cheyenne, Clay, Cloud, Decatur, Dickinson, Ellis, Ellsworth, Graham, Gove, Jewell, Lincoln, Logan, Mitchell, Norton, Osborne, Ottawa, Phillips, Rawlins, Republic, Rooks, Russell, Saline, Sheridan, Sherman, Smith, Thomas, Trego, Wallace, and Washington.

Services provided through the Hub are in addition to the services already provided through the Innovation Center.

There are no costs associated with services provided through the Hub.

The Shared Services Hub is funded by a grant from the Kansas Department for Children and Families.

Childcare Substitute Recruitment

The lack of qualified childcare substitutes provide a barrier to care for facilities.   A lack of substitutes can force the closure of a classroom or even facility.  The lack of a reliable substitute make it difficult for home providers to take off time for personal appointments and events.

One barrier to developing a pool of qualified childcare substitutes is the cost associated with becoming a sub.  A childcare substitute must meet the same credentialling criteria as regular childcare providers.  The requirements are costly and can deter potential subs.

In order to reduce the financial drain on potential subs to become certified, grant funding is available to provide scholarships to pay for costs associated with becoming a sub. The following costs are covered by the scholarship:

  • TB Skin Test (not to exceed $60)
  • Health Assessment (not to exceed $165)
  • KCCTO Training: Foundations for Safe and Healthy Early Care Facilities Module (includes 10 modules comprising 18 hours), (not to exceed $75)
  • Pediatric First Aid (not to exceed $50)
  • Pediatric CPR (not to exceed $50)
  • Fingerprints (not to exceed $25)
  • State Licensing & Background Check (not to exceed $85)


In addition, the potential sub will receive a stipend of $240 when they receive their substitute license. Potential substitutes should note that there are time completion limits with some of the requirements.

With the exception of the $240 completion stipend, all expenses will be paid directly to the service provider and not the prospective substitute.

New substitutes have the option of joining a sub list to be shared with community providers.

To learn more about accessing a scholarship to fund expenses associated with becoming a childcare provider substitute complete this inquiry form or contact Dana Stanton at danajstanton@nwkeici.org or 785-874-5150.

Online Childcare Management Technology

Childcare management software can help providers communicate with families and staff, handle scheduling and calendars, manage billing, reporting, and enrollment, and much more. The software also helps providers determine where additional support is needed, such as janitorial, maintenance, or administrative services.

Child Care Aware of Kansas is offering registration to either Brightwheel or Playground to KDHE licensed providers at no cost for 14 months.  Provider support is included in registration.

Lending Library Info

The Innovation Center Shared Services Hub is partnering with local public libraries to make activity kits available to childcare providers. A variety of themed kits are available for check-out. The purpose of the kits is to enhance the activities, manipulatives and early childhood educational toys available to childcare providers.

Participating libraries include:

Cheyenne County:
Saint Francis Public Library
 
Clay County:
Clay Center Carnegies Library
 
Cloud County:
Cloud County Community College Library
Clifton Public Library
Frank Carlson Library
Randolph-Decker Public Library
Glasco City Library
 
Decatur County: 
Oberlin City Library
Jennings City Library
 
Dickinson County:
Enterprise Public Library
Solomon Public Library
Herrington Public Library
Chapman Public Library
 
Ellis County:
Hays Public Library
 
Ellsworth County:
J.H. Robbins Memorial Library
 
Gove County:
Jay Johnson Public Library
Grainfield City Library
Gove City Library
 
Graham County:
Selden Public Library
Graham County Public Library
Jewell County:
Randall Public Library
Burr Oak Community Library
Jewell Public Library
Formoso Public Library
 
Lincoln County:
Sylvan Public Library
 
Logan County:
Oakley Public Library
 
Mitchell County:
Glen Elder Public Library
Cawker City Public Library
 
Norton County:
Lenora Public Library
 
Osborne County:
Osborne Public Library
Downs Carnegie Library
 
Ottawa County:
Delphos Library
Minneapolis Public Library
 
Phillips County:
Kirwin Public Library
Phillipsburg City Library
Long Island Community Library
Sunshine City Library
Logan Public Library
 
Rawlins County:
Atwood Public Library
 
Republic County:
Belleville Public Library
Hillcrest Library
Scandia City Library
Rae Hobson Memorial Library
Courtland Community Library
 
Rooks County:
Palco Library
Stockton Public Library
 
Russell County:
Russell Public Library
Lucas Public Library
 
Saline County:
Salina Public Library
 
Sheridan County:
Sheridan County Library
 
Sherman County:
Goodland Public Library
 
Smith County:
Smith Center Public Library
Lebanon Community Library
 
Thomas County:
Pioneer Memorial Library
 
Wallace County:
Sharon Springs Public Library
 
Washington County:
Hanover Public Library

Childcare Program Shared Services Hub

The Innovation Center has partnered with Child Care Aware to coordinate a shared services hub for childcare providers in Northwest and North Central Kansas. By participating in a Shared Service Network, childcare providers benefit from services that cost less — and that are often more efficient — than what the programs could do on their own.

The Innovation Center Childcare Shared Services Hub provides services to the following counties: Cheyenne, Clay, Cloud, Decatur, Dickinson, Ellis, Ellsworth, Graham, Gove, Jewell, Lincoln, Logan, Mitchell, Norton, Osborne, Ottawa, Phillips, Rawlins, Republic, Rooks, Russell, Saline, Sheridan, Sherman, Smith, Thomas, Trego, Wallace, and Washington.

Services provided through the Hub are in addition to the services already provided through the Innovation Center.

There are no costs associated with services provided through the Hub.

The Shared Services Hub is funded by a grant from the Kansas Department for Children and Families.

Childcare Substitute Recruitment

The lack of qualified childcare substitutes provide a barrier to care for facilities.   A lack of substitutes can force the closure of a classroom or even facility.  The lack of a reliable substitute make it difficult for home providers to take off time for personal appointments and events.

One barrier to developing a pool of qualified childcare substitutes is the cost associated with becoming a sub.  A childcare substitute must meet the same credentialling criteria as regular childcare providers.  The requirements are costly and can deter potential subs.

In order to reduce the financial drain on potential subs to become certified, grant funding is available to provide scholarships to pay for costs associated with becoming a sub. The following costs are covered by the scholarship:

  • TB Skin Test (not to exceed $60)
  • Health Assessment (not to exceed $165)
  • KCCTO Training: Foundations for Safe and Healthy Early Care Facilities Module (includes 10 modules comprising 18 hours), (not to exceed $75)
  • Pediatric First Aid (not to exceed $50)
  • Pediatric CPR (not to exceed $50)
  • Fingerprints (not to exceed $25)
  • State Licensing & Background Check (not to exceed $85)


In addition, the potential sub will receive a stipend of $240 when they receive their substitute license. Potential substitutes should note that there are time completion limits with some of the requirements.

With the exception of the $240 completion stipend, all expenses will be paid directly to the service provider and not the prospective substitute.

New substitutes have the option of joining a sub list to be shared with community providers.

To learn more about accessing a scholarship to fund expenses associated with becoming a childcare provider substitute complete this inquiry form or contact Dana Stanton at danajstanton@nwkeici.org or 785-874-5150.

Online Childcare Management Technology

Childcare management software can help providers communicate with families and staff, handle scheduling and calendars, manage billing, reporting, and enrollment, and much more. The software also helps providers determine where additional support is needed, such as janitorial, maintenance, or administrative services.

Child Care Aware of Kansas is offering registration to either Brightwheel or Playground to KDHE licensed providers at no cost for 14 months.  Provider support is included in registration.

Lending Library Info

The Innovation Center Shared Services Hub is partnering with local public libraries to make activity kits available to childcare providers. A variety of themed kits are available for check-out. The purpose of the kits is to enhance the activities, manipulatives and early childhood educational toys available to childcare providers.

Participating libraries include:

Cheyenne County:
Saint Francis Public Library
 
Clay County:
Clay Center Carnegies Library
 
Cloud County:
Cloud County Community College Library
Clifton Public Library
Frank Carlson Library
Randolph-Decker Public Library
Glasco City Library
 
Decatur County: 
Oberlin City Library
Jennings City Library
 
Dickinson County:
Enterprise Public Library
Solomon Public Library
Herrington Public Library
Chapman Public Library
 
Ellis County:
Hays Public Library
 
Ellsworth County:
J.H. Robbins Memorial Library
 
Gove County:
Jay Johnson Public Library
Grainfield City Library
Gove City Library
 
Graham County:
Selden Public Library
Graham County Public Library
 
Jewell County:
Randall Public Library
Burr Oak Community Library
Jewell Public Library
Formoso Public Library
 
Lincoln County:
Sylvan Public Library
 
Logan County:
Oakley Public Library
 
Mitchell County:
Glen Elder Public Library
Cawker City Public Library
 
Norton County:
Lenora Public Library
 
Osborne County:
Osborne Public Library
Downs Carnegie Library
 
Ottawa County:
Delphos Library
Minneapolis Public Library
 
Phillips County:
Kirwin Public Library
Phillipsburg City Library
Long Island Community Library
Sunshine City Library
Logan Public Library
 
Rawlins County:
Atwood Public Library
 
Republic County:
Belleville Public Library
Hillcrest Library
Scandia City Library
Rae Hobson Memorial Library
Courtland Community Library
 
Rooks County:
Palco Library
Stockton Public Library
 
Russell County:
Russell Public Library
Lucas Public Library
 
Saline County:
Salina Public Library
 
Sheridan County:
Sheridan County Library
 
Sherman County:
Goodland Public Library
 
Smith County:
Smith Center Public Library
Lebanon Community Library
 
Thomas County:
Pioneer Memorial Library
 
Wallace County:
Sharon Springs Public Library
 
Washington County:
Hanover Public Library

Under Construction:

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The Kansas Housing Cooperative Program is on its way to helping families build new homes in Northwest Kansas. Stay tuned as we finalize the details of this exciting initiative. Check back soon for more information!

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