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.
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:
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.
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.
In addition, the Northwest Kansas Innovation Center Hub has grant funding to purchase any technology needed to implement either the Brightwheel or Playground online childcare management system to licensed childcare facilities in the shared services hub counties.
Facilities/Providers wishing to start their free subscription to Brightwheel or Playground should contact their Child Care Aware Consultant directly at this email address: info@ks.childcareaware.org.
Facilities/Providers wishing to access grant funding to purchase technology to implement the Brightwheel or Playground online childcare management system should complete the inquiry form found here
For more information on Online Childcare Management Technology contact Dana Stanton at danajstanton@nwkeici.org or 785-874-5150.
The Innovation Center Shared Services Hub is partnering with Child Care Aware of Kansas to bring activity kits directly to childcare providers. A variety of themed kits are available for check-out and delivery. The purpose of the kits is to enhance the activities, manipulatives and early childhood educational toys available to childcare providers.
Childcare Providers may only check-out 1 activity kit at a time. The Shared Services Hub/Childcare Program Specialist will deliver the kit and pick it up after approximately 1 month.
Childcare providers can reserve the kit of their choice through this online form
The kits are available on a first come/first served basis.
The Innovation Center is partnering with public libraries to develop local lending libraries for childcare providers. Free activity kits are available to local public libraries as well as college libraries that fall in our service area. Contact Childcare Program Specialist Dana Stanton for more information.
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.
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:
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.
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.
In addition, the Northwest Kansas Innovation Center Hub has grant funding to purchase any technology needed to implement either the Brightwheel or Playground online childcare management system to licensed childcare facilities in the shared services hub counties.
Facilities/Providers wishing to start their free subscription to Brightwheel or Playground should contact their Child Care Aware Consultant directly at this email address: info@ks.childcareaware.org.
Facilities/Providers wishing to access grant funding to purchase technology to implement the Brightwheel or Playground online childcare management system should complete the inquiry form found here
For more information on Online Childcare Management Technology contact Dana Stanton at danajstanton@nwkeici.org or 785-874-5150.
The Innovation Center Shared Services Hub is partnering with Child Care Aware of Kansas to bring activity kits directly to childcare providers. A variety of themed kits are available for check-out and delivery. The purpose of the kits is to enhance the activities, manipulatives and early childhood educational toys available to childcare providers.
Childcare Providers may only check-out 1 activity kit at a time. The Shared Services Hub/Childcare Program Specialist will deliver the kit and pick it up after approximately 1 month.
Childcare providers can reserve the kit of their choice through this online form
The kits are available on a first come/first served basis.
