The Kansas Children’s Cabinet and Trust Fund awarded $102,750 in grants for Community Action Labs to address urgent and emerging needs of Kansas families. Recently, 41 Action Lab applications were received, and 21 projects were funded. Applicants included nonprofit organizations, child care providers, school districts, city and county governments, and health care providers.
Over the past year, more than 2,000 people shared their personal stories of challenges and triumphs via the University of Kansas Center for Public Partnership and Research’s Our Tomorrows Story Bank. The stories collected were analyzed by the Kanas Sampler Foundation Rural Communities group and Family First during sensemaking sessions this spring. The story analysis revealed patterns in the lived experiences of Kansans, knowledge that helped inform the work of Kansas leaders.
Those who attended the sensemaking sessions were asked to propose Action Labs, which are community-centered, quick, and inexpensive intervention that bring about positive change. Funded Action Labs cover all areas of the state and all address one of the goals identified in the All in for Kansas Kids Strategic Plan:
- State-Level Coordination
- Community-Level Collaboration
- Family Knowledge & Choice
- Private Sector Collaboration
- Capacity & Access
- Workforce
- Quality & Environments
The following organizations received funding for their Action Lab.
North Central Action Labs
- Bright Beginnings, Quality Playscapes, $5,000
- USD 435 Parents as Teachers, Creating Solutions, $5,000
Northeast Action Labs
- ABC’S and 123’s at Pammy’s Playschool, Nature Activity Area, $5,000
- Child Care Aware of Eastern Kansas, Addressing Capacity and Access to Child Care in Osage County, $5,000
- GREAT CIRCLE, Map and Connect Family to Community Supports, $5,000
- Kansas Rural Communities Foundation/ Delia Community PRIDE Fund, Family Game Night and Much More, $5,000
- Kritter Creek Childcare LLC, Family Home Based Resources and Engagements, $5,000
- Tonganoxie Community Historical Society, Tonganoxie Traveling Stories, $5,000
South Central Action Labs
- Child Start, Inc. & USD 470 Early Literacy Initiative, Curriculum and Social-Emotional Education Supplies for Cowley County Child Care Provider Cohort, $5,000
- Little Lambs Daycare, Discovering Infant and Family Support, $2,200
- Stafford County Economic Development, Empowerment for All, $5,000
South Central and Southeast Action Labs
- DCF, Produce for Families in Need, $5,000
- Little Lambs Daycare & Lil Feet Daycare, Community Substitute, $9,950
South East Action Labs
- Coffeyville Child Care, Support to Continue Quality Care, $5,000
- Linn County Sheriff’s Office, Linn County Jail, $5,000
- Neosho County Health Department, Project UPLIFT Neosho County,Utilizing Physician & Lactation Consultant Instruction First Trimester, $5,000
- Southeast Kansas Education Service Center – Parents as Teachers, Let’s Connect, $5,000
Southwest
- Latina Lactation of Southwest Kansas, Healthy Babies, Health Moms, Healthy Businesses, $5,000
- Meade Chamber of Commerce, CommUNITY–Bridging the Gap!, $4,000
- Russell Child Development Center, Transportation Support for Health Care Access, $5,000
- Building a Bookshelf, Intergenerational Interaction thru Book Giveaways, $3,800
To learn more about the All in for Kansas Kids Strategic Planning efforts to strengthen the Kansas early childhood care and education system, visit the Kansas Children’s Cabinet and Trust Fund website at http://AllinforKansasKids.org.
