Increase capacity and equitable access to early childhood care and education programs and services through policy and administrative directives.
5.2.1 Use the Early Childhood Recommendations Panel and other early childhood governance groups to identify and address laws, policies, funding requirements, practices, ordinances, and regulations that hinder access, availability, and community flexibility.
5.2.2 Analyze eligibility requirements, including work and family income levels, of statefunded early childhood care and education services in coordination with Head Start and Early Head Start to maximize resources and ensure equitable access for families.
5.2.3 Identify state matching funds to draw down all federal funds for child care.
5.2.4 Use early childhood care and education state agency-issued requests for proposals to promote equitable access to services.
5.2.5 Ensure adequate, equitable services for children with, or at risk of, developmental delays.
5.2.6 Develop recommendations to expand promising and evidence-based home visiting models, and support a statewide home visiting infrastructure with a variety of sustainable home visiting service options that meet the needs of families and communities.
DCF held several community feedback sessions for the Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF) plan earlier this year, as well as a presentation to the Early Childhood Recommendations Panel. The state plan for 2022-2024 is available for public review.
Funding opportunities shared through the KS CommonApp have emphasized equity and access in an effort to reduce barriers to financial support across the early childhood system. In some cases, applications that were not funded have been reviewed to better understand gap areas and help applicants make connections to other resources. Technical assistance has been provided for several CommonApp funding opportunities, including PDG Quality Subgrants and the Early Childhood Block Grant (ECBG). Technical assistance continues to be available for funded PDG Quality Subgrants throughout the grant period.
PDG funding is supporting the statewide ASQ enterprise to provide access to free screenings for families throughout the state and increase coordination among early childhood professionals who administer the screening tool.
