Thank you for sharing your time and experiences with us yesterday evening, Abilene. #AllinforKansasKids?
Bureau Director of Family Health at the Kansas Department of Health & Environment; Topeka Top 20 Under 40 - Class of 2021; former Chief of COVID Operations & Infectious Disease & Healthcare Administrator.
Last night, we held our first Child Care Systems Improvement Team (SIT) Regional Roundtable in Abilene. While the SIT has existed for many years, we wanted to challenge ourselves to be a bit vulnerable and to engage communities directly. Over the next year, our Kansas Department of Health and Environment Bureau of Family Health and child care team will be visiting each region of our state every other month to hear the good and the not so good. What is going well and what needs to change or be better. I’m a firm believer that a good government is an engaged and informed government. We strive for that. Because child care and its challenges can exist in so many unique ways across the state, we believe a regional approach benefits our understanding. Though our (KDHE) scope is licensing, regulations, health & safety, and the workforce - we want to be a conduit to other agencies it partners. For this reason, we welcome discussion about child care in Kansas broadly. Last night’s discussion was rooted in three main questions followed by discussion on whatever our attendees wanted to chat about. * What is working well related to child care in your community? * What are the biggest needs related to child care in your community? * How can the state better support child care in your community? In addition, we are excited to say that we are hoping to host all of these round tables at licensed child care facilities! In last night’s case, the Abilene Child Care Learning Center 2 was our gracious host. The months in between the alternating regional roundtables will allow our SIT to convene and discuss information from the previous month’s region. Thanks again to all of last night’s attendees for the wonderful back and forth as we work together to build an early childhood system that works for all. I’d also like to thank the KU Center for Public Partnerships & Research for supporting our work. #ChildCareinKansas #ChildCareMatters #AdAstra
