By CRISTINA JANNEY
Hays Post
Ellis County is seeing significant improvement in the number of child care spots available with more spots soon to open.
When the Child Care Task Force of Ellis County launched in 2021, Ellis County needed more than 700 spots to reach full capacity.
However, the latest report has that at 523 spots.
Although the latest census reports accounted for reductions in the needed spots across the region, the community has seen an additional preschool and five child care homes open since the task force was founded.
In addition, HaysMed plans to open a child care facility as soon as this fall that will add 77 spots, the Hays Area Children's Center hopes to add six preschool slots, and Learning Cross preschool is exploring starting an infant and toddler program that would add 37 spots in Hays.
Holy Family Elementary will open a preschool in the fall, which will offer up to 44 half-day 4-year-old spots and 12 full-day 3-year-old spots. A waitlist for that program will open on March 1.
Hays Mayor Mason Ruder told the task force Tuesday Ellis County's task force is seen as a model across the state.
He reported to the task force on Gov. Laura Kelly's efforts to make child care a priority in the state. Kelly signed an executive order on Jan. 10 to establish the Early Childhood Transition Task Force.
State officials have discussed making child-care providers eligible for KPERS and state health plans.
Jennifer Hecker, executive director of Options Domestic and Sexual Violence Services and task force member, said state benefits for child care workers would be a game changer.
"Single people can't take on that job," she said. "They can't not have benefits. That takes out a whole huge audience of people who could be going into that field as a profession."
The average wage for child care workers is $10 per hour with no benefits, Ruder said.
State officials also have discussed using tax revenue from medical marijuana for child care initiatives.
The state also has grant funds available for new construction of child care facilities.
The Kansas Legislature may consider increasing adult-to-child ratios to allow providers to care for more children. However, officials have concerns this could cause problems, including burnout among providers, Ruder said.
The Ellis County task force will be applying for $47,000 in grant funds from ChildCare Aware of Kansas. These funds would be used for two projects.
The grant would fund a salaried preschool teacher at Hays Area Children's Center. This would allow the center to add six more spots to its preschool program.
The grant also would help fund Learning Cross Child Care, which plans to open an infant and toddler program with a capacity of 37 slots.
Infant care is in the highest demand. Many centers do not provide infant care because one adult can only care for a few infants at a time.
Food program
Task force members have discussed creating a community food program for child care providers.
"A community kitchen could offer quality meals at good prices for nonprofits," said Brett Schmidt, Learning Cross Child Care owner and task force member.
A subcommittee has been formed to explore this project further.
The Hays Chamber, which has facilitated the task force, is discussing activating a 501(c)3. That nonprofit could apply for specific child-care grants. The chamber will have its first meeting to discuss that application on Feb. 15, said Sarah Wasinger, chamber executive director.
Upcoming events
A Child Care Tax Credits Lunch and Learn for employers will be from noon to 1 p.m. Feb. 28 at the Smoky Hill Country Club. Cost is $14. A meal is included.
A child care provider appreciation event is tentatively planned for May.
A child care professional development conference will be July 31 and Aug. 1 in Hays. The conference participant cap was set at 140 people and more than 160 people already have registered. Dana Stanton, Northwest Kansas Economic Innovation Center Child Care Program director and task force member, said she hopes the conference can be offered on Zoom to allow more people to participate.
The next child care task force meeting will be at 4 p.m. Feb. 28 at the Hays Welcome Center.
Cover photo courtesy Pixabay