2020 CHILD CARE

SUPPLY DEMAND
REPORT
CHALLENGES OF CHILD CARE IN A PANDEMIC
INTRODUC INTRODUCTION
A novel coronavirus (COVID-19) emerged in late 2019 and took hold of communities throughout
the United States in March 2020. By early April, 42 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto
Rico issued stay at home orders, effectively restricting all movement outside the home deemed
nonessential. The drastic measures aimed to limit contact between people in order to flatten the
curve of disease transmissions and reduce the strain on health care systems.

On March 28, Kansas Governor Laura Kelly issued Executive Order No. 20-16, detailing statewide
“stay home” orders, effective until May 3. On April 30, the Governor released a multi-phased plan to
cautiously and methodically reopen the economy in the coming months. By June 2020, much of
Kansas was on the eve of Phase 3, just days away from the possible return of nonessential travel,
but with continued recommendations for gatherings to be no more than 45 people.

Child care in Kansas, and around the nation, has been overwhelmingly affected by the COVID-19
virus. Many states decided to close child care along with other businesses and activities. However,
Kansas was among many states determined to keep its child care programs open - declaring they
offer an essential service for working parents, a crucial economic support to communities, and a
stabilizing and familiar setting for children while parents are away at work.

Child care programs still had a choice to make – to stay open or to close. As scientists scrambled
to learn more about the COVID-19 virus and its transmission, public health information was
changing rapidly, and guidance from the United States Center for Disease Control and Prevention
(CDC) was cautiously being released. The uncertainty about health risks, coupled with inadequate
access to cleaning supplies, personal protective equipment (PPE) and food supplies, resulted in an
unwelcomed dilemma for Kansas child care programs.

“Child care programs wanted to do the right thing;

they just were not clear what the right thing was.”
Jenny Brandt, Director of Early Care and Education, The Family Conservancy

While child care programs scrambled, Kansas working families had

to adapt to a rapidly changing economy as the resulting new normal.
Many lost their jobs completely, while others transitioned to working
from home. Those deemed essential workers continued to go to work,
but certainly not “as usual.” Changes in employment meant changes in
child care needs – and patchwork strategies to meet those needs.

2 | Child Care Supply Demand Report

CTIONIn recent years, prior to the pandemic, Kansas was experiencing
a child care crisis. 70% of children ages 0-6 needed child care
because their parents worked. The chart below shows a 3% decline
in child care programs from 2019 to 2020 resulting in a loss of over
1,000 child care slots. The challenge for families trying to find child
care continues.
Child Care Aware of Kansas; 2019 Child Care Supply Demand Report: Exploring the Infant-Toddler Gap

Types of Licensed Child Care

Licensed Day Care Home
2419 Licensed Child Care Facilities (hereinafter known as
Family Child Care Homes) A child care
2259
facility in which care is provided for a
maximum of 10 children under 16 years
of age. (Children under 11 years of age
who are related to the provider must be
1278 1288
included in the total.)
Group Day Care Home
627 632 (hereinafter known as Group Child
Care Homes) A child care facility in
172 163 which care is provided for a maximum
63 63 of 12 children under 16 years of age.
(Children under 11 years of age who
Family Child Care Group Family Child Care Centers Preschools Head Starts are related to the provider must be
Homes Child Care Homes included in the total.)
2019 2020 Child Care Centers
Child Care Aware of Kansas; WorkLife Systems, June 2020 A child care facility in which care and
educational activities are provided
for 13 or more children, 2-weeks to
KANSAS FAMILIES: KANSAS CHILD CARE PROVIDERS: 16 years of age, for more than three
PRE-PANDEMIC PRE-PANDEMIC hours and less than 24 hours per
(Prior to March 2020) (Prior to March 2020) day including day time, evening, and
$20,650 nighttime care, or which provides
7 of 10 before-and-after school care for
Children Ages 0-6 Needed Average Annual Income6
school-age children.
Child Care3
87% Preschools
18 Counties A child care facility that provides
Had No Access To Child Care For Of Family Child Care Providers
Work Over 50 Hours Per Week4 learning experiences for children
Children Ages 0-31 who have not attained the age of
10,104 45% eligibility to enter kindergarten and that
Average Monthly Enrollment of Of Family Child Care Providers conducts sessions not exceeding three
Children in the Kansas Child Care Are Over the Age of 504 hours per session; that does not enroll
Assistant Program7 8.5% any child more than one session per
11% Of Group Child Care Homes day; and that does not serve a meal.
of children experiencing Offer Care During Evening Hours1 Kansas Head Start and Early Head
homelessness were served by Head Start Programs
Start/Early Head Start or McKinney- Facility that provides comprehensive
Vento-funded ECE programs2 2.9%
Child Care Centers Offer Care During early childhood education, health,
17% Evening Hours1 nutrition, and parent involvement
of Median Family Income Spent services to low-income families and
On Infant Care5,6 their children
1
2019 Child Care Supply Demand Report, Exploring the Infant Toddler Gap. Child Care Aware of Kansas. 2Early Childhood For complete licensing definitions visit: Kansas
Homelessness in the United States: 50-State Profile (hhs.gov) 3Bureau. Washington D.C.: U.S. Census Bureau, 2013-2018
4
DP03 Who Cares for Kansas Children: 2018 Kansas Child Care Workforce Study. Aug. 2018. 2019 5U.S. Census Bureau Department of Health and Environment;
QuickFacts: Kansas. Www.Census.Gov, 24 June 2020, www.census.gov/quickfacts/KS. 6State Child Care Facts in the State Licensing and Regulation for Child Care Facilities
of: Kansas. Child Care Aware of Kansas, Child Care Aware of America, ks.childcareaware.org/wp-content/uploads/2019- http://www.kdheks.gov/bcclr/lic_and_req.html
State-of-Kansas-Child-Care-Fact-Sheet.pdf. Accessed 24 June 2020. 7 http://www.dcf.ks.gov/services/ees/Documents/
CURRENT_PAR_SFY2020_Access.pdf
Child Care Aware of Kansas | 3
SUPPLY COVID-19 IMPACT ON
CHILD CARE SUPPLY
To Close or Not to Close: An Unwelcomed Dilemma
Even though Governor Laura Kelly’s Executive Order included child care professionals on the Kansas
list of essential workers, child care business owners still faced hard questions about whether to stay
open or to close.
Common Child Care Provider questions about whether to close or stay open
as COVID-19 emerged included:
• Was it safe for employees working with children?
• Was it safe for children and families?
• Would families still need and want to use child care?
• How would they access needed cleaning supplies, personal protective equipment (PPE) and food,
especially when stores instituted purchasing limits and decreased hours of operation?
• How would they be able to pay utilities and other expenses with increased supply costs and reduced
enrollment?

51% 17%
Of child care providers surveyed nationally said their child Of Kansas child care providers
care business would not survive a month-long closure temporarily closed by April 6
without significant public investment and support.
A State-by-State Look at Child Care in Crisis Understanding Early Effects of the Coronavirus Pandemic.” 27 Mar. 2020. https://www.naeyc.org/sites/
default/files/globally-shared/downloads/PDFs/our-work/public-policy-advocacy/state_by_state_child_care_crisis_coronavirus_surveydata.pdf

The financial concerns for many have been one of the driving factors for child care business
decision-making. A national survey from the National Association for the Education of Young
Children (NAEYC) conducted March 12-16 revealed nearly half of child care programs anticipated
they could not survive beyond a couple weeks without enrollment income.
Rapid Response Outreach to Child Care Providers
By mid-March, State agencies, early care and education system partners, and community leaders
knew immediate action was needed to systematically stabilize and support child care programs.
COVID-19 was not going away – but, without intervention, it was clear
child care programs could vanish permanently.

As a first step, Child Care Aware of Kansas deployed a survey to child

care providers in all 105 counties. Survey responses were collected
from March 26–April 6. The survey was designed to explain the
immediate needs of child care programs that had remained open
and to understand how to help programs reopen that had temporarily
closed. Over 4,000 Licensed Child Care Programs with an email
address available were surveyed. In total, 1,733 licensed child care
programs, representing 103 counties, completed the survey, for a
response rate of 43%.

4 | Child Care Supply Demand Report

Y LICENSED
CHILD
CARE
PROGRAM
COVID-19
SURVEY
Completed Survey
43%
Of Child Care Programs
1,733 of 4,082 Licensed child care programs responded

98%
of all Kansas Counties
Represented With At Least
One Child Care Program
Response
103 of 105 Kansas counties represented

(MARCH 2020) 83% Top Reasons Programs

of Child Care Programs Closed
Responded They Are Open • Follow School District
1,438 of 1,733 Licensed child care programs indicated that Schedule
they are open; 295 indicated that they are closed.
• Building Closed
• Low Child Enrollment
• High COVID-19 Risk
Most Needed Items of • Lack of Cleaning and
Sanitation Supplies
Opened Child Care Programs

Cleaning Supplies 991

Hand Sanitizer 902

Top Training Needs
Toiletries 665 Identified by Providers
• First Aid & CPR
Food 629 • COVID-19
• Emergency Preparedness
Protective Gloves 549
• Disinfecting/Sanitizing
Other (please specify below) 275 • Health & Safety

0 200 400 600 800 1000 1200

Activities for
Multi-age Groups
Top Needs of Programs to Remain Open • School Age Training
• Cleaning Supplies • Family Engagement/
• Food Communication
• Personal Protective Supplies • Social/Emotional
• Supplies for Activities with Children • Special Needs
• Financial Assistance

Immediate Pay off for Intervention

By March 27, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act was signed into
law after having overwhelming, bipartisan support in Congress. The Federal CARES Act Child
Development Block Grant (CCDBG) funds supplied Kansas $30,771,514. The swift action of Kansas
Governor Laura Kelly, along with the Kansas Department for Children and Families and the Kansas
Department of Health and Environment, had a significant and immediate stabilizing impact on child
care providers. Child Care Aware of Kansas | 5
SUPPLY
FAMILY CHILD CARE HOMES
DECREASE IN SUPPLY
When looking back over the last three years, the number of Family Child Care Homes have
decreased (a decrease that was occurring prior to the pandemic in 2020).

Child Care Programs from 2017-2020

3000 2915
2739
2419
2500 2259

2000

1500 1283 1309 1278 1288

1000
596 615 627 632

500

0
2017 2018 2019 2020

Child Care Centers Family Child Care Homes Group Child Care Homes
Child Care Aware of Kansas; WorkLife Systems, June 2020

Decline in Family Child Care Homes

Between 2017 and 2019, nearly 500 of the states’ family child care programs closed. The trend
of decreasing family child care home availability has created unintentional competition among
families for slots, or increased use of patchwork child care solutions.
Child Care Aware of Kansas; WorkLife Systems, June 2020

Total Slots Decreased # Slots Lost

Type of Care
Since 2017
5,044 Child Care Slots Lost Family Child
Since 2017 6,359
Care Homes
Family Child
6% Overall Loss Care Group 295
Includes Licensed Family and Group Day Care Homes,
and Child Care Centers.
Homes
Child Care
1,610
Centers
Child Care Aware of Kansas; WorkLife Systems, June 2020
6 | Child Care Supply Demand Report
Y 62%
of Kansas Counties have only Family and
Group Child Care Options available
Child Care Aware of Kansas; WorkLife Systems, June 2020

Reasons for Family Child Care Closures

• Providers changed to non-early childhood career
• Providers retired
• Providers changed to a different early childhood career
• Provider relocated and reopened their business
Source Child Care Aware of Kansas Worklife Systems, August 2020

Challenges for Families: In Rural Areas

The gap between child care supply and demand is hard on Kansas families. Data tells us
families living in rural areas have less child care options than families in urban areas.

38
Kansas Counties have 10 or fewer Family Child Care Homes available
Child Care Aware of Kansas; WorkLife Systems, June 2020

Benefits of Family Child Care

Families with children of various ages can expect care from a primary caregiver, often times
for multiple years. Family child care programs offer a number of desirable benefits.

Benefits of Family Child Care

• Availability in rural areas
• Flexible days and hours of operation
• Flexible payment policies
• Care available in a family-like home setting – often preferable for
families with infants and toddlers and children with special needs
Addressing the Decreasing Number of Family Child Care Providers in the United States. Mar. 2020. https://childcareta.
acf.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/public/addressing_decreasing_fcc_providers_revised_march2020_final.pdf

Child Care Aware of Kansas | 7

IMPACT
IMPACT ON CHILD CARE DEMAND
ESSENTIAL WORKERS AND
NON-TRADITIONAL NEEDS
Challenges for Essential Workers - Nontraditional Hours
At the onset of the pandemic, Kansas Governor Laura Kelly
instituted restrictions that would limit social interaction
Kansas Essential Workers
Health Care Workers
First Responders
to reduce the spread of COVID-19. At the same time, she Law Enforcement
defined Kansas’ essential functions as “Performing an Fire and Rescue
essential activity” that includes leaving one’s home to perform Public Safety Workers
an essential function identified in the Kansas Food and Agricultural Workers
“I work 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.
and am lucky to have Essential Functions Framework (“KEFF’). KEFF Child Care Providers
a good network to pull is a framework for identifying and continuing Military Personnel
it all together, but each Government Workers
day is new day.. Heaven essential functions that must remain operational
forbid someone gets Educational Workers
and focuses on four functional areas: 1) Connect;
sick” Source: www.ksherorelief.com
- Community 2) Distribute; 3) Manage; and 4) Supply, under
engagement participant Executive Order 20-16 they “must—to the extent
KS Early Childhood 2020
possible without significant disruption to essential Non-Traditional Hours Defined
Source: https://covid.ks.gov/
wp-content/uploads/2020/09/
functions—follow appropriate safety protocols, Before 6 am and after 6:30 pm
SPARK-9.9-FINAL-PRES-pdf.pdf including maintaining a six-foot distance between Weekends and Holidays
individuals and following other directives
regarding social distancing, hygiene, and other efforts to slow Flexible Schedules Defined
the spread of COVID-19.”1 The Governor sent a strong message Accommodates parents’
rotating work schedules
that not only was it important to reduce child care stress for
these families, but it was also important to direct resources to
the child care programs caring for their children.

For many, meeting those essential

Child Care Programs Offering
functions meant putting others
before themselves to provide critical Non-Traditional Hours from 2017-2020
services for their community and 422
they often work around the clock to 369
do it. This translates into a heightened 328
need for child care programs that 287
offer nontraditional hours and flexible
scheduling options. Child care
programs offering a safe, healthy, and
nurturing environment are valuable
when it comes to meeting the needs
of parents working on the front lines of
responding to the pandemic.
2017 2018 2019 2020
1 Child Care Aware of Kansas; WorkLife Systems, June 2020
https://www.ksal.com/wp-content/up-
loads/2020/04/essential-business.pdf
8 | Child Care Supply Demand Report
T
Challenges for Families Returning to Work – Will Child Care be
Available?
As Kansans begin to slowly return to work, it is clearer than ever
before: Child care for working families is essential! By June 2020,
families began to search for child care after keeping children
home with family and friends the last three months. Data trends
from March through May 2019 compared to March to May 2020
show the decreased trend in referrals.

Child Care Referral Trends

March through May 2019 compared to March through May 2020
Quality of Child Care
Online Referrals
Links to Quality is a child care quality
recognition and improvement system
1032 (QRIS) created with the support of
954 early childhood organizations across
the state and led by the Kansas
800 Department for Children and Families
(DCF). A QRIS defines quality and
679
provides a framework for helping
532 programs meet that standard.
417 Indicators within Links to Quality
include a variety of quality
benchmarks to outline the elements
of quality child care using national
and statewide standards, feedback
from providers, and the All In For
Kansas Kids needs assessment data.
March Referrals April Referrals May Referrals
This framework helps improve the
2019 2020 quality of early childhood programs,
Child Care Aware of Kansas; WorkLife Systems, June 2020 which leads to improved child
outcomes through the creation of
strong early learning environments.
Phone Referrals Kansas has chosen to recognize,
rather than rate quality. This allows
376 370 Links to Quality to value Kansas
providers and their work, encourage
and motivate their progress, honor
297
272
their accomplishments while
communicating success to their
238 families and communities.

Following the 2-year pilot test of the

141 program, which ended April 2020,
Links to Quality has transitioned into
planning for the years ahead. This
process will take lessons learned
during the Pilot and translate them
into a Links to Quality system that will
achieve our vision of a Kansas where
March Referrals April Referrals May Referrals all children have access to high-quality
early care and education.
2019 2020
Child Care Aware of Kansas; WorkLife Systems, June 2020

Child Care Aware of Kansas | 9

CHALLENGE
CHALLENGES FOR FAMILIES:
CHILD CARE CAPACITY
Finding child care options in Kansas is especially difficult for families with infants and toddlers. In 79%
of Kansas counties there are at least 10 children under three years old that are competing for every 1
child care space available.

WASHINGTON
REPUBLIC DONIPHAN
CHEYENNE RAWLINS BROWN
DECATUR NORTON
PHILLIPS SMITH JEWELL MARSHALL NEMAHA
ATCHISON

CLOUD POTTAWATOMIE
LEAVENWORTH
SHERMAN MITCHELL JACKSON
THOMAS CLAY
SHERIDAN GRAHAM ROOKS OSBORNE RILEY SHAWNEE
JEFFERSON
WYANDOTTE
OTTAWA
LINCOLN
GEARY WABAUNSEE JOHNSON
WALLACE LOGAN GOVE DICKINSON
TREGO ELLIS DOUGLAS
RUSSELL ELLSWORTH
SALINE
MORRIS
OSAGE FRANKLIN MIAMI
GREELEY RUSH
WICHITA SCOTT LANE NESS BARTON
MCPHERSON
RICE MARION LYON
PAWNEE CHASE COFFEY ANDERSON LINN
HARVEY
HODGEMAN
HAMILTON KEARNY FINNEY STAFFORD
RENO
EDWARDS WOODSON ALLEN BOURBON
GREENWOOD
STANTON GRANT GRAY FORD SEDGWICK
HASKELL PRATT BUTLER
KIOWA KINGMAN WILSON NEOSHO CRAWFORD
ELK

MORTON STEVENS SEWARD

MEADE CLARK COMANCHE BARBER HARPER SUMNER MONTGOMERY LABETTE CHEROKEE
COWLEY CHAUTAUQUA

Number of Children Under Three Years of Age Per ONE Child Care Opening

No Openings for 40 or more children 31-40 children per 21-30 children per 11-20 children per Up To 10 children per
infants and per one child care one child care one child care one child care one child care
toddlers opening opening opening opening opening

38%
of Kansas Counties
1 Slot for Every 10 Infants/Toddlers

15%
of Kansas Counties
There are no infant/toddler slots
2020 Child Care Supply Demand Report, Challenges of Child Care in a Pandemic Child Care Aware of Kansas.

10 | Child Care Supply Demand Report

CHILD CARE
SUPPLY DEMAND BY COUNTY
Number of
Number of Children a
Licensed Number of
Children <6 Facility is Extent Desired
Family and Child Care Children <6
County Receiving Willing to Capacity Meets
Group Day Centers Potentially
DCF Child Accept Potential Demand
Care Homes Needing Care
Care Subsidy (Desired
Capacity)

Allen 22 21 4 431 583 74%

Anderson <10 15 0 150 422 36%
Atchison 18 20 2 484 746 65%
Barber <10 6 0 37 219 17%
Barton 48 51 6 706 1,701 42%
Bourbon 31 17 1 244 686 36%
Brown <10 17 1 274 552 50%
Butler 71 66 12 1430 2,732 52%
Chase <10 4 0 28 135 21%
Chautauqua <10 3 1 49 164 30%
Cherokee 26 23 3 464 780 59%
Cheyenne <10 5 1 89 132 67%
Clark 0 4 0 34 96 35%
Clay 21 20 2 208 358 58%
Cloud 22 24 3 411 442 93%
Coffey <10 14 2 175 391 45%
Comanche 0 2 0 20 60 33%
Cowley 89 51 3 620 1,719 36%
Crawford 72 52 7 1116 1,904 59%
Decatur <10 5 0 63 182 35%
Dickinson 30 30 3 365 751 49%
Doniphan <10 13 0 118 431 27%
Douglas 163 102 31 3414 5,428 63%
Edwards <10 6 0 52 98 53%
Elk <10 2 0 18 85 21%
Ellis 26 91 7 1065 1,703 63%
Ellsworth <10 11 1 202 296 68%
Finney 31 49 2 638 2,467 26%
Ford 45 34 5 503 2,064 24%
Franklin 164 41 3 564 1,421 40%
Geary 60 34 7 701 2,505 28%
Gove 0 5 1 60 119 50%
Graham <10 8 0 94 91 103%
Grant <10 20 0 180 550 33%

Child Care Aware of Kansas | 11

SUPPLY DE
County

Gray
Greeley
Greenwood
Number of
Children <6
Receiving
DCF Child
Care Subsidy

<10
<10
<10
Licensed
Family and
Group Day
Care Homes

6
3
12
Child Care
Centers

0
0
1
Number of
Children a
Facility is
Willing to
Accept
(Desired
Capacity)
76
28
116
Number of
Children <6
Potentially
Needing Care

285
68
221
Extent Desired
Capacity Meets
Potential Demand

27%
41%
52%
Hamilton 0 4 0 35 170 21%
Harper <10 12 2 153 256 60%
Harvey 29 27 3 478 1,516 32%
Haskell <10 2 1 38 162 23%
Hodgeman <10 3 0 21 69 30%
Jackson <10 28 2 374 677 55%
Jefferson 16 22 4 387 866 45%
Jewell <10 3 0 32 121 26%
Johnson 3,800 543 197 21391 31,763 67%
Kearny <10 11 0 73 171 43%
Kingman <10 11 0 118 277 43%
Kiowa <10 2 1 43 101 43%
Labette 43 45 2 609 893 68%
Lane 0 3 0 21 87 24%
Leavenworth 82 64 18 1709 3,909 44%
Lincoln <10 5 0 47 103 46%
Linn 10 13 0 134 501 27%
Logan <10 10 0 97 114 85%
Lyon 148 52 8 911 1,600 57%
Marion 10 12 1 183 594 31%
Marshall <10 41 0 397 538 74%
McPherson 30 33 5 869 1,260 69%
Meade <10 10 0 83 216 38%
Miami 38 53 5 1062 1,331 80%
Mitchell <10 15 3 241 264 91%
Montgomery 51 45 5 697 1,793 39%
Morris <10 14 1 159 254 63%
Morton <10 4 0 34 111 31%
Nemaha <10 34 2 432 579 75%
Neosho 25 39 3 491 632 78%
Ness 0 7 0 50 130 38%
Norton <10 6 2 178 346 51%
Osage 15 30 0 258 870 30%
Osborne <10 9 0 78 184 42%

12 | Child Care Supply Demand Report

EMAND County

Ottawa
Pawnee
Phillips
Number of
Children <6
Receiving
DCF Child
Care Subsidy

<10
<10
<10
Licensed
Family and
Group Day
Care Homes

17
13
11
Child Care
Centers

0
1
2
Number of
Children a
Facility is
Willing to
Accept
(Desired
Capacity)
168
131
195
Number of
Children <6
Potentially
Needing Care

262
285
276
Extent Desired
Capacity Meets
Potential Demand

64%
46%
71%
Pottawatomie 21 56 7 1007 1,149 88%
Pratt <10 18 1 187 332 56%
Rawlins 0 9 1 115 111 104%
Reno 102 72 12 1384 2,784 50%
Republic <10 17 0 160 212 75%
Rice 18 5 3 189 466 41%
Riley 49 89 16 1852 3,191 58%
Rooks <10 14 1 161 371 43%
Rush <10 4 2 78 168 46%
Russell <10 20 1 179 271 66%
Saline 362 122 10 1650 2,811 59%
Scott <10 13 0 90 278 32%
Sedgwick 1,208 452 101 12586 29,731 42%
Seward <10 16 1 338 1,798 19%
Shawnee 384 245 50 5519 9,618 57%
Sheridan 0 7 0 66 117 56%
Sherman <10 16 0 218 229 95%
Smith <10 14 0 116 131 89%
Stafford <10 6 0 53 124 43%
Stanton 0 4 0 38 105 36%
Stevens <10 4 1 70 254 28%
Sumner 24 30 3 506 1,092 46%
Thomas <10 23 1 250 531 47%
Trego <10 5 1 108 146 74%
Wabaunsee <10 9 5 290 283 102%
Wallace 0 3 0 50 94 53%
Washington <10 21 0 188 321 59%
Wichita <10 1 0 19 129 15%
Wilson 11 13 1 179 504 36%
Woodson <10 6 0 46 179 26%
Wyandotte 353 94 36 3056 9,943 31%
Total 7,964 3,548 631 78,352 153,341 51%
Includes Licensed Family and Group Day Care Homes, and Child Care Centers.

For Data Sources and Methodology, visit www.ks.childcareaware.org. The Extent Desired Capacity Meets Potential Demand is a calculation of the
Desired Capacity of Family and Group Child Care Homes and Child Care Centers (excludes Preschools and some Head Start) divided by the Number of
Children Potentially Needing Care.

Washington D.C.: U.S. Census Bureau, 2013-2018 DP03, Child Care Aware of Kansas, WorkLife Systems, June 2020, Kansas Department for Children and
Families.

Child Care Aware of Kansas | 13

RESPONSE
EMERGENCY RESPONSE TO COVID-19:
PARTNERS & COMMUNITIES IN ACTION
Strengthening People and Revitalizing Kansas (SPARK) Funding
Kansans in every corner of the state have been affected by
Hero Relief Program Grants
Supply Grant: for essential
the COVID-19 pandemic and are working to recover from the
needs of child care providers
unprecedented economic situation caused by this virus. The
that remained open for
Strengthening People and Revitalizing Kansas (SPARK) Task
business to maintain a healthy
Force has made emergency financial relief funds available from
the federal CARES Act funding to those who need it most. The environment (funds were
SPARK Task Force approved more than $130 million in relief used to purchase cleaning and
funding for economic development and connectivity in the sanitation materials).
state. This pandemic has affected counties differently, with this
in mind applications for grants were made available in the ten Sustainability Grant:
different economic development and connectivity grants. to meet operational challenges
caused by the COVID-19
Despite the devastating impacts of the pandemic, Kansas pandemic (funds were used for
communities came together quickly to respond to the emerging rent/mortgage, maintenance,
needs of child care providers and essential workers with young equipment, utilities, etc.)
children.
Public Sector Response Revenue Replacement Stipend:
Kansas Department for Children and Families- Hero Relief Program financial assistance to DCF
The Kansas Department for Children and Families (DCF) enrolled child care providers
announced the Hero Relief Program. DCF received funding and relative care providers to
through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security help replace lost revenue in
(CARES) Act and partnered with Child Care Aware of Kansas to subsidy payments.
distribute funding to child care providers in Kansas. The funding
provided grants to licensed child care centers, family and group Healthcare/Emergency Worker
child care homes, and relative care providers impacted as a Support Bonus:
result of the COVID-19 pandemic. a one-time bonus for child
Essential Workers Child Care Subsidies care providers that elevated
This funding provided financial assistance for families with a the importance of ensuring
countable gross income of families at or below 250% of the federal that child care options were
poverty level to help pay for child care available to the health care
during the pandemic. and emergency workforce in
Kansas.
Free Training
Kansas Child Care Training DCF Enrolled Relative Care
Opportunities, Inc. (KCCTO) Providers:
provided the Supporting Kansas this support provided a supply
Families DCF course free for grant, sustainability grant, and
all child care providers. DCF revenue replacement stipend
and KCCTO also offered free to help meet their needs during
Health and Safety courses for all the pandemic.
licensed child care providers.
14 | Child Care Supply Demand Report
E Child Care Action Lab Grants
The Kansas Children’s Cabinet and Trust Fund and the University of
Kansas Center for Public Partnerships & Research offered Child Care
Action Lab Grants, through the current Preschool Development B-5
Planning Grant - mini-grants of $500 were awarded to help 317 child
care providers during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Private Sector Response
The Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas Foundation and Child Care Aware
of Kansas developed and distributed two different types of resource
kits. 500 health and safety and social emotional kits were distributed to
support family child care providers in 101 Kansas counties.

“These funds helped pay our staff allowing us to keep qualified and dedicated
teachers employed.”
"Continuing to offer child care while reducing the number of kids in and out is
important to me. I am able to create stable groups by discontinuing part time and drop
in care as instructed by the health department and the grants help with the
financial losses."
"The funding I have received has helped make ends meet when my income has been
down due to absences of the daycare children related to COVID-19. The funding has
also helped to pay for supplies needed to provide the best and safest care possible."

CONCLUSION
CONCLUSION
Child care is an essential cornerstone for a thriving Kansas economy. As this reports demonstrates,
child care supply is sensitive and susceptible to outside influences, and demand is no different. While
the impact of COVID-19 will be felt for many years to come, we have an opportunity to transform our
child care system in ways that supports our ability to adapt and respond to outside influences while
continuing to recognize the essential value of equitable access, quality, and affordability of care to
young children, families, businesses, and communities.

Together, we can create long-term, innovative solutions that ensure reliable access to high-quality,
affordable child care for every Kansas family. We can invest in workforce education, training supports
and wage supplements to stabilize the early childhood workforce and equitably compensate early
childhood professionals for the essential services they provide. We do so in full partnership with
families, early childhood professionals, communities, businesses, government administrators and
elected officials to ensure that those closest to the problem are driving solutions.

Source: The Coronavirus Will Make Child Care Deserts Worse and .... https://www.americanprogress.org/issues/early-child- Child Care Aware of Kansas | 15
hood/reports/2020/06/22/486433/coronavirus-will-make-child-care-deserts-worse-exacerbate-inequality/
 RECOMMENDATIONS
Audience Recommendations
• Join our Thank a Child Care Hero Campaign! The arrival of the COVID-19
virus turned everyone’s life upside down – But Kansas’ essential child
Everyone care workforce and community leaders rose to the occasion. Let them
know how much it means to you by joining us in thanking them.
• Log onto the Child Care Aware of Kansas website for ideas.
• Communicate with your child care provider about any questions or
concerns you may have. Work together to identify solutions and address
concerns.
• Ask your child care provider about their supply needs. Some
Families
communities still have purchasing limits that affect even your child care
provider’s ability to access cleaning, safety, and food supplies. Your offer
to help will be appreciated!
• Talk with your employer about your child care needs.
• Continue to communicate with families, CCR&Rs, and government
officials about your changing needs and concerns. Be specific about
Child Care Providers what you need and when you need it.
• Join a professional association to stay informed and share a common
message.
• Contact the regional CCR&R in your area to learn about no cost and low-
cost options to support your employees.
Businesses
• Join other business round tables on child care, helping your community
meet working parents needs.
• Join regional CCR&Rs by leading or participating in a child care
community coalition or task force. Community coalitions and task
Community Stakeholders forces bring a diverse group of stakeholders together to create short
and long-term action plans to address the unique needs of their
communities by establishing effective public/private partnerships.
• Continue to be flexible and focused on the shifting needs of all child care
programs. From supplies to training to policy, continue to incorporate
feedback from child care providers into COVID-19 relief and recovery
efforts.
• Invest resources in supporting the unique needs of Kansas family child
care providers by offering research-based models, such as Family Child
Care Networks, proven to increase the quality and sustainability of this
Government Leaders
unique part of our child care workforce.
• Re-ignite child care recruitment by funding efforts that have proven
results. Focus on efforts that lead to increased supply of child care that
addresses infant/toddler care, rural care, nontraditional hour care, and
care for children with special needs.
• Ensure quality counts in Kansas by advancing the Links to Quality
Recognition and Improvement System into all Kansas communities.

16 | Child Care Supply Demand Report

 In the 2020 Child Care Supply Demand
Report, we layered on the impact of a public
health pandemic by describing the challenges
experienced by child care programs.

Past Child Care Supply Demand Reports

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/08/opinion/sunday/ completed include:
women-housework-coronavirus-mothers-day.html

2017 Child Care Supply Demand Report:

Child Care Availability in Kansas

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/04/parenting/child- 2018 Child Care Supply Demand Report:

care-resume-questions.html The Landscape of Child Care in Kansas

2019 Child Care Supply Demand Report:

Exploring the Infant Toddler Gap

Previous versions can be found on our website,

www.ks.childcareaware.org
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/12/parenting/coronavirus-
grandparents-childcare.html

https://www.npr.org/2020/05/13/855610990/child-care-
providers-face-challenges-looking-after-the-children-of-
essential-wor

https://www.ffyf.org/new-analysis-covid-19-crisis-could-lead-to-
permanent-loss-of-nearly-4-5-million-child-care-slots-nationwide/

There’s No Going Back: Child Care after COVID-19

https://www.naeyc.org/resources/blog/theres-no-going-back-
child-care-after-covid-19

Child Care Aware of Kansas | 17

 Remarks
Child Care Aware of Kansas collects official government
and self-reported data about families, children, and child
care providers. Data is used to better understand and
report on the child care supply, demand, cost and quality
of child care in Kansas. To request county or regional level
data, or to access the report methodology, please visit
www. ks.childcareaware.org.

Special Thanks To:

Jen Bump with Bump Collaborative Consulting for her
joint effort in the vision and publication of the 2020 Child
Care Supply Demand Report: Challenges of Child Care in
a Pandemic.

The Child Care Resource and Referral (CCR&R) agencies

who work dilligently to collect the data necessary
to share information about the early education
field in Kansas and encourage conversations within
communities.

Sources:
• Center for American Progress
• Kansas Department for Children and Families
• Kansas Department of Health and Environment
• U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey
• National Association for the Education of Young
Children
• National Association on Early Childhood Quality
Assurance
• Administration for Children and Families
• Child Care Aware of America
• U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts
When referencing the data within this report Child Care Aware
of Kansas requests that all data be kept as it is presented in
the report.

Published Date: May 18, 2021

For Methodology, go to www.ks.childcareaware.org

PO Box 2294, Salina, KS 67402-2294

Toll-free: 855-750-3343
Find Child Care: 877-678-2548