TRAINING INITIATIVE
PROGRAM
The Reno County Child Care Task Force believes that supporting our child care providers is essential to building a strong, thriving community. Through the Community Child Care Training Initiative, we aim to remove barriers to professional development by offering free, high-quality, in-person trainings that help providers meet state requirements for in-service training hours. By partnering with state and local trainers, we ensure these sessions are accessible and impactful. Additionally, we recognize the value of providers' time and dedication by compensating Reno County child care providers $15 per hour for every training hour completed. This initiative reflects our commitment to strengthening the child care system, empowering providers, and ensuring the best outcomes for the children in our community.
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In 2024, the Task Force hosted four full-day training events attended by 160 providers, resulting in a collective 1,368 hours of continuing education credit. As part of this effort, Reno County providers received $15 per hour for their participation, amounting to a total of $20,500 distributed to participants throughout the year.
SUPER SATURDAY TRAINING EVENT
DATE: Saturday, January 25th
TIME: 8 AM to 3 PM
LOCATION: The Father's House Church - 1505 E 20th Ave, Hutchinson, KS 67502
COST: Free | Lunch included
HOW TO REGISTER: https://form.jotform.com/RCTF/community-child-care-training-
*All Reno County providers will receive $15/hour for training completed
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Join us as Kansas Child Care Training Opportunities (KCCTO) hosts an all-day training event that will include the following sessions and earn providers 6 KDHE hours upon completion. All courses are appropriate for individuals working with infants and toddlers in center-based and family child care settings.
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Schedule
8 AM - 10 AM: Introduction to the Kansas Early Learning Standards (KELS)
Delve into the foundational principles and practical applications of the Kansas Early Learning Standards (KELS) 4th Edition by the Kansas Department of Education. Explore the purpose of the KELS, providing educators with a comprehensive understanding of its significance in early childhood development. Participants will explore the essential components of KELS and gain insights into its role in fostering holistic growth in young learners.
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Trained by Stephanie Wiggins, Infant-Toddler Professional Development Specialist
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10:15 AM - 12:15 PM: Toddler Circle Time
Leading a large group time with young children can be a challenge! Toddlers are naturally wiggly, and they can have a hard time staying focused during circle time if it doesn’t meet their needs. This training provides information on best practice techniques for circle time, ways to keep children meaningfully engaged, and provides an opportunity to draft a circle time plan that supports quality learning. If you’ve ever struggled with circle time, this training is for you!
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Trained by Rebecca Vitelli, Infant-Toddler Professional Development Specialist
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12:15-1:00pm: Lunch & Learn - Free lunch provided
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1 PM - 3 PM: Once Upon a Time...Engaging Storytelling for Infants and Toddlers
Want to create a playful story time experience that children will want to join AND stay engaged in? This course will discuss how to use props and other visual supports in meaningful ways to create storytelling experiences that captivate children’s attention. This course is appropriate for people who work with infants and toddlers in center-based and family child care settings.
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Trained by Rebecca Vitelli, Infant-Toddler Professional Development Specialist​
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SAVE THE DATE: UPCOMING TRAININGS
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Saturday, March 29th (Tentative)
Trainings provided by Beth Reeder & Katie Perez
Location: The Father's House Church
Time: 8am-3pm
More details will be available soon​
Saturday, May 31st
Trainings provided by Child Care Aware of Kansas
Location: The Father's House Church
Time: 8am-3pm
More details will be available soon
PROVIDER REMIBURSEMENT: HOW IT WORKS
Supporting professional growth in our child care community has been a central focus of RCCTF’s efforts. Launched in 2023, this initiative provides $15 per hour in compensation for child care providers attending trainings. Details on the reimbursement process are outlined below.
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Overview of the GrantsIn late 2021, the people of Reno County, Kansas, highlighted child care as the primary concern for the allocation of local American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds. In response, the Hutchinson City Council and the Reno County Board of Commission made significant financial commitments in 2022—$1.7 million and $4.5 million respectively—to enhance the local child care infrastructure. The United Way of Reno County has been entrusted as the fiscal sponsor for these combined funds.​ ​ Guiding the utilization of these resources is the Reno County Child Care Task Force. This leadership group includes seven key organizations and child care leaders from the community. The task force is dedicated to developing systematic, sustainable, and equitable child care solutions that will support providers, parents, and the broader business community.​ ​ A total of $2.5 million has been allocated for Retention Grants through 2026. These grants, which are modeled after the Child Care Aware of Kansas Sustainability Grants, offer unrestricted funding aimed at maintaining licensed child care facilities within Reno County. This initiative not only focuses on preserving quality child care services but also on gathering valuable data. Such data will explore potential efficiencies, shared services, and innovative business models that could significantly enhance child care availability, affordability, and quality. The comprehensive insights obtained will assist the Reno County Child Care Task Force in monitoring the effectiveness of the ARPA investments and in developing long-term strategies to strengthen the local child care system.
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Eligible ApplicantsPermanent and current license through KDHE​ Home, group, and centers, including non-profit and for-profit.​ Care for children 0-5 all-day, all-year, no school age programs. However, you will be asked about school age programs on the application. ​ Located in Reno County, Kansas​ Must agree to all requirements.​ 6 months license
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Grant AmountA total of $700,000 is available to be awarded in 2024. Individual grant awards will be based on a formula listed below. Funds will be disbursed on a reimbursement basis AND grant checks will be issued 30 days after each submission window closes.​ ​ For Centers:​ Ages 0-12 months: $500 per child​ Ages 12 months to 2.5 years: $300 per child​ Ages 2.5 - 5 years: $200 per child​ ​ For Homes:​ Ages 0-18 months: $500 per child​ Ages 18 months - 5 years: $250 per child
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Infant IncentiveThe data gathered from the Retention Grants revealed a clear trend: both home providers and daycare centers face an annual loss of approximately $5,200 per infant care spot. In response, the Reno County Child Care Task Force has introduced an additional Infant Incentive as part of the quarterly Retention Grant Program. ​ ​ Using the quarterly Retention Grant submissions and deadlines, an additional infant incentive of $800 per infant will be applied per quarter to providers that qualify.
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Procedure for Submitting ProposalsApplications will be accepted on the following timeline:​ OPEN: Q4 2024 Applications (Oct 2024 - Dec 2024) - Applications accepted between January 1 to January 31 CLOSED: Q1 2024 Applications (Jan 2024 - Mar 2024) - Deadline is April 30th, 2024​ CLOSED: Q2 2024 Applications (Apr 2024 - June 2024) - Deadline is July 31st, 2024​ CLOSED: Q3 2024 Applications (Jul 2024 - Sept 2024) - Deadline is October 31st, 2024 ​ Reporting Requirements: Since these grants are reimbursement based there will be no reporting requirements other than providing a detailed budget for this round of funding and we reserve the right to audit the data submitted to ensure accuracy. However, someone on behalf of the Reno County Childcare Taskforce may reach out to you for an impact story on how the dollars helped you and the children you serve.
ADDITIONAL TRAINING RESOURCES
CDA RESOURCE CENTER
The CDA National Credentialing Program supports early educators working with children ages birth to 5, allowing them to showcase their skills and knowledge in early childhood education. KCCTO offers training courses, technical assistance, and scholarship opportunities for CDA candidates.