Grant Project Helps Address Issue That Affects Every County in the State

Kansas State University is leading state-supported efforts to strengthen and align the early childhood care and education work force.

“It’s a little bit like a Lego structure,” said Bronwyn Fees, associate dean for academic and faculty affairs in K-State’s College of Health and Human Sciences and professor in early childhood education.

“We are building on the workforce pieces our state developed – the resources, investments, and designs – and putting them together in a way that will help meet the needs of Kansas’ early childhood care and education professionals now and into the future.”

Fees is the principal investigator for Kansas Child Care Training Opportunities, or KCCTO, which received more than $5 million in initial funding from the Kansas Department for Children and Families (DCF) for a collaborative project involving K-State.

According to Fees, these projects help meet the goals of the All in for Kansas Kids Strategic Plan and requirements of DCF’s Child Care and Development Fund around training progression and professional development opportunities.

She said the project aims to implement the Career Pathway for Kansas Early Childhood Care and Education Professionals (known as the career pathway) for those currently in the field and those thinking about entering it.

Source: k-state.edu

Photo credit: kansas state university