Junction City, KS – The Geary County Childcare Coalition (GC3C) is excited to announce receipt of the Child Care Zones grant from the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE), through its Child Care Matters initiative and in collaboration with All In For Kansas Kids.
KDHE initiated the Child Care Zones program in early 2025 to support communities working to address local child care issues. A Child Care Zone is a self-defined geographic area (of at least two counties) that receives state-level support to address community-specific child care challenges.
The proposal submitted by GC3C for the zone of Geary and Dickinson County includes four initiatives to be instituted over the next 2 and a half years.
The Extended Hours Pilot Program will provide funding to selected providers to expand their facilities and staff to care for children for extended day and nighttime hours. Selection will be based on an application process that will be open for all licensed Geary and Dickinson County providers this summer.
The Employer-Sponsored Childcare Cooperative will help businesses secure existing childcare slots for their employees. These slots will be funded with partial grant money, matched by employers and will be prioritized for industries and businesses with high turnover due to child care challenges.
The Universal Pre-K Curriculum Alignment will provide the opportunity for three and four-year-olds in participating child care centers and home-based settings to receive a standardized curriculum aligned with local school districts' early childhood education programs. Participating providers will receive training, curriculum materials, and ongoing support to implement high-quality early learning experiences that prepare children for kindergarten.
The Apprenticeship and Scholarship Program will address child care workforce shortages by providing scholarships and apprenticeship opportunities for individuals pursuing a career in early childhood education.
About the Geary County Child Care Coalition (GC3C):
GC3C is a program of Live Well Geary County. The GC3C Coordinator reports directly to the Live Well Geary County Leadership Team/Executive Board and is supported by the GC3C Steering Committee. Individuals with questions or those who are interested in learning more about the initiatives or applying for funding can email the Geary County Child Care Coalition ([email protected]) for assistance in accessing the appropriate resources.
For press inquiries, please contact:
Amy Garner
GC3C Coordinator
214-497-7236