Childcare Initiatives
The Child Care Taskforce is a collaborative group of experts, workforce representatives, employers, child care providers, government officials, community leaders, and other stakeholders committed to strengthening the child care system in Topeka-Shawnee County. As a component of the community’s broader business and workforce development efforts, the taskforce works to increase the number of licensed child care slots by leveraging partnerships, sharing resources, and identifying innovative solutions. Child Care Aware of Eastern Kansas is considered a key resource in this work, providing data, expertise, and connections to guide and support local strategies.
Beyond expanding capacity, the taskforce is focused on building a strong and sustainable talent pipeline for the child care workforce. This includes advocating for competitive pay and benefits, professional development opportunities, and long-term career pathways to recruit and retain quality providers. The group also seeks to address the affordability of child care for families, recognizing that access and cost are both critical to economic mobility. Through active engagement with state agencies and legislative bodies, the taskforce aims to influence policy changes that have a broad, lasting impact on child care availability, quality, and affordability—ultimately strengthening the workforce and supporting the overall economic health of the region.
Family Forward Now is the platform we created for: Talent recruitment of child care workers, Champions of Child Care in the business community, and linking to the Family Forward parent scholarship fund. Their mission is to address child care needs in Shawnee County by bringing businesses, child care providers, families and workforce together to solve this issue.
First Five Years Fund is a national organization focused on lobbying and advocacy at the federal level for legislation that supports ease of affordability and quality of child care. They are dedicated to building an early care and education system where all children receive the unique supports they need.
Child Care Aware of Eastern Kansas offers training and support for child care providers, working only with licensed providers, and is a resource for people to find licensed child care in their area. Also connects people with financial resources. Their mission is to support the healthy development of young children by improving access to high-quality child care options and educational resources for families and early childhood professionals.
