Child Start is Expanding

Child Start was selected as one of seven Kansas District Offices as part of a major redesign of the 15 CCR&R agencies that make up the statewide network of the Kansas Association of Child Care Resource & Referral Agencies (KACCRRA).  Additionally, Child Start was selected as one of three Referral Call Centers for Kansas.  The restructuring is to better serve both child care professionals and parents in the state of Kansas.  The redesign model came from considerations made by the KACCRRA board of directors for a better service delivery model.  In February, Child Start submitted a proposal for delivering services and presented the plan to a KACCRRA review panel in March.  Shortly after, Child Start was notified by Leadell Ediger, Executive Director of KACCRRA, that the proposal was accepted for both the District Office and the Call Center and that we would begin serving our new counties starting July 1st.

The Child Start Referral Call Center will respond to parent child care referral calls and serve the 316 and 620 area codes.  The other two new Call Center s are located in Topeka and Kansas City. As part of the redesign, the entire state of Kansas will share one toll free number for all parent referral calls.  The state-wide number for parents to call for referrals is 1-877-678-2548.  Beginning July 1, parents will call and be transferred to the appropriate call center for their location.  The local number for parents in the Wichita area to call for referrals remains 316-682-3962.

The Child Start CCR&R District Office will deliver training, coaching and support, resource library, referral advertising, as well as other child care professional services to Butler, Cowley, Harper, Harvey, Kingman, Marion, McPherson, Reno, Rice, Sedgwick, and Sumner Counties.  Providers wishing to update their referrals will still call Child Start at 316-682-3962 or 1-800-684-3962.

In order to facilitate the expanded areas, Child Start will be hiring additional staff, referral will be open longer, and Resource Libraries will have more items and locations available.  Another exciting event that begins July 1st is on demand online child care referrals. Look for more information in the near future. 

Please contact Cheryl Dunn, Child Start Outreach Director, if you have questions.

Click Here to read the press release issued by KACCRRA

.