Can we build the rest of the facility and forego the child care center?

• No. Child care is a required component of the grant, without a child care center, there is no community center.
   

Will the child care center only serve low-income families?

• No. This funding stream does not require the facility to serve families based on income level. 
   

What is the estimated capacity of children? 

• 40-48 new child care slots would be created with the new facility, dependent on child age ratios.
   

Is the Child Care Center available to anyone or limited to a certain group of people? 

• No. Slots will be open to the entire community regardless of income or qualifications.
   

Won’t the child care facility put other daycare providers out of business?

• No. A majority of the providers are full, and many have waiting lists. Several providers are likely to retire in the next five years. Several aging providers have retired or are phasing out, while others significantly reduced the number of children they are willing to take.
   

Would the Child Care Center operate year-round full-time, or follow school hours and breaks?

• Staffing and schedules could be consolidated during school breaks, but child care would be available year-round.
   

Will there be drop-in care available?

• Programming could be considered in the future for the possibility of drop-in care. 
   

Is a privately-run daycare an option?​

• It is possible, but each room would need its own playground, restrooms, etc., so the likelihood of the grant funding facilitating the construction cost in this example is unlikely.​
   

What surveys, engagements and other data points exist that highlight the need for childcare in our community?

• • Child Care Aware of Kansas gathers and disseminates data, research, and best practices from experts in the field so that parents, providers, and decision-makers are equipped with ideas and solutions for high-quality early care and education. They keep a report of child care needs in our county, which can be viewed here - just click on Clay County to view the real-time report.

  • In 2021, Grow Clay County held its strategic planning session with the International Economic Development Council. Several community members voiced their needs for the community and how Grow Clay County could help with those needs. Child care was identified as a barrier to growth and economic vitality. Grow Clay County also issued various surveys to the community, child care providers, and businesses which highlighted the struggle families have with finding child care and the issues companies face with employees who lack adequate child care. Read the full report here.

  • After the Clay County Child Care Center closed, Grow Clay County secured $22,500 to provide assistance to both existing providers and new providers. We issued 11 grants total, nine to existing providers and two to new providers. 

  • In 2022, USD 379 hosted a community planning meeting where child care was identified as a great need in our community, and that the school district should work with other community partners to find solutions. Many stakeholders raised "access to child care services" as a challenge faced by both workers and their employers. Due to the closure of child care facilities in the community, additional burdens have been placed on workers with young children, while employers face challenges with talent attraction and retention due to this strain on the workforce. 

  • In the spring of 2023, Grow Clay County conducted surveys that were sent to the general public, child care providers and business owners to further assess the need for child care in our county. Those findings are as follows:

    • There are an estimated 11-20 children needing child care for every one child care opening.

    • 58% of parents struggle with lack of child care due to their provider being closed.

    • 67% of parents are in need of drop-in or part-time care.

    • 23% of employers lost or could not retain employees due to lack of child care.

    • 50% of employers reported employee absences due to lack of child care.

    • 57% of employers expressed interest in purchasing child care slots to offer to employees as a benefit or attraction incentive.

  • In February 2024, we hosted a Child Care Summit on February 24th for those looking to start a daycare business and existing providers who need continuing education credits with free food, child care and a chance to win $250 for their daycare. We hosted KDHE, representatives from the food program, Child Care Aware, and K-State. Eight existing providers signed up as well as two potential new providers .