Children's Initiatives Fund - SUCCESS!Nearly a decade ago, Kansas legislators made a commitment to our state’s future prosperity by establishing the Children’s Initiatives Fund (CIF). We dedicated those CIF dollars to quality early learning programs — programs like Early Head Start, Pre-K and Parents as Teachers — that are making a difference every day in the lives of our youngest citizens and in the livelihood of our state. We know that when children have access to quality early learning programs, they are more likely to succeed in the classroom and in the workforce. By keeping our commitment to early education and maintaining the state’s investment in the CIF, we can ensure that today’s children will be equipped to lead Kansas toward a more prosperous future. Download the brief

Child Care Inspections - SUCCESS!As our state continues to weather a tough economy, it’s critical that we keep Kansans in the workforce and earning a paycheck. But, one of the biggest hurdles for working families is finding child care they can trust. Families in most other states rely on a child care system that has adequate checks and balances. But, that’s not the case for many Kansas families. In fact, our state ranks 47th in the nation when it comes to child care oversight in part because one in three child care facilities in Kansas are never inspected. One of the best ways we can bring our child care system up to par with neighboring states — and, in turn, make it easier for Kansans to remain in the workforce — is to start inspecting all child care facilities. Download the brief