Building Partnerships

KACCRRA strives to support communities and the state to create appropriate policies on family and children's issues and to generate additional resources for the care, development and learning of all children.

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KQRS

The Kansas Quality Rating System (KQRS) is a 5-Star quality rating system for center-based and family child care programs.  Participating programs receive a comprehensive assessment, on-site technical assistance, access to an improvement grant, and teachers/providers are eligible for college scholarships and salary supplements.

What is KQRS?
The Kansas Quality Rating System is a 5 Star quality rating system for child care centers, preschools, Head Start facilities, faith-based preschool programs and family child care homes.  Participating child care programs receive a comprehensive assessment that results in a 1 – 5 Star Quality Rating (5 Stars is the highest possible rating).  Assessment is followed with on-site technical assistance to help the program make strategic improvement to overall quality.

KQRS is the changing face of quality improvement in Kansas; participants receive a variety of supports to assist in quality improvement efforts.  Child care programs have access to a Quality Improvement (QI) Coach who can help the program set and achieve goals to make program improvements.  Participants are eligible for quality improvement grants that can be used to purchase materials, equipment or pay for accreditation fees that will improve overall program quality.  Staff/providers in participating KQRS sites are eligible for college scholarships (through T.E.A.C.H. Early Childhood® KANSAS) and salary supplements (through Child Care WAGE$® KANSAS).

Service Areas
KQRS is currently available in selected communities across Kansas; we continue to advocate for funding to make KQRS available in all communities across the state.  Current Resource & Referral agencies that provide KQRS services include:

• Child Care Connection
• Child Start, Inc.
• Cloud County Community College Early Childhood Resource and Referral
• ERC Resource and Referral and The Family Conservancy
• The Family Conservancy

KQRS Rating Components
KQRS measures quality in five key areas and assigns points based on quality level of each component.  Those points are then added together and an overall Quality Rating score is assigned (Star Rating).  Download and read the following document to learn more about the quality rating score.

• KQRS Quality Rating Overview

Frequently Asked Questions
Why should a child care program participate in KQRS?  How is a program rated in KQRS?  Who provides the KQRS services?  For answers to these and many other questions about the Kansas Quality Rating System, download and read the following document.

• KQRS FAQ

A Solid Investment in Early Childhood
KQRS provides potential partners and investors in quality with peace of mind knowing that an investment in KQRS is an investment made on a proven system of quality improvement.

• KQRS A Solid Investment

Ready to Invest?
KACCRRA guarantees that local contributions are spent on local programs – your funding dollars stay in your community!  If your organization is considering investing in Kansas children through KQRS, we can help.  KQRS has a variety of supports that can assist your organization in budgeting, presenting information to your stakeholders and even customize presentations and written materials for your specific community.  For assistance or additional information, contact Jennifer Hecker, KQRS Director at 877-678-2548 or jennifer@kaccrra.org.

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Healthy Kansas Kids

The Kansas Association of Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies (KACCRRA) has been awarded a grant by the United Methodist Health Ministry Fund (UMHMF)(add link here), a Kansas philanthropy focused on the health of all Kansans. The grant-funded program, called Healthy Kansas Kids (LINK this to HKK info on website), is designed to improve nutrition and physical activity practices in early childhood settings. According to an evaluation conducted over the last two years, Healthy Kansas Kids is helping child care providers significantly improve nutrition and physical activity policies and practices.(link to HKK research and evaluations).

In collaboration with the Kansas Nutrition Network (add link here), six professional development workshops have been created to focus on physical activity and nutrition. In-service training opportunities are offered statewide to all child care professionals through the seven Resource and Referral agencies.

Approximately 100 child care providers are selected each year to participate in a more intensive coaching and professional development program called Excellent Care for Early Learning or EXCEL(add link here). These child care providers receive follow-up support and coaching on implementing practices taught in the training workshops. EXCEL participants are also eligible to receive a $500 grant upon meeting participation eligibility requirements.

KACCRRA has agreed to make this program available to child care programs provided by Kansas United Methodist Churches. With grant support from the Health Fund, church-sponsored child care programs would be eligible to participate in the EXCEL program which will include the $500 grants.

"We know there is a lot of interest in doing something about preventing obesity among children. Healthy Kansas Kids shows how evidence-based practices can be integrated into an established child care curriculum,” UMHMF President Kim Moore.

Read more in this issue of KANSAS Child:

• KANSAS Child - Healthy Kansas Kids

Funding and Support
Healthy Kansas Kids is funded  through the United Methodis Health Minstry Fund.  The Kansas Nutrition Network offers support through various trainings and resources.

United Methodist Health Ministry Fund:  http://www.healthfund.org/
Kansas Nutrition Network: www.kansasnutritionnetwork.org