Collaborative efforts

Child care issues affect whole communities. Most collaborative efforts start off with just one or two people identifying a concern and having the desire to do something about it. However, desire is not enough. It takes real skill, leadership and perseverance to pull together a larger group of committed individuals who are willing to work together to get things done.

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National Infant Toddler Child Care Initiative (NITCCI)

The focus of the project for KACCRRA Infant and Toddler Project for 2008-2009 is infant mental health. Kansas Association of Infant Mental Health (KAIMH) will partner with KACCRRA by developing materials for the KACCRRA District Offices to deliver to Mental Health Professionals across Kansas These materials will educate Mental Health Professional specifically about infant mental health. KU Developmental Disabilities Center is working on a statewide survey of needs and capacity for screening, assessment and mental health services for young children.

Website: http://nccic.acf.hhs.gov/itcc/

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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), a Kansas philanthropy focused on the health of all Kansans. The grant-funded program, called Healthy Kansas Kids, 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.

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.

Resources: United Methodist Health Ministry Fund: http://www.healthfund.org/