The Dane G Hansen Foundation has announced a new, 5-year pilot initiative for licensed childcare centers in Northwest Kansas.

NW Kansas Cares for Kids includes three new grant opportunities for childcare centers that meet the following criteria:

Licensed by the State of Kansas for at least 13 children

Accepting children ages 2-weeks to 6-years of age

Open at least 3, and less than 24 hours a day

Located within the Hansen Foundation’s 26-county service area. Home-based day care businesses, licensed group homes and preschools are not eligible.

Grants from the Hansen Foundation are available only to nonprofit centers. For-profit centers that meet the above criteria can apply for similar assistance through the Northwest Kansas Economic Innovation Center, Inc. http://www.nwkeici.org

The initiative includes three new grants designed to assist childcare centers in attracting and retaining quality staff, as well as to provide the tools needed to educate young children so they start school ready to continue learning.

The Early Childhood Education Staff Support Grant is designed to provide financial recognition for early childhood staff, reduce costs associated with staff turnover and stabilize the workforce. Fewer staff changes are also a quality factor for children attending the centers. The grant provides bonuses every six months for full-time (30 hours per week) staff who remain at the same center. Bonus amounts range from $250 to $800. In addition, center directors are provided funds for additional discretionary bonuses.

A second grant covers the cost of the comprehensive Montessori education curriculum, which includes training videos and instructions for teachers as well as time-tested, high-quality learning tools and manipulatives designed to last for many years. Each center may apply one time for up to $5,000 in materials.

The third grant in the initiative offers childcare centers up to $1,000 each year for up to five years to purchase high-quality children’s books to create or enhance the center’s library.

Grants will be awarded two times a year, in November and May. Applications will be accepted at any time, but are due by Oct. 30, 2020 and April 25, 2021. Late applications will not be considered until the next deadline. Grants will be awarded annually in November and May for up to five years. The application is restricted to qualifying centers and requires an access code.

For more information, worksheets and applications, visit the website: danehansenfoundation.org. Click on the NW Kansas Cares for Kids logo on the home page.

Two Zoom conferences have been scheduled for eligible centers to learn more about these grant opportunities.