Public Policy can be a valuable tool to advocate for and inform decision makers about what matters most to you.   Feel free to use the information below to educate yourself and future your own position on important Early Childhood issues.

We encourage all child care providers and parents to advocate on the behalf of the children in our communities. The following links are provided as a courtesy to those who wish to find out more about public policy, and provide the avenue to contact those who make decisions for our communities.

NACCRRA Public Policy

Kansas Coalition for School Readiness

Contact Your Federal Senator

Contact Your Federal Representative

Contact Your Kansas Senator

Contact Your Kansas Representative

Contact Your Local Paper

Kansas Action and Information Center. The "go-to" Place for Parents!

Listed Below Are Our Key Public Policy Messages

CCR&R’s take the guesswork out of finding and paying for child care.
  
     CCR&R agencies help more than 5 million families nationally, and over 20,000 in Kansas find, evaluate, or     pay for child care each year.

CCR&R’s increase the supply of quality child care.

    CCR&R agencies train more than 500,000 child care providers a year and develop more than 450,000 new     child care spaces annually.

CCR&R’s help create child care solutions for communities.

    70% of CCR&R’s conduct community needs assessments
    62% analyze and report on child care supply and demand

CCR&R’s build brighter futures.

• Child care resource and referral meets a need that no one else does- providing the bridge between parents, providers, community leaders, and policy makers.
• All children have a right to be cared for, both in and outside the home in safe, healthy, and nurturing environments.
• All families should have access to high-quality, affordable, accessible child care for their children.
• All parents should have a choice of appropriate learning and care giving environments for their children.
• Every community should have a strong child care delivery system that includes child care resource and referral in order to coordinate professional development, build child care capacity, plan policy and education efforts on child care needs.
• Studies repeatedly have shown that high-quality child care (care that provides a loving, safe, stable and age-appropriate stimulating environment) helps children enter school ready to learn.
• In 1975, only 40.0 percent mothers with a child under age 6 worked outside of the home.  
• As of 2005, 62.6 percent of women with children under age 6 were in the work force, and 59 percent of mothers with children under age 3 were in the work force.
• Nationwide, nearly 12 million children under age 5 are in child care each week.
• According to Zero to Three, indicators of high-quality infant-and-toddler child care include: small groups; high staff-to-child ratios; continuity of care; primary caregiver assignments; health and safety; and cultural and linguistic continuity.
• 85% of brain development happens before age 3. 
  

* Data based on national averages

Public Policy Outreach Activities

We advocate for quality Child Care in Kansas through the following avenues:

• Provide data about child care and other early childhood issues.
  
• Attend the yearly Day on the Hill in Topeka, our state’s capital.
• Remain an active participant of Kansas Action for Children.
• Attend Chamber and other events when legislators are in attendance.
• Be available to comment on political issues that involve early childhood issues.
• Send Letters to the Editors and Press Releases for various events, such as Provider Appreciation Day.