The Early Childhood Education Staff Retention Grant is designed to provide financial recognition for early childhood staff, reduce costs associated with staff turnover, and stabilize the workforce. This grant enables full-time and part-time staff members in good standing to earn a bonus for every six months he or she stays employed at the SAME center. This grant can be reapplied for each year. Grants are limited to one application per KDHE license.

Grant applicants must meet the following eligibility requirements:
  • The facility must have a current KDHE license with no administrative orders.
  • The facility must be designated as for-profit.
  • The facility must be located in Cheyenne, Rawlins, Decatur, Norton, Phillips, Smith, Jewell, Republic, Sherman, Thomas, Sheridan, Graham, Rooks, Osborne, Mitchell, Cloud, Wallace, Logan, Gove, Trego, Ellis, Russell, Lincoln, Ottawa, Ellsworth or Saline counties.
  • The facility must accept children ages at least two weeks to six years of age.
  • The facility must be a licensed childcare center OR a qualifying family childcare facility (in a commercial or residential setting).

Qualifying family childcare facilities must also
  • Be in a community without a childcare center,
  • Have at least two staff members,
  • Serve at least 8 children

This grant is competitive, and funding is not guaranteed.

Grant applications are due either October 25 or April 25.

Questions (or application assistance) should be directed to the Innovation Center Childcare Program Specialist Dana Stanton at danajstanton@nwkeici.org or 785-874-5150.

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* 1. Childcare Facility Name (as it appears on KDHE license):

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* 2. Childcare Facility Mailing Address (Please include full mailing address including city and zip code):

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* 3. Applicant Contact Person:

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* 4. Applicant Contact Person Email:

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* 5. Applicant Contact Person Telephone:

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* 6. KDHE License Number:

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* 7. Federal Employment Identification Number (FEIN) of business OR Social Security Number of Business Owner.

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* 8. This grant is limited to FOR-PROFIT KDHE licensed childcare centers and qualifying family childcare facilities in a community without a childcare center (see eligibility requirements above). Which situation applies to your facility?

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* 9. Please list all counties to be served by the applying childcare facility.

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* 10. Please list the primary town(s) served by the applying childcare facility.

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* 11. How many full-time children do you serve at your facility?

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* 12. How many half-time children do you serve at your facility?

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* 13. How many infants (birth to 12 months) are served at your facility?

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* 14. How many infant slots are currently unfilled?

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* 15. How many infants are on the wait list?

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* 16. What is the weekly cost of care for infants?

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* 17. How many toddlers (13 months to 3 years)are served at your facility?

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* 18. How many toddler slots are currently unfilled?

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* 19. How many toddlers are on the wait list?

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* 20. What is the weekly cost of care for toddlers?

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* 21. How many preschoolers (3 years to School Age) does the facility currently serve?

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* 22. How many preschooler slots are currently unfilled?

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* 23. How many preschoolers are on the wait list?

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* 24. What is the weekly cost of care for preschoolers?

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* 25. How many school age children does the facility currently serve?

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* 26. How many school age slots are currently unfilled?

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* 27. How many school age children are on the wait list?

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* 28. What is the weekly cost of care for school-age children?

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* 29. Does the applying facility accept DCF assistance for low-income families?

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* 30. If the facility accepts DCF, does the assistance cover the cost of care?

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* 31. Does the facility utilize the CACFP program?

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* 32. Does the facility utilize an online childcare management system like Brightwheel, Playground, Procare or other?

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* 33. If so, which system?

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* 34. How many full-time employees work at the childcare facility?

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* 35. How many total hours a week, on average, do your full-time employees work? We are looking for the total number of work hours of all full-time providers combined. For example, if you have three full-time employees and they each work 40 hours a week, the answer would be 120 hours (3 workers x 40 hours).

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* 36. How many part-time employees work at the childcare facility?

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* 37. How many total hours a week, on average, do your part-time employees work? We are looking for the total number of work hours of all part-time providers combined. For example, if you have three part-time employees and they each work 4 hours a week, the answer would be 12 (3 workers x 4 hours).

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* 38. What is the staff turnover rate for your facility over the last 12 months? (# of new staff members divided by the number of positions)

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* 39. Did your facility have more than a 25% turnover in staffing in the past 12 months? If so, what percentage?

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* 40. What specific reasons contributed to staff leaving in the past 12 months? Please be as specific as you can. For example, "Two staff members left the facility because they moved out of the area. One staff member left to pursue another job opportunity that offerred a higher rate of pay. One staff member was let go for disciplinary reasons."

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* 41. What early childhood curriculum,if any, do you currently utilize?

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* 42. Do you collect satisfaction surveys from parents and staff at least annually?

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* 43. Do you have staff members planning to retire or leave the childcare field in the next three years? If so, what is the reason for leaving or retiring?

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* 44. Do you have/provide health insurance benefits to your staff (and yourself)?

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* 45. We are contemplating a mentorship program for new childcare providers. Would you consider being a mentor to a new childcare provider? A stipend may be provided to mentors for this service.

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* 46. In your opinion, what important barriers does your facility face in an effort to provide quality services and continue in the childcare industry?

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* 47. Please upload at least one financial statement. Acceptable examples include a balance sheet, income statement or a copy of the most recent tax return (first page only).

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* 48. Please upload your WORKSHEET FOR CHILDCARE STAFF RETENTION GRANT (found on the website).

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* 49. By checking this box, the applicant agrees to provide information requested by the Innovation Center for the duration of the incentive period. This may include, but is not limited to at least one financial statement, employee and enrollment information. This is described in the official Innovation Center grant agreement. The Innovation Center reserves the right to discuss this grant application internally, understanding that all staff and board members have signed a confidentiality agreement.

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* 50. By entering my full legal name here, I warrant the truthfulness of the information provided in this application.

Congratulations! You have now reached the end of the grant application. Every attempt will be made to notify grantees (by email) of application status no later than one month from the due date (either April 25 or October 25).
 
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