New support is available for Kansas renters and landlords via the Kansas Eviction Protection Program. Find out more, including how to apply, in the email update below. And with Halloween one week away, please take a minute to share this Halloween COVID guidance from the Department of Health and Environment with your families to help them stay safe and have fun.
Stay safe and be well.
NEW – Kansas Eviction Prevention Program!
Home has never been more important.
Our homes have always provided shelter, but in the midst of the COVID pandemic, home has become so much more. The economic impact of the pandemic has left many Kansans unemployed or underemployed, uncertain how they will pay rent. While moratoriums provide temporary protection from eviction, rent continues to accrue each month, leaving tenants unsure how they will pay arrears, and leaving landlords without monthly income to pay bills and manage maintenance and upkeep.
Kansas Housing Resources Corporation (KHRC) has worked closely with the Kelly administration, the Office of Recovery, and the Department of Children and Families to create the Kansas Eviction Prevention Program (KEPP). KEPP is designed to decrease evictions and increase housing stability by assisting landlords and tenants experiencing financial hardship due to the COVID pandemic.
Landlords and tenants apply for up to $5000 per household to pay delinquent rental payments dating as far back as April 1, 2020.
Payments will be made directly to the landlord, who must agree not to evict the household for nonpayment of rent for the months of KEPP assistance received.
Landlords must also agree to waive any late fees accrued during the months for which assistance is received.
Congratulations LaToya Mothershed – Early Childhood Champion!
Congratulations to LaToya Mothershed for receiving the Kansas Children’s Champion Award at the Region VII Head Start virtual conference this week!
LaToya is the first Head Start parent to be receive this award.
This is the most recent in a long line of early childhood accomplishments for Latoya that includes: parent leader, KSHA board president-elect, and keynote speaker. The entire early childhood system is better because of the investment and energy of this amazing, trailblazing woman. Latoya, we are grateful and appreciative of your generosity and commitment to the children and families of Kansas. What a great wrap up to Head Start Awareness Month!
Register by THIS FRIDAY for the Kindergarten Readiness Summit
The Kansas Kindergarten Readiness Transition Summit will expand and support the implementation of the Head Start – public school collaboration work! The goal is to bring together teams of school districts and Head Start programs from at least 10 school districts in Kansas. This collaboration will help to sustain and improve gains children make during Head Start through building strong, effective relationships between Head Start and receiving schools.
CARES Act Funding for Technology and Remote Learning
Still Available!
Remote Learning Support – CARES Act funding is available to support programs addressing the current need for alternative care and education for families adversely impacted by remote learning situations (schools in hybrid or remote learning modes).
Applications are now open with proposals accepted on a rolling basis. Grants must be awarded AND expended by December 30, 2020. Find out more information about all funding available through the CARES Act for early childhood by visiting http://allinforkansaskids.org/.
Technology for Families Program – CARES Act funding to support connectivity, equipment, and devices to support virtual access for families receiving home visiting services. If you partner with a state agency to deliver one of seven home visiting models – you are eligible!
If you have already received funding, and have enrolled new families with need since your initial award, you are eligible to submit an additional request. If you have any questions, technical assistance is available at [email protected]
Grants and Consulting Help for Child Care Providers
Child Care Aware of Kansas is teaming up with the Kansas Department of Health and Environment to offer Child Care Health Consultants (CCHC). These consultants are available to help child care programs analyze the results of a Self-Assessment and identify ways to reduce the spread of illnesses within the program. Participating child care programs may then be eligible for a health and safety grant. Check out the Child Care Health Consultation Pathway for an overview of the program.
Eligibility: Child care programs who are licensed by and in good standing with the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) to participate in the Child Care Health Consultant Network.
To get started, follow these steps:
Step One: Child Care Programs are asked to complete, to the extent possible, a Self-Assessment before scheduling a consultation with a Child Care Health Consultant.
Step Two: To schedule a coaching consultation, call or send an email to CCAKS.
Step Three: Child care programs that complete a Self-Assessment and receive a coaching consultation from a Child Care Health Consultant are eligible to apply for a health & safety grant.
Step Four: You will receive notification of grant decision from CCAKS.
Farm to Child Nutrition Program Sub Grants Available
Bringing the bounty of America’s farms into Child Nutrition Programs as a part of breakfast and lunch is one of the best ways we can ensure children are receiving nutritious and delicious meals at school or child care! 2020-2021 Farm to Child Nutrition Program Sub-Grant Applications are at www.kn-eat.org, Farm to School, What’s New. Child Nutrition sponsors can apply now to improve access to local foods in Child Nutrition Programs and increase agricultural education opportunities. Sub Grant applications are due on or before December 1, 2020. Contact Barb Depew at [email protected] or 786-296-0062 if you have questions.
#Test4Lead
Childhood lead poisoning prevention is a priority for KDHE. Even at low levels, lead can cause irreversible damage to hearing, growth and development. View resources in Spanish and English on the KDHE website.
2021-2022 AmeriCorps Kansas funding
AmeriCorps Kansas assists programs to recruit, train and supervise AmeriCorps members meeting critical community needs. Grant applicants must design service activities for a team of members serving full- or part-time throughout the year or during the summer. Initial grant applications are due on December 4, 2020, and final applications are due on January 29, 2021. Visit https://kanserve.org/Grants-and-Funding/Apply-for-AmeriCorps-State-Grant for more information.
Kansas Breastfeeding Coalition
90% of Kansas families choose to breastfeed. The KBC has helped many child care providers achieve the “Breastfeeding Friendly Child Care Provider” designation from Child Care Aware of Kansas. For evidence-based breastfeeding resources, visit the KBC’s Child Care page. For local help, click HERE for a directory of local breastfeeding coalitions. For general assistance, including grant ideas, budgets, data and more, contact Brenda Bandy, IBCLC.
Join us for our next Kansas Early Childhood
Systems-Building Webinar on Wednesday, November 4th, at 12pm. Click to Register
Update | October 24, 2020
Remote Learning Support – CARES Act funding is available to support programs addressing the current need for alternative care and education for families adversely impacted by remote learning situations (schools in hybrid or remote learning modes).
