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Work groups report progress; panel opens applications for next term and members share local 'bright spots'
Summary
Work groups reported on family‑friendly workplace recognition, exit‑interview questions, mental‑health supports, recruitment strategy challenges, and a communications inventory. Panel staff opened applications for the 2025–26 panel term and several members shared local program highlights and events.
Cornelia Stevens opened work‑group reports and asked for a spokesperson from each group. Dana Book of the Kansas Children's Service League reported progress on a family‑friendly workplace recognition program and said the Department of Commerce will use the survey next week. Stephanie Wiggins reported the exit‑interview work group revised draft questions with a data focus and plans to finalize a recommendation.
Hillary King (Capata) described the mental‑health supports group narrowing focus to three priority systems: substitute services, reflective supervision training and implementation, and mental‑health therapy services. Amy Gottschamer, reporting for targeted recruitment, said her group is struggling to narrow scope — recruitment and retention issues overlap with compensation, mental‑health supports and multiple other initiatives — and is exploring whether to refocus or align more closely with other work groups. Kelly reported the system progress communications group created an inventory of early‑childhood groups and will discuss how or whether to share it publicly.
Lindsay (staff member) announced the application for the 2025–26 panel term is open from April 1 through May 2 for appointments effective July 1, 2025. She described the online application and the panel’s membership categories and urged members to reapply and to share the link with potential applicants; family engagement stipends for lived experts were described on the site.
In a bright‑spots segment, Hillary Kane said home‑visiting programs held a Home Visiting Program Day at the Capitol and met with the early learning caucus; Bronwyn Feese announced a new four‑state conference for principals and administrators focused on early childhood in Branson, Missouri (July); Brenda Bandy publicized earned‑leave/paid‑family‑leave coalition activity and a monthly policy update series; Natalie McClain noted a webinar recording about schools operating licensed childcare and announced Spanish versions of ASQ‑3 and ASQ‑SE‑2 screening questionnaires will be available to Kansas schools for 2025–26; Heather Schoepberger said Head Start turns 60 in 2025 and staff are collecting alumni stories; and Marie Traichel announced an 18‑month reflective‑supervision learning collaborative opening for applications.
Procedural motions: the panel approved the March agenda (mover: Marites; second: Lisa Gehring) and the January meeting minutes (mover: Kathy Gray; second: Natalie MacLean).
