KDHE officials describe Childcare Systems Improvement Team’s advisory role, outreach and recent work

Kansas Department of Health and Environment officials on July 9 described the Childcare Systems Improvement Team (SIT), its history and how it informs licensing and broader childcare system decisions.

Derek Flurlock, bureau director for family health and disease control and prevention at KDHE, said SIT “works to provide advice and recommendations to the department” and brings concerns and highlights from providers, local health departments and advocacy partners to state officials. Jarvis Dolman, director of operations for Chalker licensing at KDHE, said the licensing program carries out foundational health‑and‑safety safeguards—applications, background checks, inspections and surveys—but not program quality assessments.

Flurlock traced SIT’s origin to 2007 and said many guiding principles from that founding document remain relevant. He said the group served in an advisory capacity to KDHE and partner agencies and that the team’s work has included recommendations to improve inspection transparency, technical assistance for providers and reductions in unnecessary bureaucratic barriers.

“Why limit it to licensing?” Flurlock asked, describing recent discussions about elevating SIT from a licensing‑focused advisory board to a systems‑level advisor that can collect issues across childcare policy and share them with partner agencies.

KDHE staff said SIT was reconvened around 2020 with support from Preschool Development Grant (PDG) funds administered through the Children’s Cabinet. Flurlock said SIT recommended a Childcare Matters media campaign; KDHE reported the campaign produced roughly 7,500,000 impressions, about 62,000 clicks and an approximately 13.1% overdelivery compared with estimates.

The presenters described a multi‑year licensing regulation review that began in 2023. Flurlock said KDHE sought feedback through provider sessions, online surveys, engagement with local health departments and direct review by SIT; drafted changes were reviewed by the attorney general’s office, released for public comment and published in the Kansas Register to become effective. The webinar did not specify the calendar year for the August 2 publication date mentioned.

Jarvis Dolman described recent regional roundtables KDHE held across the state to gather locally specific feedback on what is working, what is not, and how licensing can assist in each region. He said KDHE planned to synthesize those responses and to follow up either within KDHE or through partner agencies.

Both presenters emphasized a desire to document SIT feedback and follow up on recommendations so advisory input results in visible action. Flurlock credited KU’s Center for Public Partnerships and Research (KUCPPR) with helping facilitate the SIT process and said current SIT membership runs through summer 2026, with opportunities to apply afterward.

A participant who identified themself as Anil spoke during Q&A and said they had “enjoyed very much sitting on this team” and felt their input was heard and respected. Presenters noted regional roundtables were not live streamed for logistical reasons and acknowledged the SIT web page contains accurate older documents but needs updating, with no deadline announced.

The KDHE presenters’ summary focused on SIT as an advisory body intended to surface ground‑level concerns and bring them to the right state or partner entity, while documenting follow‑through on recommendations so the public can see outcomes.