Oversight

From 2003 to 2010, the Early Learning Coordinating Council (ELCC) provided leadership and guidance for the Kansas Early Childhood Comprehensive Systems (KECCS) Plan. The ELCC met regularly to assess the Plan in the context of identified needs for early childhood intervention services, on-going services development and integration activities. Remaining gaps and priority strategies and activities were identified to address the dynamic environment that support young children and their families. The ELCC functioned as a collaborative, multi-agency partnership supporting systems development in Kansas, working together to obtain the best results for young children and their families.

In 2010, the Governor designated the ELCC as the State Advisory Council on Early Childhood Education and Care in Kansas, to be known as the Kansas Early Childhood Advisory Council (ECAC). The ECAC is a Governor-appointed Council that includes over twenty leaders representing health, early intervention, early care and education, home visitation, family supports, advocacy, private foundations, business, and the Governor’s Office. The ECAC will provide continued support to initiative development, local systems planning, and recommendations on policy. The ECAC serves as the state council for the KECCS Plan, the State’s Child Care Development Fund, the Head Start State Collaboration Office, and the Kansas Project LAUNCH initiative.

Early Childhood Forums

In addition, over 150 early childhood stakeholders regularly engage in Plan activities, including stakeholder meetings, workgroups, partnerships and communications. There is significant diversity and depth of the stakeholders involved in the Plan – both state and local early childhood leadership and program staff participate. In 2010, early childhood leaders consolidated two related early childhood meetings – the Kansas Early Childhood Comprehensive Systems (KECCS) stakeholder meeting and the Child Care Advisory Quarterly meeting. The joint quarterly meetings, called the Kansas Early Childhood Forum, brings together a diverse group of early childhood partners from around the State to continue our work in supporting young children and families across health, mental health, early care and education, parent education, and family supports.
The Forum alternates between in-person and virtual formats. Forum dates for 2012 (and format/location) are:        

• July 26, 2012 (Salina)
• October 25, 2012 (virtual/web-based)

For more information, join the KECCS distribution list.