HUMBOLDT — Daycare providers and early childhood educators will be celebrated in style Tuesday evening.
The Allen County Child Care Task Force is hosting the celebration from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at the Humboldt Sports Complex storm shelter.
Anyone involved in child care or early childhood education — or if anyone has ever thought about going into such a field — is invited.
“The idea is to have a convening to celebrate our early childhood educators who serve in our community, as well as provide a connection point for those interested to learn about the profession,” explained Logan Stenseng of Thrive Allen County, one of the event’s organizers.
Representatives from Child Care Aware of Kansas, an organization geared to connecting everyone with a stake in child care, from parents, providers, business, local and state leaders and community members, will be on hand.
Others from the Southeast Kansas Mental Health Center, Hope Unlimited, the Southeast Kansas-Community Action Program and K-State Research and Extension will provide information as well.
Carissa Jones of Back and Body Works Massage Therapy will even be on hand to provide some relaxing spa and massage treatments.
Gift bags and other prizes will be doled out to those who attend.
THE PRIMARY focus is to seek solutions on addressing the lack of child care, one of the key limiting factors on employee recruitment in economic development in this part of the state, Stenseng said.
As such, the Allen County Child Care Task Force meets each Wednesday, from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. via Zoom, to discuss childcare and early childhood education.
“Child care is complex,” Stenseng said. “What should our priorities be? What should our approach be?
“We’re learning more about how to support the growth and strength of early childhood education in Allen county. “We’re working on areas of how we can get resources to the community to support child care, and what those proposals should be.”
Anyone interested in joining the task force is welcome to take part. “The more, the merrier,” Stenseng said.
To be a part of the task force, reach out to Stenseng or Summer Boren at Thrive Allen County at (620) 365-8128.
