LYNDON, Kan. – The Kansas Department for Children and Families awarded the Founders’ Link to a Lyndon, Kan., childcare facility and 36 other facilities across the state for their work helping to develop Kansas’ childcare quality recognition and improvement system, called Links to Quality.

Thill Express Child Day Care Home, in Lyndon, was among the programs that participated in a two-year pilot of Links to Quality, which aims to support early care and education professionals in recognizing and building on the strengths of their program to provide higher quality care.

During the two-year pilot, the facilities worked on three links – program leadership, family partnerships, and learning and development – to demonstrate their commitment to quality and to help inform the development of the system. Pilot participants had access to peer support, technical assistance, and other incentives to help them improve the quality of their care.

As they worked through each link, pilot participants provided DCF staff with feedback about processes, content, and overall experience of the program. Their feedback will benefit all future participants and contribute to strengthening the early childhood profession across the state.

“The Founders’ Link recipients have really shaped the program to make it work for all programs across the state,” said DCF Secretary Laura Howard. “This successful pilot would not have been possible without their hard work and dedication. Children and families in Kansas will benefit from their work for years to come.”

Thill Express Child Day Care Home earned the Founders’ Link as a member of Learning Community C, which included Lyon, Geary, Osage and Saline counties. The pilot program included five learning communities established in different regions in the state.