By NICK GOSNELL
Hutch Post
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Kansas families who are searching for work at local workforce centers will now have greater access to child care thanks to a new program announced this week.
"This is a partnership that was initiated by the Kansas Department of Commerce and our local workforce development board," said Laura Patzner with Kansas Workforce One. "It's really to help folks get childcare while they are looking for and initially starting a job."
The partnership uses Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act Title I federal funding and the Kansas Department for Children and Families (DCF) child care subsidy for job seekers and matches seekers to the funding source most applicable to them.
"It's really to help our businesses as well," Patzner said. "As you know, there's a shortage of qualified employees. That shortage really is a detriment to our economy. This is a great step forward and it really is a testament to the partnerships that have been built."
The funds available through WIOA total $500,000 and are available to eligible persons job searching and accessing services through Kansas Workforce Centers.
"When customers come in to our workforce center here in Local Area One, we're having the conversation about, are you having issues with job search or getting that job because of childcare?", Patzner said. "Then we help identify whether or not they want to apply for services through the Department for Children and Families and their EES program."
A DCF child care assistance application may be submitted online, by mail, fax, dropped off, or submitted in-person at a DCF service center.