Norton, Kan., Feb. 13, 2025 – The Innovation Center is actively seeking individuals interested in becoming qualified childcare substitutes to support local childcare providers and centers. This initiative aims to address a critical challenge in the childcare industry: the lack of available and trusted substitute providers.
Childcare providers face long hours, typically from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., leaving little flexibility for personal appointments or family events. For home-based providers, even a brief absence can mean lost income and disrupt the families they serve. Childcare centers risk classroom closures when staff members are absent. Like public schools, childcare providers can utilize substitutes, but the process to become a childcare substitute is often lengthy and costly.
Through the Innovation Center’s Childcare Shared Services Hub, these barriers are being removed. The Innovation Center will cover the expenses associated with becoming a childcare substitute, including:
