KANSAS STATE ALLIANCE OF YMCAs
(816) 679-8251
KANSAS STATE ALLIANCE OF YMCAs
About
Advocacy
ADVOCATE
FOR OUR
CAUSE
made by webdebsites
YOUTH DEVELOPMENT
Nu rture the p ot ent i al of every child an d t ee nSOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY
Giving back and pr ovidin g suppor t to ou r neighborsHEALT
HY
L
IVING
Imp rov e communities’ wellbeing
2023 POLICY PRIORITIES
•
Increase access, affordability and quality of child care and youth programs and services, which leads to: more income
for families for quality food, education and savings,; more jobs and inclusive economic growth; better futures for KS
children; and more productive working adults.
•
Support the early education and school-age program workforce by investing in child care workforce development
funding opportunities and addressing administrative and licensing barriers and challenges that increase provider
costs and reduce child care access. Systematic concerns that should be reviewed include: ratio limitation, restrictive
state fire marshal codes, site director requirements, excessive staff training requirements with limited class options,
classroom age level restrictions, staff fingerprinting costs, annual licensing fees, and lack of parity between school
building facility standards and school-age programs.
•
Increase the amount of child care assistance a family can receive so child care providers are appropriately
compensated for working with families that have difficulty affording care.
•
Invest in research-based early childhood and school-age programs and support services.
•
Create greater awareness of the education achievement gap and explore opportunities for best practice policy
implementation and increased funding for our-of-school time programs.
The Kansas Alliance of YMCAs represents the collective voice and impact of 10 Kansas YMCA associations serving almost
550,000 Kansans in 24 communities. Kansas Ys work together and in partnership with other organizations and coalitions
to strengthen the foundation of our communities through youth development, healthy living, and social responsibility.
•
Increase access to and affordability of health foods.
•
Encourage evidence-based chronic disease
preventation and management programs that
promote quality of life for all, while lessening the
burden on the state budget from skyrocketing costs
associated wtih diabetes, heart disease, cancer and
arthritis.
•
Explore opportunities to encourage healthy
initiatives in early childhood and school-age
programs.
•
Support and adequately fund programs that
promote healthy living among seniors, children, and
familes, including increased access to safe and
convenient places to walk, excercise and play.
•
Support Tobacco 21 and anti-vaping policies which
promote healthy choices for teens.
•
Support any funding opportunites and regulatory
relief for nonprofit organizations as a result of the
pandemic.
•
Support funding opportunites and increased access
to drowning prevention programs, such as the
YMCA’s Safety Around Water program.
•
Support child abuse prevention policies that
promote a positive, nurturing environment while
protecting youth.
•
Preserve the tax-exempt status of charitable
organizations and incentives for donating to and
volunteering for such organizations so they can
stay strong, effective and responsive to the needs
of their local commnity.
KANSAS STATE ALLIANCE OF YMCAs
KANSAS STATE ALLIANCE OF YMCAs
About
Advocacy
ADVOCATE
FOR OUR
CAUSE
made by webdebsites
Welcome to the Kansas State Alliance of YMCAs
Kansas Legislative Priorities page. Here, we
present our annual report encapsulating our
commitment to fostering positive change
across the state. Our PDF outlines our focus on
three core pillars: Youth Development, where
we diligently nurture the potential of every
child and teen; Health Living, as we strive to
enhance the wellbeing of communities; and
Social Responsibility, ebmodying our dedication
to giving back and supporting our neighbors.
As the year unfolds, we look forward to sharing
our progress in these areas and working
collaboratively towards a stronger, healther
Kansas.
KANSAS LEGISLATIVE
PRIORITIES
