Workforce Development Advisory Group

History and Purpose

The Workforce Development Advisory Group (WDAG) was established in 2013 and is a function of the Child Care Workforce Professional Development contract held by Kansas Child Care Training Opportunities (KCCTO). The goal and focus of the WDAG are as follows:

Goal: Provide ongoing connections with early childhood practitioners who provide early education and care to Kansas children and their families

Focus: Collaboration to advance and improve the early childhood professional development system in Kansas

WDAG Leadership

Lead: Chelsea Schulte, KCCTO | cmitch@ksu.edu

Administrative Support: Sanaa Rabeh, KCCTO | srabeh@ksu.edu

WDAG Membership

Members of the WDAG include representatives from state agencies, professional development organizations, higher education, and direct service professionals. Individuals interested in joining the WDAG can complete the WDAG New Member Interest Form.

New Member Interest Form

Development of Recommendations

The WDAG uses the expertise of our members to draft recommendations for action. Recommendations related to the broader early childhood system are directed to the Early Childhood Recommendations Panel for consideration by the Kansas Children’s Cabinet and Trust Fund. Recommendations that require enhancements to Cape are directed to the Registry Governance Board. Other recommendations may be directed to other organizations or groups.

Schedule

The WDAG meets by Zoom from 1:30 – 3:00 PM on the fourth Wednesday of even months. December’s meeting is held on the first Wednesday of the month.

Calendar invites will be sent on an annual basis.

Agendas

Meeting agendas are provided to the group the week prior to the next meeting. Each meeting includes a brief spotlight of local efforts, old business, and new business.

Action items are developed during each meeting and always include gathering feedback from direct service professionals.

Access to Materials

WDAG members also have access to a SharePoint site where meeting and workgroup materials are available. Meeting minutes, meeting recordings, and related materials are also shared via email with the WDAG membership following each meeting.

Each workgroup has a folder in the WDAG SharePoint for document storage and collaboration.

Current Workgroups

Workgroups are formed by the WDAG when targeted efforts are needed around a particular topic. The following groups were either formed out of the larger WDAG or were formed externally but are relevant to the WDAG work. Workgroups typically meet more frequently than the large group to assess, plan, discuss, review and draft recommendations. Questions about a workgroup can be directed to the lead.

Equity, Inclusion, and Diversity

Established: 2020

Lead: Michelle Gilbert (michelle@east.ks.childcareaware.org)

Goal: Continue highlighting a monthly resource. We will hold space for an in-depth discussion about the resource at our meeting. The resource can then be shared with others in the early childhood workforce. Take opportunities to invite others into conversations about under-discussed topics such as equity, bias, inclusion, culture, racism, belonging, and diversity. Use the developed presentation to visit with others, in groups or individually, about the Equity, Inclusion, and Diversity workgroup. Write a recommendation that would request funding for the EID workgroup to attend training through the Irving Harris Foundation on the Diversity-Informed Tenets. Share information about the Diversity-Informed Tenets widely with others in the early childhood workforce. Use the Tenets as a guide to examine our systems, policies, and practices through an equity lens.

Core Competencies

Established: 2020

Lead: Linda Logan (lindalogan@ksu.edu)

Goal: Review and revise Kansas’ existing core competencies for early childhood care and education professionals, drawing from national evidence-based practices and standards, and ensuring they include knowledge and performance competencies that prepare professionals to support all children at all levels of ability.

Individualized Professional Development Plan (IPDP)

Established: 2020

Lead: Sherron Field (sefield@ksu.edu)

Goal: Develop a statewide Individualized Professional Development Plan (IPDP) that includes the following components: self-assessment, goal setting, and tracking pd training and education; the connection of goals to available professional development across the state; and resources for support service early childhood care and education professionals to aid direct service professionals in the completion of an IPDP.

Evaluation and Needs Assessment

Re-established: 2024

Lead: Clarissa Corkins (corkins@ksu.edu)

Goal: Develop a plan for collecting, analyzing, and disseminating statewide professional development data on the quality and availability of early childhood education and professional development to determine the training needs and interests of child care providers in Kansas.

Collaborative Technical Assistance (TA) Network

Established: 2023

Lead: Stephanie Parks (stephanieparks@ksu.edu)

Supporting Lead: Andrea Sorrels (arsorrels@ksu.edu)

Goal: Develop statewide TA network to include a framework with shared definitions, TA competencies, collaborative referrals, and a shared data system.

Training Approval System

Established: 2022

Leads: Vicki Sutton (vrsutton@ksu.edu)

Goal: Establish a statewide training approval system that works in coordination with the statewide trainer approval system and functions within Cape.

Trainer Approval System

Established: 2022

Leads: Sarah Jones (sarahjones@ksu.edu)

Goal: Establish a statewide trainer approval system that works in coordination with the statewide training approval system and functions within Cape.

Past Recommendations

2019: Workforce Registry/Career Pathway/Core Competencies

2020: Workforce Registry

2022: Individualized Professional Development Plan

2022: Core Competencies

2024: Trainer and Training Approval Processes

For additional details on past recommendations, email Chelsea Schulte at cmitch@ksu.edu.