Links to Quality

strives to ensure all Kansas children have access to high-quality early care and education.

Increase Quality Care

in Kansas early care and education care programs by helping providers build upon their strengths, skills, resources, and connections.

Empower Families

in choosing the early care and education program that best suits their needs.

Strengthen Communities

through increased access to quality early care and education and enhanced public-private partnerships.

Meet our Founders
See our Staff

Standard of Quality

Links to Quality works with programs to build upon their strengths “linking” together the following competencies that create the L2Q Standard of Quality.

To support their journey, L2Q provides community consultants who coach, consult, and connect programs with resources and other programs through local Learning Communities.

Program Administration

Family Partnerships

Learning & Development

Health & Safety

What’s the latest?

Following the 2-year pilot test of the program, which ended April 2020, Links to Quality has transitioned into planning for the years ahead. This process will take lessons learned during the Pilot and translate them into a Links to Quality system that will achieve our vision of a Kansas where all children have access to high-quality early care and education.

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Founders’ Link

The following programs successfully participated in the Two-Year Links to Quality Pilot, earning recognition as Founders of Links to Quality. The Founders’ Link represents both their accomplishments as well as their contributions to Links to Quality.

Learning Community A

The Tree House of Early Learning

“Being a Founding Member of Links to Quality means that I get to help shape the program to help it be as beneficial to Kansas providers as possible. It means that I get to help create and recognize more quality childcare environments all over Kansas.”

Independence | Montgomery County

Kiddie Garden Day Care

“(Being a Founding Member) means that there is always room for improvement. I perform to the best of my ability, L2Q has helped me become a more qualifying provider to the families I serve and my community. My program has improved in many areas with the help of L2Q. Thank you for helping me be the best I can be.”

West Mineral | Cherokee County

Butterfly Funhouse Childcare

“To me (being a Founding Member) means making a difference in the lives of children by setting the bar high enough that all children thrive that attend “Quality Child Care!” Each child is a gift, and we need to prepare them to be emotionally, socially and healthy individuals in society.”

Mound Valley | Labette County

Country Kids Daycare Home

“It was an honor being a Founding Member of Links to Quality because it was an early look at a program designed to raise the bar of childcare in Kansas, and I felt like I was a part of helping it become even better.”

Girard | Crawford County

Toddler Time Daycare

“I feel that I have grown as a provider. L2Q has provided an opportunity to network with other providers and create lasting bonds and friendships. The pilot has changed my attitude and the way I look at and run my childcare program, more as a business.”

Frontenac | Crawford County

Pittsburg Community Child Care Learning Center

“Being a Founding Member of Links to Quality gave me the opportunity to update our policies and create new ones which improved the quality of our program. I received many helpful resources and got to know and collaborate with fellow area child care providers.”

Pittsburg | Crawford County

Kidzville Daycare

“I loved doing the Links to Quality. I feel that it helped my program to be more professional and me to be more prepared.”

Chanute | Neosho County

Good Shepherd Child Care Center

Columbus | Cherokee County

Learning Community B

Little Tots Montessori

“Being a Founding Member means I am making an impact not only in my program of quality early childhood education, but I am speaking up for others in my state who have the same struggles but celebrations and need to be recognized. Our role is so important for the future of young children and leaders of tomorrow.”

Kansas City | Wyandotte County

Good Beginnings Day Care Home

“(Being a Founding Member) means being able to be a voice for providers in how L2Q looks when it rolls out statewide. It also gave me the opportunity to look at my program differently and see what sounded realistic for me to change to better my program or what I was currently doing well.”

Bonner Springs | Wyandotte, Leavenworth, and Johnson Counties

Good Beginnings Family Child Care Home

“(Being a Founding Member) means being able to help other Providers improve the quality of care that is provided.”

Topeka | Shawnee County

ABC's and 123's at Pammy's Playschool

“Being a Founding Member of Links to Quality makes me feel like I am helping to make a difference, better myself, and help others to better their programs as well.”

Auburn | Shawnee County

Patterson Family Child Care

“(Being a Founding Member) shows my dedication to early childhood education. It is one of many build bricks to strengthen my business practices.”

Topeka | Shawnee County

Lakeside Daycare

Topeka | Shawnee County

Little Angels Day Care Center

Kansas City | Wyandotte County

Learning Community C

Loving Arms Daycare Centers

“I feel as if we’re part of a significant cog in the history of providing quality childcare and what it could do for the future of our children.”

Junction City | Geary County

Kid Central Daycare

“(Being a Founding Member) means that I along with other providers were a very important part in helping to develop this very important program. I know it has helped my daycare and I know it will help other providers.”

Emporia | Lyon County

Thill Express Child Day Care Home

“Most of all, I think being a (Founding) member means I am working on being the best I can be, and that it is a continuing process. That process and outcome looks differently for each of us and each of us should be proud to see where we started and where we have come to now.”

Lyndon | Osage County

Emporia Child Care Center I

“Our Center is proud to be a Founding Member of L2Q. We strive to provide quality child care in a professional manner. Participating in the L2Q program has challenged us to continue these goals.”

Emporia | Lyon County

Tiny Toes Child Care

“Being a Founding Member of Links to Quality to me means that I am helping improve the quality of child care throughout the state of Kansas.”

Salina | Saline County

Eagle Wings Child Care

“Being a Founding Member of L2Q has been an incredible honor to me. At times I wondered exactly what I had gotten myself into. However, it has been one of the most rewarding career choices I have made! I have strengthened my business policies and brought out better qualities in myself and my program. I’m proud to say I am a Founding Member and hope to help others who become L2Q members in the future.”

Salina | Saline County

Judy Ann Lawson Daycare

“I feel that being a Founding Member of Links to Quality gave me confidence to try new things and help others.”

Salina | Saline County

Learning Community D

Happy Day Academy

“Links to Quality means connecting and building relationships with other providers who also want to grow and improve the quality of early childhood education across the state. Links to Quality has provided me with information and resources that have taught me how to be a better business owner, teacher and leader for the industry.”

Maize | Sedgwick County

Scribbles and Giggles

“Being a Founding Member has given me great pride to be able to shape the future for children across Kansas. It has also given me a newfound confidence to make my program better and continue to strive to be the best for the children we serve everyday.”

Derby | Sedgwick County

Little Adventurers Daycare Home

“Being a Founding Member of Links to Quality means that I’m working hard to provide the children and families in my community with the highest quality a care. It also motivates me to continue to strive for my highest dreams for my program and for my career.”

Wichita | Sedgwick County 

Wichita State University Child Development Center

“Being a Founding Member of Links to Quality means that we had an opportunity to create a program that all early childhood facilities can use and implement. Providing quality care is essential to the development and wellbeing of children. Having a program that allows any early childhood facility, in home or center, to create the best possible environment for kids is crucial. Accountability is key and a program of this caliber can help other programs succeed.”

Wichita | Sedgwick County 

Tammy's Little Angels Childcare

“It means that I have achieved a more quality childcare and I have learned new things to add to childcare.”

Wichita | Sedgwick County 

Adventure Planet

“(Being a Founding Member means) having access to information and resources to improve our program. Reviewing details of the different facets of our program and identifying strengths and areas for improvement.”

Wichita | Sedgwick County 

Small Wonders Early Learning Center

“It has been an honor helping set standards for providing high quality child care in the state of Kansas.”

Wichita | Sedgwick County 

Keya's Kare

“(Being a Founding Member) proves that I work hard, I am dedicated, and have a strong passion for providing high quality care to the community, children, and families for which I serve.”

Wichita | Sedgwick County 

Learning Community E

Bella’s Playhouse Day Care Home

“As a L2Q Pilot participant, I had the chance to work with an amazing team of peers shaping a network that will offer a full complement of supports and recognition of quality KS providers. There is nothing more important than to support providers who are dedicated to the social, emotional, and cognitive well-being of children in the formative ages.”

Ulysses | Grant County

Tami's Daycare

“(Links to Quality) was a challenge that I accepted, and I feel I have learned so much to implement in my program and with my families.”

Holcomb | Finney County

Little Sunshine

“Through participating in the L2Q program, I have learned to accept that my job is more than providing quality care for children. I have learned that providing childcare is a business and requires much attention on the business side to be successful … Thanks to L2Q for providing the missing pieces to help me make my business what it is today. I am truly blessed to be a part of this team.”

Ulysses | Grant County

Little Learner's Preschool

“I am so proud and honored to be a founding member of the Links to Quality Program. L2Q is such a great resource and asset to the early childhood profession as a whole and to my own program.”

Dodge City | Ford County

Adams Family Daycare

“Being a founding member of links to quality has made me more confident in my childcare business. I feel I am a business owner and not just a babysitter.”

Garden City | Finney County

Community Daycare Center #1

Garden City | Finney County
Links to Quality
A program of the Department for Children and Families
Links to Quality is a child care quality recognition and improvement system (QRIS) created with the support of early childhood organizations across the state and led by the Kansas Department for Children and Families (DCF). A QRIS defines quality and provides a framework for helping programs meet that standard.

Staff

Bethany Samuel
QRIS (L2Q) Supports Manager

Caroline Ireland
L2Q Development Specialist

For more information, email DCF.L2QPilot@ks.gov.

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Links to Quality

Learn about our pilot program for quality child care