CDCs | Greater Wichita YMCA

Day Care Inside Area High Schools

In our Child Development Centers (CDC) environments, babies develop trust and security, toddler’s language skills blossom and their independence grows, while preschoolers experience early literacy and build the skills needed to enter kindergarten both academically and socially prepared.

Most importantly, children learn how to be their best selves. That makes for confident kids today and contributing and engaged adults tomorrow.

The Greater Wichita YMCA's Child Development Centers (CDCs) are run by the Y and operated by Greater Wichita YMCA staff, but hosted in area high schools through a partnership with Wichita Public Schools (USD259). Our CDCs foster a warm “extended” family atmosphere in which children feel secure, comfortable and important. CDCs offer affordable, KDHE-licensed, high quality, YMCA child care programs.

These dynamic programs are customized to meet the needs of the children of parents that are still in school and/or working. The goal is to help to improve the overall outcomes for young families. CDCs provide children (two-weeks-old through their start of school) with a mixture of learning, social, and physical activities that holistically approach education, building confidence, and helping to ensure future success.

We are excited to serve your family. Our goal is to meet the individual needs of each child and family within the structure of our program, while maintaining a safe and healthy environment for all children and staff.

Before Enrolling, You Should Know:

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Enrollment

Enrollment is not available at the CDC locations or YMCA Branch Membership desks. All inquiries and applications are handled through our administrative office.
Required enrollment forms, KDHE documentation, and program policies will be provided once a space has been secured as part of the enrollment process.
To get a head start on required Medical Record (CCL 029) and Child Health Assessment (CCL 029a) you can download those forms directly from the KDHE website at https://www.kdhe.ks.gov/297/Child-Care-Center-Preschool-Head-Start
Children are placed based on developmental readiness, licensing requirements, and program capacity.
Priority placement is given to:
- Children of USD 259 high school students
- USD 259 employees (eligible for a discounted rate)
- Community members, as space allows
Children with special needs are welcome when the program can best support their success. To request accommodations for children with special needs including those with medical conditions that require special attention please complete our “Children with Special Needs Form” https://ymcawichita.org/programs/child-care-and-camps/special-needs

What We Believe

Parents are the first and most important teachers in a child’s life.
Families benefit when parents and adults pursue work and personal responsibilities – which requires a safe, pleasant, and dependable place to entrust the care of their children.
Development is patterned, but each child is unique – growing at their own pace and style.
Children are innately curious. They constantly gather knowledge of the world through education and other experiences including play.
Trust, respect, and emotional awareness of self, others, and nature are crucial elements for positive self-growth and productive in our increasingly complex society.

What We Offer

Full-day child care services — Monday through Friday from 7AM-5PM when USD 259 is in-session and until NOON on Non-Teaching Duty Days
Part-time child care services, based on enrollment, at select locations
Nutritious breakfast, lunch, and snacks – provided through USD 259’s Child and Adult Food Care Program – daily
Kansas Early Learning Standards-aligned curriculum and assessments
Parental engagement tools to continue education at home
Financial support including income-based financial assistance for those who qualify and scholarships (through generous YMCA donors) for eligible families and we accept DCF funding

For More Information contact our Child Care Branch Administrative offices at 316.264.1610 or email cdc.enrollment@ymcawichita,org

Program Brochure

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Enrollment Guide

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Parent Policies

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CDC Curriculum

Greater Wichita YMCA child care staff uses the Frog Street Curriculum for all our early learning programs, including Child Development Centers (CDC). The curriculum aligns the latest early brain development research with Kansas Early Leaning Standards to build a robust, exciting, experience for children. Daily classroom themes and resources engage children at all development levels with a balance of intentional teaching strategies and plenty of learning through play.

Frog Street’s developmental and learning continuums allow children to build upon previously mastered skills to more readily achieve new skills while emphasizing emotional development and Dr. Becky Bailey’s “Conscious Discipline” approach that builds trust and healthy attachments while developing impulse controls in a seamless and continuous way from birth to age five. Children combine curiosity, persistence, attention, and communication to establish a base for life-long learning and learn to calm, unite, socially interact, and connect with others.

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LANGUAGE DEVELOPMENT

· Opportunities to sing, read, and talk in a language-rich environment

· Skill development in phonological awareness, alphabet knowledge, print awareness, vocabulary and comprehension

COGNITIVE DEVELOPMENT

· Critical, creative, child-sized problem solving through cause and effect

· Skill development in classification, patterns, one-to-one correspondence, order and sequence, and numeration

PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT

· Fine- and gross-motor skill development

· Balance, coordination, and control

SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL DEVELOPMENT

· Building trust and forming healthy attachments

· Developing impulse control and enhanced social interactions

APPROACHES TO LEARNING

· Demonstrating curiosity, persistence, attention and communication

During the first five years of life, children are rapidly expanding their skills in all areas of development. It is vital that parents and caregivers are aware of each child’s developmental progress to ensure proper stimulation to advance. Child Development Centers (CDCs) ascertain a child’s development in two ways:

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DEVELOPMENT SCREENING

We start our evaluation with the person that knows a child best – you. CDC parents and guardians are asked to complete an “Ages and Stages” Questionnaire upon enrollment. This reliable screening evaluates key areas of development and helps identify areas of potential delay in young children. Ages and Stages screens help teachers meet the needs of your child as an individual. Screens are repeated periodically during the child’s enrollment.

PROGRESS MONITORING

Progress monitoring is a way to track a child progress in meeting curriculum goals and objectives. Progress is gathered through formal and informal observation during lessons and play activities. Period work sampling is also helpful. Visual information is kept in an individual portfolio that moves, with your child, as they transition through and – ultimately – out of our program. Observation data is compiled in fall, winter, and spring then shared with families. Parents are invited in for formal parent teacher conferences during the fall and spring assessment periods.

Career and Technical Education Student Participation

In addition to providing services to children and families, the Greater Wichita YMCA is proud to collaborate with Wichita Public Schools (USD 259) Career and Technical Education programs that provide training to vocation students enrolled in parenting and child development classes. Participants learn through classroom observation and interaction with CDC children, based on their course objectives and Family and Consumer Science course (FACS) assignments.

All training students:

Undergo a name-based KDHE background check and are supervised by licensed Greater Wichita YMCA staff
Meet and/or exceed the Kansas Department for Health and Environment (KDHE) requirements for volunteers in a licensed child care program including, but not limited to; emergency preparedness, Pediatric CPR and first aid certification, and health and safety training, recognizing signs and symptoms of illness as well as child abuse and/or neglect

Enrollment

Families can enroll children for the upcoming school year during the pre-enrollment period that begins in mid- April, but children can enroll anytime during the year based on available space for their age group. Parents are encouraged to contact the center directly regarding questions about availability during the school year, and the CDC Program Director during the summer. Please note the following enrollment considerations:

CDC enrollment is not available online nor at any Greater Wichita YMCA location. It is only available on site with the Site Director or through our YMCA administrative office. Applications and required forms and entrance fees must be provided for eligibility to be considered and space secured.
CDC enrollment forms – including applications and KDHE paperwork –are available at any YMCA CDC or through our administrative office.
Financial assistance applications and CDC Program Policies and Parent Information can be obtained at any YMCA CDC, the administrative office or found and downloaded at ymcawichita.org/cdc.
Children are placed in classrooms based on developmental readiness, licensing guidelines, and other factors.
Priority for Child Development Center (CDC) enrollment is given:
- First, to children of USD259 high school students,
- Second, to USD 259 employees, and Greater Wichita YMCA employees
- Third, to children from the general public.
Children with special needs are accepted for participation once the program has been determined to be in the best interest of the child.
Documentation of current physical exam and immunizations and a signed form verifying review of and intention to comply with CDC Program Policies and Parent Information are required prior to enrollment and attendance.
The classroom your child is enrolled in will determine weekly rates before financial assistance or discounts are applied.

Contact our CDC site, Program Director, or Senior Program Director for questions about enrollment, policies, and our program. A list of schools and contacts is at the bottom of this page.