CCAKS Committees-Year in Review

CCAKS Committees-Year in Review

CELEBRATION COMMITTEE

cULTURE cHAMPIONS

eVENT pLANNING

Family Friendly Workplace

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Technology Modernization

Kansas Child Magazine

HEALTH & WELLNESS

TAPESTRY

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Year in Review:

CELEBRATION COMMITTEE

• Daily celebration shoutouts for staff birthdays and work anniversaries

Mission & Vision

• Created Celebration Form for staff to fill out when they want to share anything exciting going on in their life, both professionally and personally, as well as kudos to other team members.

The Celebration Club is all about bringing joy to our workplace! We recognize birthdays, work anniversaries, and both personal and professional milestones, while also planning fun activities and events that everyone can enjoy and take part in.

• Hosted Confetti Seminar "Holidays Around the Wotld"

• Create monthly calendars with coworkers birthdays, anniversary and fun holidays each month

Leads: Montana Kocher & Michelle West

• Create posts to facilitate conversations in the Celebration Channel for all staff to engage

• Create staff photo opportunities which will be made into a digital scrapbook at the end of the year

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Year in Review:

CULTURE CHAMPIONS

• Focused on supporting staff and strengthening our workplace culture by:

• increasing the employee travel Meal Rates Policy and to lift some of the restrictions on the Ramp card, so it more accurately reflects current costs and supports staff while traveling.

Mission & Vision

The Culture Champions Committee plays a vital role in shaping our organization's culture by aligning with our Strategic Plan and championing a Trust and Inspire workplace. We believe in a strengths-based approach where every individual has the capacity to lead, and follow the Leadership Principles from Kansas Leadership Center. Through thoughtful review of policies and procedures, we make recommendations that reflect these values. We're here to cultivate an environment where trust thrives, inspiration flows, and everyone’s strengths are recognized and celebrated.

• The committee also applied for, received, and is now overseeing the 2026 Leadership Transformation Grant from the Kansas Leadership Center. We facilitated an interactive activity introducing the Kansas Leadership Center’s Leadership Competencies at our One Team in‑person meeting.

• We reviewed and helped shift the End‑of‑Year Performance Reviews into a more reflective and growth‑oriented process, now called Year‑End Reflection and Growth.

Moving Forward:

• As we continue our work, we are in the process of reviewing the 90‑Day Touch Point through a Trust and Inspire, strengths‑based lens to better support connection, engagement, and early success for employees.

Lead: Diane Clark

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EVENT PLANNING

Mission & Vision

The Event Planning Committee organizes in-person gatherings that bring our remote team together to connect, collaborate, and grow. From One team celebrations, we plan events that balance fun and relationship-building with opportunities for professional development, helping strengthen both our culture and our skills.

Save the Date!

OneTeam Meeting June 17, 202610am-2pmChildStart Wichita, KS

Leads - Apryl Brown & Robyn Brooks

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Year in Review:

• Update several outdated policies, including the Remote-First Business policy, the Alternative Work Location policy, the Lactation policy, the Bereavement policy, and the Health and Wellness Leave policy, in collaboration with the Health and Wellness Committee.
• These updates better reflect the work our employees do and support a more family-friendly remote-work environment.

FAMILY FRIENDLY WORKPLACE

Mission & Vision

The Family Friendly Workplace Committee is dedicated to fostering a supportive and inclusive work environment where employees can successfully balance their professional responsibilities with their family needs. The committee focuses on identifying and promoting policies, practices, and resources that enhance workplace flexibility, well-being, and engagement for all team members. Through collaboration and innovation, the committee works to create a culture that values both work and family life.

• We also earned a Gold Level Employee Support Award and achieved Breastfeeding Friendly Designation by adding a lactation room at the main office in Salina (thank you to Megan Vincent for helping bring the comfy space to life).

Moving Forward:

• Check in with employees on what is and is not working by sending a staff poll.

Lead - Kim Day

• Researching potential updates to the parental leave policy and identifying family-friendly workplace resources to share with employees.

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Year in Review:

KANSAS CHILD MAGAZINE

Mission & Vision

Are you passionate about creativity and meeting deadlines? Join the Kansas Child Magazine Committee today and be part of shaping our quarterly publication! From discovering talented authors to curating engaging content, your ideas can make a real difference. Seize this opportunity to unleash your creativity and contribute to our magazine's success

Winter 2025

Summer 2025

Spring 2025

Fall 2025

Moving Forward:

• Early Education blog with the arrival of the new website.

Lead & Liaison - Desiree Donovan

• Kansas Child Blog coming soon!

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Year in Review:

HEALTH & WELLNESS

• currently promoting Health & Wellness journeys for our organization. These journeys are individualized to each person, and they choose the journey that works best for them

Mission & Vision

Our Health and Wellness Committee is dedicated to supporting the overall well-being of our team by promoting healthy habits, balance, and self-care. We organize activities, share resources, and create opportunities that encourage physical, mental, and emotional wellness in the workplace and beyond. From fitness journey and wellness tips to mindfulness breaks and healthy lifestyle initiatives, our goal is to build a positive culture where everyone can thrive.

• offering OPTIONAL monthly motivational check-in meetings for those people who need support/ideas/accountability as they work on their individual journey(s)

• Health & Wellness SharePoint page was created and is updated monthly with information to support Health & Wellness

Leads - Katrina DeClue & Elisabeth Rhodes

• Two committee members attended the Health & Wellness Conference in Wichita this month

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Year in Review:

TAPESTRY

• Monthly Newsletters created highlighting cultural and social celebrations, information and share stories.

Mission & Vision

CCAKS Tapestry is committed to weaving a diverse, equitable, inclusive, and interconnected fabric within our organization and community through education, connection, and advocacy. We are committed to fostering an environment where every thread, every voice, and every perspective contributes to the rich and vibrant tapestry of our shared experience. We would love to hear and share your experiences!

• Seminars held throughout the year such as Hispanic & Latin American Cultural Impact and Understanding Juneteenth

• The Tapestry SharePoint is up and is maintained regularly

• Mid-Week Spark started Jan 2026

Leads - Shonell Edwards & Jocelyn Melgoza

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Year in Review:

TECHNOLOGY MODERNIZATION

• Set up access to a new portal through WCCIT.

• "Technology in the Field" policy implemented. This policy outlines approved platforms, and expectations for communication during work hours.

Mission & Vision

• Phone system survey completed by staff to make sure everyones needs are being met with the current phone set-up

As a committee, we are exploring how technology is currently used across the organization, what challenges exist, and what opportunities we should focus on next.

Moving Forward:

• Looking at other options for phone system

• Reviewing all computer use polices.

Lead - Molly Bartlett